Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, How Ollie Pope (left), Jasprit Bumrah (centre) and Shoaib Bashir (right) fare will likely play a key part in the series
England v India – first Test
Venue: Headingley Dates: 20-24 June Time: 11: 00 BST
Coverage: Ball-by-ball radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. In-play video clips and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Today at the Test on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two each night.
England begin a huge period of Test cricket against India at Headingley on Friday.
The five-match contest between Ben Stokes’ side and a new-look India is brimful of intrigue, including superstar performers on both sides.
BBC Sport and data analysts Cricviz look at the key battles and where the series will be won and lost.
Papal fallibility?
England’s biggest, and probably only, selection decision for the first Test came down on the side of the status quo. The potential of Jacob Bethell has been resisted in favour of long-term number three Ollie Pope.
England need some consistency from their vice-captain. Overall, an average of 43.06 at first-drop is more than respectable, but Pope often veers between feast and famine.
In 2024, Pope made three centuries, including an all-timer 196 to help beat India in Hyderabad. In his other 27 innings across the year, Pope did not pass 10 on 13 occasions, more than any other top-seven batter in the same period.
It is a broader trend across Pope’s career. Of the 3,301 runs the 27-year-old has compiled in 98 innings, almost 34% have come in only six knocks. When Pope gets in, he can cash in. It is the getting in that is the problem, especially with a false-shot percentage of 18.4 – the highest of any regular Test number three in the past six years.
The bad news for Pope is he is about to come up against one of his nemeses in Indian magician Jasprit Bumrah. Though Pope is not alone in struggling against the best fast bowler in the world, the five times he has been dismissed by Bumrah is only outstripped by the seven dismissals of retired India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The length where Pope struggles most against pace against in this country, 7-8m from the stumps, is most frequently targeted by Bumrah and likely new-ball partner Mohammed Siraj.
In addition, 39% of Pope’s dismissals to pace bowlers in England have been bowled, an unusually high frequency, and a target for Bumrah, who himself bowls more batters than other pace bowlers.
Surviving Bumrah
Speaking of Bumrah, there is perhaps no man on either side more capable of winning the series single-handedly than the India paceman. Pound for pound, Bumrah is the best cricketer in the world and compiling a career that will put him among the greatest fast bowlers.
How England play, or survive, Bumrah may well de
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