India Record Headingley: Can India continue winning run at Headingley?

India Record Headingley: Can India continue winning run at Headingley on return to Yorkshire ground 19 years later?

Sunday, Aug 22, 2021 3:53 pm

India Record Headingley – IND vs ENG: Fresh from a historic victory at Lord’s Virat Kohli & Co will take on Joe Root’s England in the 3rd Test at Headingley, Leeds beginning August 25. India will be a confident unit going into the match especially with a good record at the venue on their last […]

India Record Headingley – IND vs ENG: Fresh from a historic victory at Lord’s Virat Kohli & Co will take on Joe Root’s England in the 3^rd Test at Headingley, Leeds beginning August 25. India will be a confident unit going into the match especially with a good record at the venue on their last two tours in 1986 and 2002. The last time India played at Headingley in 2002, India thumped England by an innings and 46 runs. While past records don’t mean much, a flatter surface is likely to be on offer and India will now aim to make it 3-3 at Headingley.

Historically, Headingley’s green top has favoured seamers. The last time England played at the venue in 2019, they were bowled out for 67 against Australia but they managed to pull off a 1-wicket victory. Since then, the county Championships matches have also offered assistance to seamers.

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India Record Headingley – IND vs ENG: However, as per Michael Holding, the pitch for the 3^rd Test will be a little flatter and could aid batsmen. However, if rain does play a part, India could take advantage of the situation with England batting struggling big time. Captain Joe Root has been the only batsman to offer some resistance but others have failed to take their chances with the Indian p. ace attack outclassing their England counterparts.

India Record Headingley – IND vs ENG: The last time India played at Headingley, it was a flatter surface with little assistance for spin in 2002. As per UK MET Office, the weather will be clear and no rain predicted for the next few days the pitch is expected to be dry and offer batters a good scoring wicket. If the weather stays the same, it will also help the spinners on Day 4 and 5 with the pitch deteriorating over the course of the match.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Three things India still need to improve despite historic Lord’s win

Opposition	Result	Scores: England	Scores: India	Margin	Toss	Bat	Start Date
v England	lost	334 & 128/3	293 & 165	7 wickets	won	1st	05-Jun-52
v England	lost	483/8 decl	161 & 149	inns & 173 runs	won	1st	02-Jul-59
v England	lost	550/4 & 126/4	164 & 510 f/o	6 wickets	lost	2nd	08-Jun-67
v England	draw	270	223/6	—	lost	2nd	16-Aug-79
v England	won	102 & 128	272 & 237	279 runs	won	1st	19-Jun-86
v England	won	273 & 309 f/o	628/8 decl	inns & 46 runs	won	1st	22-Aug-02

India Record Headingley – IND vs ENG: Can India make it 2-0 in the series?

While India will be confident, they will still need to address a few concerns, especially if the pitch is on the flatter side.

Should Cheteshwar Pujara be rested? – A fighting 45 in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test helped Pujara regain confidence but that he has been struggling, his place still remains unsecure.
Will there be place for Suryakymar Yadav/Prithvi Shaw? – Virat Kohli and the team management forced BCCI to fly in Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav from Sri Lanka as injury covers and backup options. But KL Rahul’s success in the opening is likely to keep Prithvi Shaw out. But Suryakumar Yadav could still be an option especially in place of Pujara. However, as Suryakumar hasn’t played any red-ball cricket since 2020 Ranji Trophy, it will not justify his selection.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Mohammed Siraj surpasses Kapil Dev to achieve best match figures for India at Lord’s

3. Will Ashwin come back to Playing XI? – If the sky stays clear and conditions are dry, an extra spinner could be helpful especially on Day 4 and 5. But India’s pace battery has performed exceptionally well while Ravindra Jadeja has done well with the bat. It will be a difficult decision to include Ashwin in place of a seamer.

4. If Ashwin comes in who will India drop? – Jadeja has all but secured his place in the Playing XI and if not a wicket-taking option, his willow has fired a fifty in the 1st Test. Considering that, going with three seamers and two spinners will be likely but the dilemma is who should Virat Kohli drop to the bench? Mohd Siraj, Mohd Shami and Bumrah have done well while Ishant Sharma sparkled with the ball in the 2nd innings. That raises the question who should India drop if Ashwin comes in.

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