Manchester/Bhubaneswar, Jul 16: With England leading 2-1 in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 5-Test series, India face a must-win situation in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Historically known for its bounce and pace early on, the Old Trafford surface gradually transforms into a spinner’s ally from Day 3 onward. India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, could also thrive in these conditions, if it becomes overcast and damp condition.

According to recent pitch reports, the wicket tends to grip and slow down, offering turn and variable bounce — conditions ideal for spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. And it would possibly open the door for Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI.

Old Trafford Pitch

Deteriorating Pitch: The pitch at Old Trafford tends to wear down as the Test match progresses, leading to increased turn and bounce, which favors spin bowlers.

Big Playing Surface: The large playing area at Old Trafford allows for more spin variations and helps spinners exploit the deteriorating pitch conditions.

Historical Context: Old Trafford has a long history of hosting Test matches, and spinners have historically found success there, particularly in the later stages of the game.

Spin-friendly reputation: Some cricket websites note that Old Trafford has a reputation for being a ground where spin bowling can be particularly challenging for batsmen, especially on days 4 and 5.

Win Toss, Bat First

The ideal toss decision at Old Trafford would be to bat first in Test matches. Teams batting first have won 36 of 85 Tests at this venue. A solid first-innings total allows spinners to exploit the wearing surface in the fourth innings, where batting becomes increasingly difficult.

India, trailing 1-2 in the series, will look to reverse their poor record at Old Trafford, where they’ve never won a Test. With the pitch expected to assist spin from Day 3, India’s spin-heavy lineup could be the key to leveling the series.

India’s Playing XI

India’s batting lineup is likely to see a few changes, with Sai Sudharsan likely to replace Karun Nair at No. 3 after the latter’s string of low scores. The fitness of Akash Deep is also in question after the pacer reportedly complained of hip pain during the Lord’s Test. If the pacer doesn’t get fit, Arshdeep Singh could make his debut in Test. His inclusion would add variety to Indian pace attack – he is a left arm bowler and can swing the ball both ways.

Rishabh Pant is expected to return from injury, bolstering the middle order. Speaking to media, India skipper Shubman Gill had said: “Rishabh went for scans. There is no major injury, so he should be fine for the fourth Test in Manchester". In case of Rishabh’s unavailability, Dhruv Jurel will get into the playing XI.

Conclusion

With the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 points at stake and the series on the line, the Manchester Test promises yet another thrilling contest. A win for India would level the series 2-2 and set up a thrilling finale at The Oval.

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