Test cricket, also known as the longest format of the game, is meant to last for a maximum of five days. Played across five long days, each of which comprises three two-hour-long sessions, this format can be a real test of resilience and character for the players involved. While most Tests traditionally ended within 3-4 days, some see a far more premature ending. Not to mention, the despair that engulfs the fans as they have their tickets booked for the latter stages of the game, only for it to end within a short span of 1-2 days. 

While it is not always a good thing for the Tests to get over this early, here are the four shortest Tests that have lasted fewer than 900 balls in the 21st century.

See also: The Hundred Women 2025: TRT-W vs NOS-W Prediction– 8th Match, Who will win today?

India vs South Africa 2024, Cape Town (642 balls)

This Test match holds the record for being the shortest Test match in the history of the game. This game lasted only a meager 642 balls and was over in just a little over a day. On a difficult, seam-friendly deck, South Africa were decimated in their first innings for just 55 as Mohammed Siraj ran riot with the ball, picking up impressive figures of 6-15. On the contrary, India made a much better start with the bat and seemed to be cruising along nicely at 153-4. But then, an expected collapse ensued, which no one would have hardly expected in their wildest dreams.

India went on to lose six wickets without a run and went from 153-4 to 153-10 in almost the blink of an eye. By stumps on day one, South Africa were reduced to 62-3 and still trailed by 36 runs. Aiden Markram slammed a valiant century to take South Africa's score to 176 on day two. But his effort proved to be insufficient as South Africa were only able to set a modest target of 79. India chased down the target relatively quickly inside 12 overs and went on to register a series-levelling win. In the aftermath of the game, ICC rated the Newlands pitch as "unsatisfactory".

India vs England 2021, Ahmedabad (842 balls)

This day/night Test match was played in the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad which had just been renovated ahead of this marquee clash. This was also the first D/N Test between the two sides as well. Unfortunately, this historic Test match did not pan out as planned. Batters from both teams struggled to operate on the rank turner. England's first innings saw a momentary resistance from Zak Crawley, who smashed a breezy 53 (84). But the introduction of spinners triggered an imminent collapse. Axar Patel emerged as the chief destroyer for India, bagging figures of 6-38 while Ravi Ashwin also played his part, picking 3-26 to sink England for 112.

India responded patiently with the bat and ended day one on a high by posting 99 for the loss of only three wickets. Before the start of day two, the home side was poised to achieve a massive first innings lead. But then is when things took a turn for the worse. Joe Root surprisingly went on to register his maiden Test five-fer, and with added support from Jack Leach, England were able to bounce back and restrict India to 145 just before Tea. However, England couldn't take inspiration from Root's magnificent exploits with the ball and were bundled out for just 81 in the second innings. The target was chased down in less than eight overs, and the entire test match came to a close in a little over 1.5 days with 842 deliveries bowled. Despite heightened criticism from the cricket pundits regarding the state of the pitch, the ICC came to the rescue of the home side and deemed the pitch "satisfactory".

Australia vs South Africa 2022, Brisbane (866 balls)    

The Brisbane Test between Australia and South Africa ended on a one-sided note with the home side wrapping things up in just a matter of two days. The Test lasted only 866 balls, making it the second-shortest Test ever to be played on Australian soil. On a pitch that produced an awkward bounce, a staggering 15 wickets fell on day one as South Africa were bowled out for 152. In response, Australia lost half their side for just 145 before the call of stumps on day one. Then on day two, Australia were able to get past South Africa's 152 and secure a vital lead of 66 runs before getting bundled out for 215. 

But the problems for batters from either side existed. South Africa hardly got going with the bat in the second innings as Pat Cummins troubled the Proteas batters immensely with his variable bounce and registered a magnificent Test five-fer to skittle the visitors cheaply for 99. Tasked with chasing a paltry score of 34, Australia went on to lose four wickets, and the game was wrapped up during the dying minutes of day two's play. Following the conclusion of the game, the ICC slammed the Gabba pitch and deemed it to be too unsafe for play. As a consequence, the Gabba pitch received a "below average" rating, while Richie Richardson, who was in charge as a match referee for that game, felt that the pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. 

Pakistan vs Australia 2002, Sharjah (893 balls)  

A Test that was played in the scorching Sharjah heat, Pakistan were blown away cheaply in what turned out to be one of the quickest finishes of the early 2000s. The Test match lasted only 893 balls as Australia flexed their muscles to punish Pakistan mercilessly for two straight days. They ran Pakistan ragged on the field in both innings combined. Pakistan were a no-show with the bat in the first innings and were floored for a shocking 59, with Shane Warner emerging as the destroyer-in-chief with figures of 4-11 in his 11-over spell. In response, Matthew Hayden led the way for Australia with a magnificent ton (119). But Saqlain Mushtaq was able to get the better of the Aussies eventually and restricted them to 310.

Wiping out a deficit of 251 runs was always going to be a challenge. But only a select few expected Pakistan to surrender cheaply in the second innings. Their fortunes did not change much in the second innings as they were bundled out for 53. Warne once again went rampant with the ball and registered a four-fer to hand Australia a massive win by an innings and 198 runs. Imran Nazir and Misbah ul Haq were the only two Pakistani batters to make it to double figures in that innings. As records would have it, this is currently Pakistan's second-lowest score in Test cricket. 

New Zealand set their new record in Test cricket after thrashing the hosts Zimbabwe on the third day of the second and final Test match of the series to clinch the away Test series by 2-0. 

After the hosts chose to bat first, they were bowled out for only 125 runs in the first innings. With the record of three 150s, New Zealand scored 601/3 before declaring their innings on the third day morning. On the third day, the Chevrons were bundled out for only 117 runs as the Blackcaps won the Test by an innings and 359 runs. Only Nick Welch (47*) and captain Craig Ervine (17) managed to reach double-digit scores in that innings.

See Also: Mohammed Siraj frames Virat Kohli’s last Test jersey at home, Instagram post goes viral

New Zealand recorded their largest Test win

It was the largest Test victory margin (by an innings) for New Zealand. Their previous record was winning by an innings and 301 runs against Zimbabwe at Napier in 2012. Meanwhile, Blackcaps also recorded the third biggest winning margin (by an innings) in Test cricket history.

Biggest Test victory margins (by an innings)

Zakary Foulkes also set New Zealand Test debut record

While Matt Henry recorded a fifer in the first innings (5/40), Test debutant Zakary Foulkes, who recorded four wickets in the first innings (4/38), also picked up a five-wicket haul in the third innings of the Test as the right-arm medium had the bowling figures of 9-2-37-5. His 9/75 were the best match bowling figures by a New Zealand Test debutant, as he broke Will O’Rourke's previous record 9/93 (vs South Africa in the 2024 Hamilton Test). 

In the third innings of the Test match, Matt Henry (2/16) and Jacob Duffy (2/28) picked up two wickets each, while another debutant right-arm medium fast bowler Matthew Fisher got one wicket (1/22), just like the first innings (1/16). 

In the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, where England and India finished the five-match Test series in a draw at 2-2, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj proved himself to be a dependable pacer. His tireless bowling performances and never-give-up attitude played an important role for the visitors, as he finished as the leading wicket-taker in that series (23 wickets). Recently, a stat has been revealed, where Siraj is among the players with the top of the bad luck. 

While the DRS (Decision Review System) has successfully worked to eliminate major decision-making errors by on-field umpires, cricketers still fear the umpire's call. The victim of the umpire's call feels very unlucky, as it could have been avoided on the exact same occasion if the umpire had taken the opposite decision. A lot of the time, the victim player showed dissatisfaction with the umpire's call. 

In the case of no conclusive evidence, the umpire's call plays the ultimate decisive role. For lbw, where the umpire's call is commonly very much active, the technologies aren't 100 per cent correct, and for this reason, the umpire's decision plays the ultimate role in a very marginal call. 

See Also: Is Virat Kohli returning ODI? Know the reason for this question

Mohammed Siraj and bad luck on umpires' calls

Recently, Cricbuzz revealed a stat where the bowlers were victims of the umpire's call. Since the Test debut of Mohammed Siraj, the Indian pacer has faced 10 umpires' calls (fielding team review), only one away from the table leader Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon (11 times).

⚡ Did you know: Since his debut, Mohammed Siraj has the worst luck with umpire's call on referrals in Tests.

Can you name four bowlers who lead the opposite table in this same period - of being lucky with it?

Hint: That list too includes bowlers from 🇱🇰, 🇦🇺, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/YB24IEKKQq

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 8, 2025

Mohammed Siraj is a dependable Indian pacer

Mohammed Siraj made his Test debut in December 2020, when India toured Australia. After playing 41 Test matches, he has taken 123 Test wickets, including five fifers. Despite being unlucky on the umpires' calls, Siraj is the leading wicket-taker for India outside home since his Test debut. 

On the second day of the second and final Test match against the hosts Zimbabwe, New Zealand achieved the rarest feat in Test cricket during the run-galore day on the field.

After Zimbabwe were bundled out for just 125 runs on Brendan Taylor's international cricket return, Zimbabwe bowlers had a tough day on the second day of the Test match, where New Zealand ended the day on 601/3. Blackcaps batters added 427 runs on the second day, while three of their batters not only scored centuries but also slammed 150s. 

Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra followed Devon Conway's 150 mark

Openers Devon Conway and Will Young had a 162-run partnership for the first wicket. Young scored 74 runs, and Conway continued his batting till 153 off 245 balls (18 fours) when he was bowled by Blessing Muzarabani. While the no.3 batter Jacob Duffy scored 36 runs, the next two batters completed 150s and remained not out at the stumps on the day. Henry Nicholls scored 150 not out off 245 balls (15 fours), and Rachin Ravindra scored 165 not out off just 139 balls (21 fours and 2 sixes). They have already set up a 256-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket. 

It was the only third time in Test cricket history when more than two batters recorded 150 or more runs in the same Test innings. In fact, it is the joint record, as previously, three batters hit 150 in the same Test innings only twice, once each by England and India. New Zealand rewrote the rarest record after more than 38 years. 

See Also: Cremer’s comeback boosts Zimbabwe ahead of T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Most 150s in the same Test innings

While it was recorded first time in Test cricket during the 1938 The Oval Test against Australia, three English batters with 150s were Leonard Hutton (364), Maurice Leyland (187), and Joe Hardstaff (169 not out).

It was recorded second time during the 1986 Kanpur Test against Sri Lanka, when Indian batters Sunil Gavaskar (176), Mohammad Azharuddin (199), and Kapil Dev (163) set the achievement. 

 

The two-tier Test cricket controversy has been running for more than a decade, and it has intensified with the growing presence of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). While the BCCI, ECB, and CA, the governing cricket bodies of India, England, and Australia, respectively, are the top international cricket boards, their views play very important roles in the future of the game. While the BCCI has shown support for the two-tier Test cricket system, the ECB and CA have brought two different mindsets to the two-tier Test cricket.

The two-tier Test cricket model, which can be seen in the future ICC World Test Championship, can divide the 12 Test members into two divisions. In the ICC Annual Conference, it was the most significant topic. The ICC has also formed a working group, led by former New Zealand cricketer Roger Towse, to understand the effectiveness of the two-tier Test cricket model. 

See Also: Know when India plays next; Full list of upcoming Test series

ECB chairman raises voice against two-tier Test cricket

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Richard Thompson isn't confident enough with the two-tier Test cricket system, as they can't afford to lose the chance to play against their Test rivals Australia and India.

Recently, in the BBC's Test Match Special, Thompson said, "There's a lot of options that we've got to look at - tiers would be one of them. We wouldn't want, as England, we may go through a fallow period, and that means, what, we fall into Division Two and we don't play Australia and India? That couldn't happen. There has to be a sense that common sense needs to play out here."

Thompson feels that the ICC WTC can work in a better way with the improvement of the cricket calendar, which is congested by various T20 leagues. 

The ECB chairman added, "The World Test Championship could work better than it does. It has definitely improved the narrative, [and] it has created a relevance. Seeing what it meant for South Africa to win - who are crushed by rugby in their own country - and seeing players I know really well, like Graeme Smith, in tears on the outfield, that was a real moment seeing them win. As much as I was critical that they turned up with a 'B' team when they played New Zealand [in 2024], it was still good for the game when the underdog wins.

"But the reality of it is, the World Test Championship, if it was improved upon and certain changes were made, maybe you don't need two tiers of Test cricket. What you do need is a schedule that makes a lot more sense than it currently does, and that must include the volume of bilateral cricket that you play, white-ball and red-ball, and recognising that from 2028, we have an Olympics. So what happens in 2028, when we have an Olympics, and our best 11 cricketers have got to go to LA for two weeks in the middle of July? That is going to throw up some challenges."

Cricket Australia CEO open-minded

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Todd Greenberg wants to see stronger versions of the present middle-ranked teams in Test cricket.

Greenberg is open-minded about the two-tier Test cricket system, as he feels that it should work better for the other Test-playing nations to earn their support. He further added that the other boards' CEOs also view it similarly. 

In the long and proud tradition of Test cricket, batting consistency is the biggest differentiator to separate good from great. Uniquely, scoring fifty runs or more in an inning is not just a personal achievement; rather, it usually proves to be an important contribution that influences your team's success. The record for most 50+ scores in Test match cricket is full of household names that reigned over various eras of modern cricket.

There is one name sitting atop the leaderboard. Sachin Tendulkar is the Indian batting legend who amassed an unbelievable 119 scores of 50 or more in Test cricket. Tendulkar scored 51 centuries and 68 fifties in 200 tests, averaging 53.78. His technical proficiency, mental fortitude, and ability to play well on all continents have made his career statistics virtually unassailable for a decade. 

Chasing him down is Joe Root, the modern-era batsman from England. In Joe Root's latest Test match—England vs. India during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025—Root scored an elegant 84. In doing so, Root surpassed Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting (both on 103 fifty-plus scores) for second on the all-time list with 105. The innings was a good reminder of Root's class, timing, and judgment under pressure to steady the ship in the innings.

Most 50+ Scores in Test History 🏏🔥 pic.twitter.com/tGTIzUXbiN

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) August 3, 2025

Also read: [WATCH] WCL owner proposed presenter on Live TV after final as video goes viral

Joe Root Reaches Another Milestone in Style

Joe Root, England’s senior batter, reached another major milestone with a sumptuous 84 in the fifth Test against India at The Oval. Root showed that familiar Root style encompassing calmness, a fluency in strokeplay, and an aggression that was well controlled. After an uncertain start, the former England captain held the innings together as England established a competitive total, edging ahead of Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest player in Test history for 50+ scores.

Debuting in 2012, Root has developed into one of the best Test batters of this generation. He has 38 hundreds and 67 fifties in 158 tests, also combining some techniques of the old with modern-day adaptability. More importantly, he is calm at the crease and is adept at playing long innings under pressure, which is why he is the fulcrum of England’s top order. At 34 and in sublime form, he is not yet far away from decimating Sachin Tendulkar’s haloed record.

Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen are at loggerheads over whether Test cricket has become easier in the modern era. The debate began after Kevin Pietersen claimed that batting in Test cricket was far more difficult 20–25 years ago than it is now. According to him, the level of bowling during his time made scoring runs significantly harder.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the 45-year-old backed his argument by listing 22 legendary bowlers from that era and challenged fans to name 10 current bowlers who could match their caliber. “Waqar [Younis], Shoaib [Akhtar], [Wasim] Akram, [Saqlain] Mushtaq, [Anil] Kumble, [Javagal] Srinath, Harbhajan [Singh], [Allan] Donald, [Shaun] Pollock, [Lance] Klusener, [Darren] Gough, [Glenn] McGrath, [Brett] Lee, [Shane] Warne, [Jason] Gillespie, [Shane] Bond, [Daniel] Vettori, [Chris] Cairns, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Murali[tharan], Curtley [Ambrose], Courtney [Walsh] and the list could go on and on… I’ve named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern-day bowlers that can compare to the names above.” Pietersen wrote.

However, Michael Vaughan hit back strongly and dismissed Pietersen’s comments during a live show on Sony Sports Network. Vaughan said, “I think he’s talking nonsense.” He argued that Test cricket remains extremely challenging and that the quality of bowling in the current era is on par with any previous generation. Vaughan highlighted today’s elite bowling units, particularly praising India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, along with Australia’s renowned trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

Vaughan Defends Modern Bowlers, Calls Test Cricket Competitive

Vaughan didn’t stop there. He also lauded South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen and New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Trent Boult. “You look at the Indian seamers now; they are as good as they ever were. You look at the Australian attack; that trio that Australia had is as good as they have had. You go to South Africa, Rabada and Jansen. You go to New Zealand, Boult, Southee,” he said.

See Also: WATCH: AB de Villiers drops hint about IPL comeback for RCB after WCL title win

Vaughan stressed that Test cricket has remained exciting and competitive in recent years. He also noted that modern batters play with more aggression and bravery. “I’ve loved the last few years of Test match cricket because it has been competitive. I don’t think it has been any easier than any other era. You still have to score runs. Irrespective of the bowling you are facing, you still have to go get the runs.” He concluded, “Don’t take anything away from the current players. Look at the way they have batted. They have batted with a lot more aggression than earlier times, maybe not during Kevin Pietersen’s time.”

David Gower was one of the finest batters to have played for England. Now 68 years old, he is gradually moving on from cricket and is auctioning his cricketing possessions online. He was recently seen at Old Trafford, watching another closely contested Test between England and India.

In the current Test series between England and India, all the experts are talking about Virat Kohli. Many are remembering his heroic performances during the 2021 Test series. Meanwhile, Gower praised Kohli and his strong commitment to the longest format of the game.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Times of India, the English legend said, "It’s the most beautiful animal you’ll come across anywhere. And when people realised it was heading toward extinction, Project Tiger gave it a lifeline. I see Test cricket in a very similar way. I love it when Virat Kohli says Test cricket is the most important thing in his life and career, because that’s like 1.4 billion votes for Tests—if everyone in India follows his example."

Also Read -Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara Left Out of Duleep Trophy Squad

Test Cricket's Survival Depends on England, India & Australia

"That is a major fault in the way world cricket is being managed. It shows who has the money and who has the power. I love the way New Zealand play their cricket, and how they’ve taken Test matches to smaller, beautiful grounds and made it look attractive. South Africa doesn’t seem to care about Test cricket anymore, because the only thing that makes money for them is the SA20 league. I use the tiger as an example—the tiger was once in danger of extinction," Gower added.

David Gower said - "I love it when Virat Kohli says Test Cricket is the most important thing in his life, in his career, because that is 1.4 billion votes for Tests if everyone in India follows his work". (TOI). pic.twitter.com/haDtrv5h3S

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) August 1, 2025

David Gower’s Glorious Test Career at a Glance

One of England’s most elegant batters, David Gower scored 8,231 runs in 117 Tests at an average of 44.25, including 18 centuries. In 1985, he enjoyed a "golden season," scoring 732 runs at an average of 81.33 and leading England to a 3-1 Ashes victory. At Edgbaston on 15 August, Gower scored a career-best 215 from 314 balls, and followed it up with 157 at The Oval. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

Test cricket is undoubtedly amongst the toughest formats as it tests a player's temperament and his/her's ability to sustain pressure for five days. It tests a player's ability to adjust to different conditions. Test cricket is mentally as well as physically challenging for batters as well as bowlers. Test cricket has witnessed some of the finest performances from some high-class performers. In this piece, we discuss three bowlers who have bowled the most maiden overs in their test career.

The bowlers mentioned in the list have been legends of the game who went on to dominate the batters when it came to their wicket-taking abilities and their accuracy to bowl maiden overs consistently with their skilful variety and ability to adapt to different playing conditions and wickets. The bowlers mentioned in the list possessed skill sets depending on their strengths and temperament, but showcased consistency in bowling maiden overs. We discuss these bowlers in detail:

1.Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka-1794 maidens in 133 Tests)-

The 'Smiling Assassin', as he was fondly called during his playing days, was deadly with his turn, bounce and variety. Muralitharan showcased tremendous consistency with length, and his adaptability to change his length depending on a batter's strength was simply amazing. His flight was always difficult to judge. The former Sri Lankan off-spinner bowled 1794 maiden overs in 133 tests.

 The legendary off-spinner wasn't afraid to pitch the ball up even on flat batting wickets. Muralitharan made the batters work hard for runs even when the conditions favoured the batters. When Muralitharan bowled, it was difficult for a batting team to up the scoring rate due to his tight line. 

2. Shane Warne (Australia-1761 maidens in 145 Tests)-

The Late legendary spinner's sudden death due to a heart attack surprised the entire world in 2022. The late leg spinner turned the ball a long way even on batting wickets. Warne foxed the batters with his turn, googlies and flight, thus not allowing the batters to score runs easily.

Warne's accuracy and his ability to bowl in the right areas were his biggest strengths. Warne's faster ones always put the batters in two minds. He bowled 1762 maiden overs in 145 tests in his career. Warne used the popping crease cleverly, enabling him to fox the batters in the air. 

Also Read:ENG vs IND: Most 50+ scores by Indian openers in Tests in SENA countries

3. James Anderson (England-1730 maidens in 188 Tests)-

The former England pacer showcased terrific consistency and longevity as far as his playing career was concerned. The 43-year-old set high standards on the field as far as his fitness was concerned. Alongside his wicket-taking abilities in different conditions, Anderson could land the ball in the good length area consistently, making him an all-time great.

Anderson's ability to swing the ball both ways with the old ball as well as the new ball made it difficult for the batting team to score easily. His length made the batters work hard for runs as his pace and bounce were difficult to judge. He bowled 1730 maiden overs in 188 test matches.

The renamed 'Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy' 2025 is living up to its stature exceedingly well. Cricket fans from across the globe have been treated to some enthralling and scintillating test cricket action over the past month. With three games done and two more to go, it is turning out to be one of the most exciting and memorable clashes of all time between England and India. The latter were on the wrong side of the results in two out of the three matches and currently trail by 1-2 to the hosts. England took the lead at Leeds, were levelled in Birmingham, and came out trumps, by the barest of margins, in an intense and heated battle at Lord's. With a nine-day break between the third and fourth match set to culminate, it is almost time for the teams to go head to head, lock horns and do it all over again. The extremely anticipated test at the famous Old Trafford in Manchester is just around the corner and slated to commence from Wednesday, 23rd July 2025. 

The series is at stake, and all the talks surrounding India in the build-up have been about setting things right and making amends before it is too late. Some genuine questions arose over the Indian batters and their lacklustre performances in the third test at Lord's. Their lack of intent and application, especially in the second innings, became a subject for intensive scrutiny. Their approach and eventual inability to chase down a low score, on a tricky pitch, turned into a hot topic and the talk of the town. It is not lost on India to script a famous and fabulous comeback against all the odds. They have done and been through that previously and would hope for a similar outcome this week. To meet their expectations and justify the talent in their ranks, they must get back to the drawing board and carve out a winning tactic. To outclass England and reach The Oval, London, for the fifth and final test as being still alive in the series, the visitors must plan to field the best combination and playing eleven. They should further hope to seize those crucial moments and edge ahead in the match. 

See Also: 'India got a good chance' - Former England spinner backs India to win Manchester Test

The Three Things India must put together to win the Manchester Test

1. Fielding the perfect XI

Into the fourth test of the series, there are a few tired legs and injury concerns for the Indian team ahead of Manchester. In the bowling department, Akash Deep suffered a groin injury in the Lord's Test and is highly unlikely to play at Old Trafford, although his fitness test results are still awaited. The left-armer, Arshdeep Singh, injured himself in training and shall certainly miss the match if he were to be selected to feature. The all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, suffered an unfortunate but serious knee issue while working out in the gym and has since been ruled out of the remaining series. Setting aside all the conversations around workload management, Jasprit Bumrah, after all the confusion, is expected to play in back-to-back tests for the first time in this series. His consecutive stay was almost confirmed, in a recent interview, by Mohammed Siraj, his new ball bowling partner and a literal workhorse for the unit. Anshul Kamboj, the Haryana pacer who was part of the squad during warm-up matches, has been called as a cover and backup for the bowling arsenal. Whether he debuts or not would be interesting to see, but the likelihood of him adorning the whites is quite high.  

In batting, Karun Nair, finally, seems vulnerable to be replaced by Sai Sudarshan or Abhimanyu Easwaran. The latter has been knocking on the doors for quite some time now. Rishabh Pant injured his index finger in the previous match and did not keep the wickets for the majority of the game. He has started practicing wicket-keeping in the lead-up, but the team management might not want to risk a component of his, and this shall tempt them to play him only as a specialist batter. Dhruv Jurel becomes a certainty in such a scenario. 

Rishabh Pant could play the 4th Test as a specialist batter. pic.twitter.com/brIaXHLu7O

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 21, 2025

India's probable playing XI for the Old Trafford Test:

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan/Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj. 

2. Seizing the crucial moments

India need to fasten up their fielding and avoid being slack on the ground. During the first test of the ongoing series at Headingley, Leeds, the visitors dropped the English batters an astonishing seven times. Of these seven occasions, the left-handed opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, stationed at the slips or in the gully region, let go of the grip of the ball on four chances. One among those dropped catches proved to be extravagantly costly as Ben Duckett, after that reprieve, smashed a match-winning 149 runs to help set the foundation of England's record chase of 371 runs. Also, batters need to bat with greater responsibility and not let their hard work go in vain. They must convert their starts into big scores and relieve the pressure off the batters following them. The bowling has done extremely well, so far, on this tour, and must continue throwing its shots from the armoury. 

3. Breaking the Mental Stigma

Brushing aside the narrow and agonising loss in the third test at Lord's, India must start fresh and intense. Their test record at the Old Trafford ground, the venue for the fourth game, is not worth a look as they are yet to register a victory there in their nine previous attempts, having lost four and drawn five hitherto. Words shall be hurled at by the Englishmen, but the Indians must stay composed and let their game do the most of the talking. It will be a test of not only the skills, but also nerve, grit, and temperament. The team that plays as a unit might eventually come out of it with flying colours. In a battle that could not be more evenly matched, the margin for errors is minimal, and thus, even the pettiest of faults may become the judging factor of the five-day affair.