India might have already won the Test series against England but the two sides have one more match to play which begins in Chennai on Friday. India will be looking to tie their record for Tests won in the same series and to increase this incredible winning run they are on. England are back here for ODIs after Christmas and will want to leave with a win.
India
The home side may well be 3-0 up in the series but the series clinching win was once again achieved in the same manner as the previous two with England being right into the game until a crucial lower order first innings partnership took things away from them. It is that strength and that depth which makes India so hard to beat.
That isn’t the only reason of course. They are at home and are using that advantage to full effect although in fairness I wouldn’t say that the pitches that have been produced have been outrageous turners but the point is that they haven’t needed to be. This could be the most spin friendly pitch of the series which you would think will massively benefit India.
England
The fact England are yet to name an unchanged side in the series suggests they haven’t really had a clue about conditions or indeed what their best side is which over four matches is quite some statement. Of course they have been unlucky with injuries taking out the likes of Haseeb Hameed and Stuart Broad but that doesn’t detract from their issues being off the pitch as well as on it.
Quite simply England’s fielding and bowling has been substandard so far and if they are to get anything out of this match both facets need to improve. Playing devil’s advocate they will argue they were in strong positions in almost all of the matches so far but strong positions are one thing, a lack of a killer instinct is quite another.
Team News
It shows where India are at the minute that they are considering playing an unchanged side in this match even though the series is already won. There is talk Ishant Sharma could feature but that might be unlikely.
England are expected to give Liam Dawson a Test debut as they go back to playing three spinners. Jimmy Anderson has been ruled out with injury while Stuart Broad faces a fitness test to be fit. If Broad doesn’t make it Chris Woakes and Jake Ball will be the seamers.
MA Chidambaram Stadium
This will be the 32nd Test match on this ground and the first one in three years. As you would expect India’s record here is good. They have 13 wins and 11 draws with six defeats and a tie from those previous matches but England have a decent enough record here too with three wins from eight efforts.
We see it in the IPL every year but the wicket here is made for spinning and the longer the match goes on the more the spinners will dominate. It should be noted that the recent cyclone in the area has left everything pitch wise a bit damp so there might be more in it for the seamers early than in any of the previous matches in the series.
Betting
It is never easy betting on a dead rubber but this one is slightly easier as two men have totally dominated this series and there are value bets to be had on both.
This series has been all about Virat Kohli. England controlled him in Rajkot when he made just 40 but since then he has banged in first innings knocks of 167, 62 and 235. His only first innings here saw him make 107 against Australia three years ago so with the form he’s in the odds against on him passing 50 in the first dig looks incredible value.
Ravi Ashwin is the other man who has shone in the series. In the two matches where the wickets have turned like I expect this one to do he has hauls of 5/67 and 6/112 in the first innings. In that Test here in 2013 he finished with figures of 7/103 and 5/95. There is no sign of Ashwin’s form declining so the 7/4 he takes five in the first innings here looks good too.
Jos Buttler showed a lot of maturity in the first innings in Mumbai last week and that bodes well for him to have a decent first innings here. We know he can clear the ropes should the need to be positive occurs but we also saw him able to grind things out and with Liam Dawson coming in after him Buttler should have longer to build a substantial innings. At 8/1 he’s fair value to lead England’s first innings run scoring.
Tips
Back V.Kohli – First Innings 50 for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Ladbrokes
Back R.Ashwin – 5 or more wickets in first innings for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
Back J.Buttler Top England First Innings Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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