 The fourth and the final Test match between India and England will be played
from August 18 and will be played at the Oval in London. England have already
won the series by taking a 3-0 lead and will be looking to make it a one-sided
rout, by winning all the four matches in the series as well. However, the Indians,
more than the rout will be worried about the fact that if they lose the series
4-0 will be gone down to the fourth position in the Test match world.
Click for Live Score Card of England Vs India
It is interesting to see that only has India lost the three games, they have also
struggled to even get close to the English side. The first game, they had a chance
to draw the game by batting through the last day of the game but in the second
Test match they lost by more than 300 runs and in the third Test, it was an innings
and 250 run defeat to the world champions, hardly an easy thing to fathom.
Injuries have obviously been an issue in the series and it was no better as
the side will now go into the fourth Test match without, in all probability
the presence of Praveen Kumar. Praveen injured himself after bowling
so many overs in the first three Test matches that it was only likely that even
without the injury he would find it difficult to play the game because of sheer
exhaustion.
On the other hand, the big question is whether he has anyone else to replace
him in the squad. The answer is either Munaf Patel or RP Singh, but how
match fit the two of them are is anyone's guess. Munaf hasn't played too many
games since injuring himself in the West Indies, whereas RP Singh has only jsut
landed in England and was never in the radar for the selection.
Interestingly, for the second time, it will be England who have injury issues
as well, what with their best bowler, James Anderson feeling the grief
of playing so many games. It remains to be seen whether he will make it through
to the playing 11 but if he does not, Steven Finn or Graham Onions could
replace him in the squad.
The pitch will be hard at Oval and life could be difficult for the Indians yet
again.
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