Follow UsTeam India will be looking to make a comeback in the five-match Test series against England in Birmingham after going 0-1 down in the first Test in Leeds. It is going to be an important Test match as defeat here will put India in a must-win situation in the remaining three Tests.
Looking at the toss in Birmingham in recent years, like Leeds all matches have been won by the Team batting second. But of the four Tests, captains have decided to bowl only once. The average first innings score is 349.
India have a terrible record in Birmingham as they have lost seven of the eight Tests at this venue. Since 2000, India have lost in every way as they have lost by an innings, failed to chase and defend a target as well.
In the last four Tests in Birmingham, England have managed to win only two of those with one against India in 2022, where they chased a massive target of 378 with ease.
There are talks of Kuldeep Yadav coming into the playing 11 for Team India for the second Test. But the record for spinners in Birmingham has been terrible since 2021 as they have smashed been on fresh day one pitch, with them going at runs at 5.1 runs per over. They have failed to take wickets in the remaining days of the Test match as well. With the England batters set to come in with an attacking mindset, the chances of this plan backfiring is very high.
Across the four innings, pacers have been good in the first three taking an average of eight wickets per innings. Both pace and spin has been hammered in the fourth innings though. Spinners, on the other hand, have been decent in third innings and have been horrible in the second innings, averaging 71.8
England have been outstanding in playing aggressive cricket in Birmingham as they have maintained a run rate above four runs per over. They are outstanding batting in the second innings as they have averaged better than first innings and have scored at 4.5 runs per over. On the contrary, the visitors while batting in the second innings have struggled to score runs and have averaged below 25.
Looking into the second Test in Birmingham, Joe Root will be expected to be the best batter for England as the right-hander has an average of 70.8 with eight 50+ scores in 16 innings at the venue. Among Indian batters, Rishabh Pant will be expected to continue his good form from first Test as his record in Birmingham is terrific, with him averaging 101.5 with a fifty and a century in the two instances he has batted here.
Ben Stokes has done well in Birmingham, taking 20 wickets with two four-wicket hauls. Chris Woakes also has done well on his home ground too, taking 13 wickets. Barring Prasid Krishna, the other four Indian bowlers played in Birmingham the last time they were in England in 2022. Siraj was expensive, going at 6.2 RPO while Shardul was worse, as he averaged 113 while going at 6.3 RPO.