India vs England, 5th Test: Old rivalry, new look | Cricket News – Times of India

Both India & England have fresh management but the spotlight will also be on some familiar foes in the rescheduled fifth Test starting today
Unlike the India-Australia contests, the India versus England rivalry has been devoid of personality clashes like Shane Warne vs Sachin Tendulkar or Glenn McGrath vs Tendulkar. There were only brief episodes in the early 2000s when Nasser Hussain and Sourav Ganguly clashed with their unique captaincy styles.

It was only after the 2014 series, when Jimmy Anderson had Virat Kohli for lunch, breakfast and dinner, and Kohli responded in style in 2016 at home and 2018 away, that a clash of personalities got top billing.
This one-off Test starting at Edgbaston on Friday will perhaps be the last time that one will see the ageing warhorse go up against the currently out-of-form Indian great. Fans of both sides will be focused on how these two greats line up against each other.
Anderson, who replaces Jamie Overton in the England squad for this Test, has rediscovered his love and passion for the game after admitting briefly that he thought of quitting the sport after being dropped against West Indies. He may have lost pace and a bit of zip, but give him the Dukes cherry and a nervy batsman with three slips and a gully waiting, and you will suddenly see him transform into a magician, thanks to the skill that he possesses in moving the ball.

Ditto for Kohli. It is no secret that the restless, hungry and energetic performer in him loves a grand stage. The competitor in him yearns for a contest with the best. During Covid, with restricted crowds or no crowds in the most iconic of stadiums, that performer in him was almost anesthetised and there was a sense of going through the motions.
Anderson has been the antagonist for him and he knows perhaps this is the last time that he will be up against his nemesis. He would want to leave a mark. In 2018, Kohli scored a century for the ages on this very turf, and he would give anything for an encore.
Perhaps a one-off Test scenario where the memory chip of previous series has been formatted, will suit him.

While Anderson and Kohli will be expected to dominate the narrative, one should not forget Joe Root. Amidst the ruins before the resurgence sparked off by the Stokes-McCullum duo, the Yorkshireman stood tall and did not let the crumbling fortunes of his side eat into his head space while scaling dizzying batting peaks. Among the Fab Four comprising Root, Kane Williamson, Kohli and Steve Smith, the Englishman is currently head and shoulders above the rest. He also scored three centuries in the four Tests of the series.
There was a sense of despondency and apprehension among Indian supporters, never mind the hype created by broadcasters through cheesy adverts and jingoistic catch lines, after the manner in which England defeated New Zealand and the way in which key Indian players either showed up sick or injured.

But one needs to keep in mind that Jonny Bairstow will be up against quicker bowlers in Bumrah and Shami. Hitting them through the line with the regularity that he was in the series against New Zealand won’t be easy. Ben Stokes will have to think twice before waltzing down the ground against Siraj.
This Indian attack will keep coming and keep attacking. They also have bowlers who can slow the momentum and play the game of attrition. With vital Test Championship points at stake (India are third and in with a chance; England are sixth and unlikely to make the final), expect another intriguing contest.