It’s all square at The Oval! Who’s going to make strides towards a series lead? Joe Root‘s England or Virat Kohli‘s India? Follow it all on our live blog. For ball-by-ball commentary click here. For our coverage in Hindi click here.
10.10am: Ashwin time?
R Ashwin has a bowl in the nets © Associated Press
Once is a mistake. Twice is a choice. Three times is a habit. Will India really leave R Ashwin out for the fourth Test in a row? It’s a dark, overcast morning in south London which might tempt them to pick an extra seamer instead, but The Oval suits spin more than most grounds in England – although the pitch looks like it has a covering of grass on it.
Ashwin hasn’t played in nearly two months, but he took 6 for 27 in his most recent bowl – which was at The Oval, playing for Surrey on a turning pitch in the County Championship. Shane Warne has been pushing for his inclusion on Sky Sports this morning – there’s a surprise – but makes an excellent point that Ravindra Jadeja effectively becomes the fourth seamer, or the holding bowler, because of his ability to bowl dry and defensively. We’ll find out if India think the same before long.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo