 "Test cricket returns to HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala with India vs England fifth match. PTI")
England will be hoping for some relief in the fifth and final Test against India at Dharamsala given that the prevailing weather conditions will favour the visitors more than Rohit Sharma and Co. But Team India has every intention to spoil their party by dishing out a slow turner at the HPCA Stadium. The match starts on 7 March and as per the weather forecast , the Day 1 of the fifth Test can witness rain and temperature could dip to as low as 7 degree Celsius.
Such conditions are expected to assist swing bowlers including veteran James Anderson. However, a report in Indian Express says that India are most likely to opt for a slow turner instead of a green-top wicket. It was also shared that the curators will prepare the final pitch only after a talk with the team management. Currently, due to unpredictable rain, curators have not been able to work on the pitch.
One of the major reasons for India opting for a slow turning pitch is the fact that similar pitches helped them bounce back in the series after a defeat in the opening Test at Hyderabad. India bounced back with victories at Visakhapatnam, Rajkot and Ranchi and all three pitches were largely slow turner but the ball didn’t turn as sharply as it did in Hyderabad. Team India management wants to have a similar track that favours their strengths.
If the pitch turns out to be a slow turner the chances of India making any change to their spin combination is very less, with R Ashiwn Ravindra Jadeja and Kuleep Yadav being frontrunners. In the pace department, India are expected to bring back Jasprit Bumrah in place of Akash Deep, despite the Bengal fast bowler shining on his debut in Ranchi. Bumrah was rested at Ranchi but should come back given the World Test Championship points at stake.
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