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From leading wicket-taker in Sri Lanka to unused bowler, spinner experiences England highs and lows

Andrew Miller06-Feb-2019Jack Leach admits that his experience of spin-friendly conditions on last year’s England Lions tour of the Caribbean had led him to believe he would play a bigger role in the Test series against West Indies.On a tour that has confounded pre-series expectations – with England proving ill-prepared to compete with a pumped-up West Indies pace attack on spicy pitches – Leach has gone from being the joint-leading wicket-taker in a series whitewash in Sri Lanka before Christmas, to drinks waiter in the Caribbean.Leach had claimed 18 wickets at 21.38 in Sri Lanka in November – including his maiden five-wicket haul in Pallekele, and the whitewash-sealing wicket of Suranga Lakmal in the final match in Colombo – as England arrested a run of 10 overseas defeats in their previous 13 Tests by claiming an impressive 3-0 victory.But his return to the sidelines has coincided with England’s reversion to type in Barbados and Antigua, where they were thrashed by 381 runs and ten wickets respectively to extend a record of just one series win in the Caribbean in 51 years.”I’m four Tests into my career and it’s been two extremes,” Leach said. “That’s been interesting to experience, the highs and lows, and how more experienced players go about dealing with that. It’s about dusting yourself down to go again. That would be the main thing I have experienced.”It’s been about helping the guys and learning as much as I can, working on my game to keep improving,” he added. “The results haven’t been good but I have been excited with what I have done with my own game. I don’t feel I have wasted time, I feel like I have made improvements, definitely. I have found I’ve been down after the defeats even though I’m not playing and that’s a real positive thing.”With one Test remaining in the series, the scoreline of this latest tour is panning out much the same as Leach’s last trip to the Caribbean, a 3-0 defeat against West Indies A with the Lions last winter.However, the method of England’s dismemberment has been markedly different. The Lions repeatedly succumbed to West Indian spinners 12 months ago, not least the slow left-armer Jomel Warrican, who claimed 11 wickets on a turning pitch in Antigua but – like Leach – has been an unused squad member throughout this year’s Test series.Jack Leach juggles during a training session•Associated Press

The experience of that Lions trip almost certainly informed England’s selection for the first Test in Barbados, where Leach was the unlucky spinner to miss out as both Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were chosen instead. Rashid went on to bowl just nine overs in England’s second innings, as it became clear that they had badly misread the conditions, and he was dropped in favour of Stuart Broad for Antigua.All of which has left Leach on the outside looking in, especially after Moeen bounced back from a grim display in the first Test with a half-century and three economical wickets in the second. The chances of him earning a berth in St Lucia seem remote.”I’m ready to go but I was so impressed with Mo in Antigua,” Leach said. “We have a good relationship and his last game he bowled a serious spell and scored some runs – that showed great character after his game in Barbados. So for me he’s doing a great job and I’m learning a lot from him.”With my role I have to be patient and know when I am going to be involved or not,” he added. “I came here last year on the A tour and it ragged square, so I came here thinking I’d be more involved. It just shows they can prepare whatever wickets they want here, I guess, and these two games I wouldn’t have expected to play.”Leach admits that his situation on the England tour is not dissimilar to that of his Somerset team-mate, Dom Bess, in the County Championship. Bess showed great resolve in his maiden Test series against Pakistan last year – earning his selection after Leach broke his thumb early in the season – but, with English conditions rarely favouring one spinner in a side, let alone two, he has since admitted he may need to move counties to enhance his prospects of remaining in England contention.”It’s a difficult situation,” Leach said. “I felt for Dom last year, from playing Test cricket, we were suddenly both in the second team. Then I was first team in the Championship and he was 12th man a lot. It’s very difficult.”The thing with Dom is he’s young and spinners develop later. He can go away and play, and that could be good for his cricket, or he could stay and try to get past me as No.1 spinner, which could also push him further. There is that healthy competition, we help each other but know we’re both going for one spot at times.”With the Antigua wicket reportedly under scrutiny from the ICC following the three-day finish to the second Test, Leach recognised a similar refrain to the one he and his Somerset team-mates have been hearing for several seasons now, given the uniquely spin-friendly conditions that prevail at Taunton.”We look at spinning pitches negatively but, if it’s seaming around, we’re not too bothered,” he said. “That needs to be addressed, how they mark pitches. We need to challenge people to be better at cricket rather than complain about pitches.”I think the surface at Antigua, we’d have not come up against it in county cricket – that might not be possible. I don’t know if that comes from the top, but I think it’s a big thing.”There’s also very few times where you spend 150 overs in the field and it’s a batting paradise … then you’re looking to spin them out on the final day. So as much as I think spinning pitches are important, I think playing on flat ones is too.””You can’t do things you haven’t practised before. For me, we need players to experience different surfaces. It’s important to change attitudes. That would strengthen our international teams in years to come.”

Sri Lanka A fall 48 runs short despite Shehan Jayasuriya’s century in a shortened game

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jun-2019
Maharashtra batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad hit a career-best 187* (off 136 balls) to lead India A to a 48-run win against Sri Lanka A in the first unofficial ODI in Belgaum on Thursday.Put in to bat in a match reduced to 42-overs a side, Gaikwad led India A to 317 for 4. In reply, Sri Lanka A could only muster 269 for 6. Shehan Jayasuriya made 108 not out from No.4, but off 120 balls, with the visiting side never seriously threatening the target.Gaikwad stayed brisk from the start when he walked out to open the innings, and upped his scoring rate significantly once past three figures. He got to his half-century off 46 balls and took 94 to get to a century. His last 85 runs came off a mere 42 deliveries. He built good partnerships with Anmolpreet Singh and Ishan Kishan for the second and third wickets. Anmolpreet made a 67-ball 65 from No.3 and shared in a 163-run stand off 152 balls, while Kishan smacked 45 off 34 in a 99-run stand that came off just 65 balls.Gaikwad, who struck 26 fours and two sixes during his innings, had lost opening partner Shubman Gill cheaply in the third over, but the two partnerships that followed put India A on firm footing.For Sri Lanka A, Lahiru Kumara’s 3 for 62 in nine overs were the best figures.In the chase, Sri Lanka A plodded steadily, with the run rate hovering near five per over for beyond the Powerplay, even though they had started with an asking rate of 7.57. Opening bowlers Tushar Deshpande and Sandeep Warrier took out the openers within the first five overs, immediately putting Sri Lanka A on the back foot.Jayasuriya was involved in two half-century partnerships for the third and fourth wickets, but only captain Ashan Priyanjan showed urgency in the top order, hitting 29 off 15 balls. Dasun Shanaka also hit out, making a 31-ball 44, but he had walked in 145 for 5 in 25.3 overs, with the required rate already past 10 an over.Mayank Markande took 2 for 66 in seven overs, while Shivam Dube (1 for 35 in seven) and Deepak Hooda (1 for 24 in five) were the most economical.

Tasmania’s top three and Ben McDermott put up a solid display of attritional batting in the face of a 476-run target

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2019Faced with an immense 476-run target, Tasmania dug in and ground their way to a draw against Victoria on the fourth day of the Sheffield Shield match in Melbourne.Tasmania began the day from an overnight score of 0 for 27, and the opening pair of Alex Doolan and Jordan Silk put up a century stand, taking the side to lunch without the loss of a wicket. Silk fell to Scott Boland in the first over after lunch, for 41 off 116 balls, after which the quick wickets of Doolan (88 off 204 balls) and Matthew Wade (1 off 6 balls), raised Victoria’s hopes of inciting a collapse.Those hopes, however, were thwarted by Ben McDermott who played 98 balls for his unbeaten 5, negating an attack that had dismissed the side for 286 in the first innings. McDermott was the common factor in three partnerships that held firm after Wade’s dismissal: McDermott added 22 off 18 overs with Charlie Wakim, who himself scored 36 off 125 balls at No. 3, followed by a six-run fifth-wicket partnership with Jake Doran off 44 balls and a sixth-wicket partnership with the 18-year-old Jarrod Freeman yielded 8 runs off 51 balls.A win against Tasmania would have placed Victoria closer to a spot in the Sheffield Shield final, but with two rounds to go, Victoria are leading the table with 43.31 points. Tasmania, on the other hand, are third with a lead of just one point over fourth-placed Western Australia.

The two seamers shared six wickets between them before Australia women chased down a revised D/L target of 92

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2018
Megan Schutt celebrates a wicket with team-mates•AFP

Three-wicket hauls from seamers Megan Schutt and Nicola Carey dismissed Pakistan women for 95 and put Australia women 1-0 up after a rain-hit clash in Kuala Lumpur.Schutt strangled Pakistan from the beginning, after they opted to bat, with a flurry of maidens and two wickets in her opening spell of 5-3-13-2, accounting for opener Ayesha Zafar and No. 3 Muneeba Ali. Nahida Khan, the other opener, and captain Javeria Khan added 28 for the third wicket before Carey and 19-year-old debutant Georgia Wareham sliced through the rest of the batting line-up. Sophie Molineux, Australia’s other debutant, also impressed, with extraordinary figures of 7-2-9-1, with her left-arm spin.A long rain break after 26 overs in Pakistan’s innings – when they were 76 for 6 – reduced the match to 41 overs a side. But they lasted only 11.2 overs after that, to be dismissed for 95. Apart from Nahida and Javeria, Sana Mir was the only other Pakistan player to reach double figures. Mir remained not out on 21 off 60 balls even as wickets tumbled around her. Carey finished with career-best figures of 3 for 19 from seven overs.Chasing a revised target of 92, Australia began steadily, with openers Alyssa Healy and Nicole Bolton putting on 40 in seven overs. But Mir induced a wobble with her offspin, as Australia went from 40 for 0 to 91 for 5, losing three of those five wickets to Mir. Beth Mooney soon drove through the covers for a four and sealed the chase in 22.2 overs.

Keemo Paul three-for helps limit UAE, who were led by teenager Ali Naseer’s debut fifty

Srinidhi Ramanujam04-Jun-2023A classy 112 from Brandon King and a three wicket-haul from Keemo Paul powered West Indies to a resounding victory as they chased down 203 with 88 balls to spare against UAE, in the first of the three-match ODIs in sultry Sharjah on Sunday. While Paul was playing an ODI after almost a year, King marked his promotion to vice-captaincy with a match-winning performance.Kicking off a new era for West Indies under new captain Shai Hope and new head coach Daren Sammy, the visitors looked untroubled chasing in testing conditions, on a pitch offering turn and uneven bounce. The win comes as a boost to West Indies as they prepare for the ODI World Cup Qualifier later this month in Zimbabwe.King’s maiden ODI hundred came off 107 deliveries and he also stitched a crucial 91-run match-defining stand for the second wicket with Shamarh Brooks to crush UAE. Highlights of his innings included his three clean sixes against legspinner Karthik Meiyyappan in the 34th over of the innings. Overall, he hit 12 fours and four sixes.West Indies started the chase on a brisk note with five runs an over and maintained the run rate throughout their innings. Though it was not a difficult target on paper, West Indies had to play on a tough pitch in humid conditions. After losing Johnson Charles early for 24, Brooks played a supporting role with his 44 off 58 deliveries. Left-arm spinner Aayan Khan was able to keep West Indies at bay for some time, but it wasn’t enough to stop King. With Keacy Carty, he put on 54 runs with 47 of those runs coming off his bat.Hope hit two consecutive sixes off Meiyappan in the 36th over to seal the deal for his side.

Debutant Ali Naseer’s fifty steers UAE to 202

A fighting fifty from teen debutant Ali Naseer helped UAE put 202 on board after a collapse in the middle order.Winning the toss and opting to bat, UAE lost both openers inside the first three overs. Paul struck in his second ball when he bowled the home captain Muhammad Waseem for a duck. Left-arm pace bowler Dominic Drakes, who made his West Indies debut alongside spin allrounder Kavem Hodge on Sunday, then picked up his first ODI wicket by breaking through the defence of Aryansh Sharma in his second over.Vriitya Aravind took his time but stabilised the innings with a 70-ball 40, assembling a partnership of 31 off 54 with Rameez Shahzad for the third wicket. The stand was broken when Rameez had to retire hurt in the 12th over following a blow on his helmet off Odean Smith’s bowling. Aravind hit a few elegant cover drives and put on 44 runs with Asif Khan for the fourth wicket before being dismissed by legspinner Yannic Cariah when he nicked the ball to the wicketkeeper. He also became UAE’s highest run-getter in ODIs with this knock.From 100 for 2, UAE suffered a collapse of four wickets for 29 runs. This included the wicket of Rameez, who returned to bat after retiring hurt. Cariah was tough to score off in the middle overs and conceded just 26 runs in his seven overs. UAE, though, bounced back in the final phase of the innings, courtesy of Naseer.Coming in at No. 7, the left-hand batter provided the late push needed to cross the 200-mark. Naseer, 19, showed determination with little support from the other end and went after the left-arm spinner Hodge, hammering two sixes in the 41st over, one over midwicket and another – a slog sweep over wide long-on en route his half-century. Smith, Drakes and Hodge then kept him quiet for a few overs before Naseer holed out to long-off – Paul’s slow offcutter from outside off stump doing the trick. His 52-ball 58 knock consisted of five fours and two sixes.For West Indies, Drakes, Smith, and Cariah ended with two each and Roston Chase took one.

Shahbaz Ahmed and Abishek Porel offered brief resistance with fifties before Bengal were bowled out for 174

Sreshth Shah16-Feb-2023Saurashtra’s fast-bowling trio of Chetan Sakariya, Jaydev Unadkat and Chirag Jani made full use of a lively Eden Gardens pitch on day one of the Ranji Trophy final to bowl Bengal out for 174 in the first innings. In what is a rematch of the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy final, Saurashtra’s batters then added 81 for 2 to give them the early advantage in their pursuit for a second title in three seasons.Bengal’s batting capitulation started early when Saurashtra captain Unadkat, released from India’s Test squad to play in the final, struck in the first over with an inswinger that dismissed Abhimanyu Easwaran with a bat-pad catch to short leg. The other opener, debutant Sumanta Gupta, was out next over to Sakariya off a rising length delivery that popped to the slip cordon. Two balls later, Bengal were 2 for 3 in the first ten balls of the match, when No. 3 Sudip Kumar Gharami left a beautiful Sakariya delivery only to see it swing back in and rattle his stumps.Unadkat then switched his angle to around the wicket, and was rewarded with Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary’s wicket – edged to gully for 7. Jani soon dismissed Anustup Majumdar caught-behind for 16, while allrounder Akash Ghatak found a short ball from Sakariya too hot to handle. At 65 for 6, Bengal and their sizeable home crowd were deflated.But allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed and wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel staged a fightback, beginning before lunch and very nearly lasting till tea. Their 101-run stand for the seventh wicket started with caution early on, but as the pitch flattened out, both batters found scoring easier. After lunch, they found boundaries on both sides of the wicket to make rapid progress.Shahbaz Ahmed repaired Bengal’s innings with a half-century•PTI

The stand could have been broken had Saurashtra taken a DRS review for an lbw shout when Shahbaz was on 38. But having burned two reviews already, they were cautious. Shahbaz went on to score 69, out bat-pad to short leg while trying to nudge a Dharmendrasinh Jadeja delivery. That wicket brought in tea, and with Bengal having worked their way up to 166 for 7, there was hope that they could breach 200.However, that wasn’t to be as Saurashtra ran through the lower order inside 15 minutes after tea. Akash Deep became Jadeja’s second victim, Porel was out for 50 to Jani, and Mukesh Kumar fell to Unadkat.Saurashtra’s reply began with opener Harvik Desai (38*) counterattacking. He raced to 29 off 28 balls, even as his opening partner Jai Gohil fell cheaply to Akash. Vishvaraj Jadeja, the No. 3, also played positive shots to score 25 with five boundaries, before falling to Mukesh.But those quick runs had lifted Saurashtra to 73 for 2 by then. The nightwatcher Sakariya, the pick of the Saurashtra bowlers in the morning with 3 for 33, survived nine deliveries in Desai’s company, and when bad light stopped play, the visitors left the field much happier than their counterparts, only 93 runs away from Bengal’s first-innings total.

The incoming chairman of the association says they support the 12-month bans imposed by Cricket Australia following the Newlands ball-tampering row

Daniel Brettig03-Sep-2018Any hope that Steven Smith and David Warner may have had of a commuted suspension from playing international and state cricket has seemingly been snuffed out by affirmation of their 12-month playing bans from the chairman and chief executive of their home association, Cricket New South Wales (NSW).In their addresses as part of the submission of the NSW annual report, the incoming chairman John Knox and the continuing chief executive Andrew Jones said that while the rehabilitation of Smith and Warner was paramount after their suspensions over the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, the harsh stance taken by Cricket Australia via its code of conduct was justified.”During the season, cricket throughout Australia and across the world was shocked by the ball-tampering incident in South Africa,” Knox said. “This was particularly upsetting for Cricket NSW with two of our finest players, national captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, subsequently suspended by the Cricket Australia Board for 12 months.”Cricket NSW supports the strong stance taken by Cricket Australia. Australia’s millions of passionate fans expect that their national team not only plays good, competitive cricket but plays it in the right spirit. Our players represent all of us on the world stage. However, having been dealt harsh penalties and shown true remorse for their mistakes, it is important that the NSW cricket family supports Steve and David through these tough times and welcomes them back when they return. We are all human.”There had been some speculation from NSW that there would be an effort made to reduce the length of the bans or to change their terms to allow Smith and Warner to play in the Sheffield Shield for the Blues. However Jones, a former head of strategy at CA, described the penalties as “proportionate” to public dissatisfaction with the national team.”The 12-month bans handed to Steve and David were heavy but proportionate to the public’s disappointment. Cricket Australia should be commended for its principled stance on a challenging issue,” Jones said. “That said, it was obvious from their press conferences that Steve and David truly regret the incident.”They have accepted their punishment and are working hard to restore public faith in themselves and the game. It is important that the NSW cricket family supports Steve and David through this difficult time. We look forward to welcoming them both back onto the cricket field when NSW Premier Cricket begins in late September.”Prior to being elected as NSW chairman, Knox’s major role in Australian cricket had been to work as a key consultant to CA in successive broadcast rights deals – he also serves as chief executive of the Australian wing of the investment bank Credit Suisse. As such, he held a key interest in ensuring that the AUD 1.18 billion deal signed in April with News Corporation and the Seven Network delivered as much cash as possible, the better to direct overdue strategic funding to the lower levels of cricket in NSW.CPL T20/Getty Images

“Despite the headlines generated by the Cape Town incident, and the challenging MoU negotiation between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association that preceded it, the game continues to grow in popularity,” Knox said. “Our game has never been played by more people – men and women, girls and boys of all ages – and has never been watched by more fans either at the ground or on television.”Indeed, a matter of weeks after the South African tour, Cricket Australia signed a record $1.2 billion television rights deal which will lead to more cricket, both men’s and women’s, being shown live on TV. This also allows cricket to invest in all parts of the game, especially grass roots. This will particularly benefit cricket in NSW. We have made the case that CA has under-invested in NSW relative to smaller states for many years. At last, we are receiving a favourable hearing.”We have already received enough additional funds from CA to employ an extra 12 Community Cricket Managers throughout NSW, increasing by a third the number directly serving schools, associations and clubs. There will be many more next year, when the media rights revenue begins to flow in earnest.”Jones lauded Knox for his part in the negotiations, while also pointing out the state’s role in driving strategic decisions such as the move of the Women’s Big Bash League to a standalone slot at the start of the summer from 2019 onwards. Jones said of Knox: “In his capacity as one of Australia’s leading investment bankers gave his time pro bono to conduct the landmark media rights auction for Cricket Australia. The final deal was comfortably a record, and the game will benefit from John’s efforts for years to come.”There were bigger headlines at times, but the media rights deal was the most important story of the year. It reflected years of strategic planning and execution across Australian Cricket, especially the launch and growth of the BBL/WBBL. Cricket NSW can be very proud of the part it has played in that process.”As for the Blues’ poor recent performances, Jones described the new coach Phil Jaques as being given a brief to develop talent after the apparent failure of the generation following Smith and Warner to reach similar heights. “It was obvious that changes were required on and off the field,” Jones said. “Former Blue Trent Johnston left as head coach with our thanks and best wishes with two Matador Cup titles to his credit in three seasons.”He was replaced by assistant Phil Jaques and there was a restructure of the coaching staff and programmes. Phil’s brief is to bring through the next generation of top-class NSW talent in partnership with our senior players and, while patience may be required, we are confident he will achieve sustained success in the coming seasons.”

Jackson Bird and Gabe Bell combined to take seven wickets as Tasmania earned their second win of the season

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2018Tasmania overcame a superb rearguard hundred from Callum Ferguson and rain which threatened to scupper their hopes to secure a 189-run victory over South Australia.Ferguson had started the day at the crease and there was still there at tea, but South Australia were seven down after Jackson Bird and Gabe Bell went through the top order. However, rain delayed the resumption of the final session and when it relented 19 overs were left.Ferguson went to his century with the first ball he faced, his 219th delivery, after the break before Bird removed Nick Winter. Ferguson started to farm the strike with Kane Richardson for company but as the overs started to tick down he was pinned lbw by the impressive Bird.The match ended in the next over when Richardson was caught in the slips off Bell who finished with 3 for 44.Earlier in the day, wickets fell regularly as South Australia stumbled to 5 for 77. Debutant Alex Pyecroft continued his impressive start by having Jake Lehmann caught behind on the way to notable figures of 17-10-16-1.Ferguson and Alex Carey resisted in a stand of 55 in 13 overs, but when Carey and Joe Mennie fell in the space of two deliveries to Riley Meredith the end looked like coming swiftly. Ferguson had other ideas and nearly had a helping hand, but in the end it wasn’t quite enough.

As they did in the T20 series, India have taken an early lead on the back of some magic from Kuldeep Yadav and will be confident of inflicting a rare home series defeat on England

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan13-Jul-20182:13

Dasgupta: Buttler must bat higher up the order

Big Picture

Is this looming as a summer of torment by spin for England? The signs are heading that way. The weather continues to be hot, the pitches are dry and there are some masterful tweakers in the opposition. Eoin Morgan was putting on a brave face after his side succumbed to Kuldeep Yadav for the second time in a couple of weeks – and there is an element of truth in his comments that England won’t see many of his style – but they need a swift response at Lord’s.They showed it was possible during the T20 series, winning Cardiff after Kuldeep’s matchwinning haul at Old Trafford, with such effectiveness that Kuldeep didn’t play the deciding match in Bristol. How India manage their new wunderkind will be fascinating; he has the potential to cause all manner of problems.But it wasn’t only the impact of Kuldeep that was a concern for England. Their formidable record over the last few years has been built on the immense batting that can either set a huge target or chase one down. Now they are facing an opposition who can do the same. Chasing 268 there posed no scoreboard pressure on India, but the way they cantered to victory suggested that another 100 runs would have been well within grasp as well. There has been a challenge laid down to England’s bowlers as well as their batsmen.England will hope that the venues for the next two matches – Lord’s and Headingley – will provide conditions more conducive to them, but they are facing a side who appear to have most bases covered.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LWWWW
India WWWLW

In the spotlight

Ben Stokes has rarely had to work harder for his runs than in Nottingham. His 102-ball fifty was the second slowest by an England player in ODIs since 2001 and by 39 balls Stokes’ slowest in ODIs. Until his reverse sweep against Kuldeep – just as England wanted a late push – he was at least able to survive, even if not always convincingly but could not put the pressure back on India’s bowlers. Some rustiness is to be expected after a lengthy lay-off but England need him to move through the gears quickly.Virat Kohli is a man on a mission this tour – and he’s starting to tick with the bat. His 75 at Trent Bridge included some supreme shots, it was a surprise when he was beaten by a neat legbreak from Adil Rashid and stumped for just the third time in his career. Kohli has only played two previous matches at Lord’s – an ODI in 2011 and a Test 2014 – making 41 runs in three innings. His chance of a defining moment will come in August during the Test series, but do not be surprised if he graces the famous ground with something special this weekend.

Teams news

England tend not to overreact to a defeat so they could easily go with the same XI. Dawid Malan is now a permanent member of the squad after Alex Hales’ injury while Sam Curran and Jake Ball are there if they want to freshen up the pace attack.England (probable) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 David Willey, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Mark WoodThe only change India are likely to consider is bringing back Bhuvneshwar Kumar if he has recovered from his back niggle. He would replace Siddarth Kaul.India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 KL Rahul, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Siddarth Kaul, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Umesh Yadav

Pitch and conditions

Lord’s generally produces true pitches for one-day cricket although the bowlers can be in the game. England’s last outing there, albeit on a grassy surface that is unlikely to be seen this time, saw then 20 for 6 against South Africa. There was turn on offer in the recent Royal London Cup final. The forecast is for another warm, sunny day.

Stats and trivia

• MS Dhoni remains 33 runs short of 10,000 in ODIs.
• Kuldeep Yadav needs five wickets to reach 50 in ODIs. If he does it with another five-wicket bag at Lord’s he would become the second fastest man to the milestone (22 matches) after Ajantha Mendis
• The last time England lost two consecutive ODIs was 35 matches ago in January 2017 when they faced India in Pune and Cuttack; their last ODI series defeat at home was against Australia in 2015

Quotes

“You have to give credit where it is due, he did bowl well and we need to clarify our plans and commit to them and just be better.”
Eoin Morgan on the Kuldeep factor