England vs India 5th Test Preview & Tips - India backed to continue dominance

India lead England 5-2 in their last eight Test matches. The current series sees India lead 2-1 with one match to play. 

In the 4th Test of this series India bounced back to win by 157 runs at The Oval.

England’s return to some sort of form on the Test stage came to a crushing halt as they lost the 4th Test by 157 runs to India at The Oval. England have now suffered six defeats in their last 10 matches.

After winning the 3rd Test to draw the series level, England would have been full of confidence when they arrived at The Oval. It started well as a Chris Woakes (4-55) inspired England bowled India out for 191 runs.

Ollie Pope top scored with 81 runs as England posted 290, a 99-run lead. Unfortunately for England the pitch flattened out and India went on to score 466 in their second innings.

Left with a  368-run target or a day and a bit to bat for the draw, Rory Burns (50) and Haseeb Hameed (63) got England off to a fine start. On the last day things however fell apart as England were bowled out for 210 runs.

Jos Buttler has returned to the squad and should fit straight back into the team. Moeen Ali is expected to keep his place while dry conditions might bring the selection of Jack Leech into the equation. 

India once again showed their class as well as their ability to hit back against the odds. They dominated the first two matches but only managed the one win. England then drew level in the 3rd Test but India have now regained the lead.

Virat Kohli scored a second successive fifty while Shadur Thakur hit 57 in a 191-run total as India batted first at The Oval. Umesh Yadav took 3-76 as India dismissed England for 290 runs.

In a perilous position with a 99-run deficit, Rohit Sharma batted magnificently for 127 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 61, Virat Kohli 44, Rishabh Pant 50 and Shardul Thakur 60 runs as India posted 466 runs.

India bowled superbly on the final day to dismiss England for 210 runs with Yadav again the pick of the bunch, taking 3-60. That 157-run win ensures that India only need a draw from the final match to claim the series.

Old Trafford has a history of providing some spin late in the Test match. This may be enough to see the inclusion of Ravi Ashwin in the side, but conditions will determine that on the morning of the match.

The rest of the side should remain unchanged.