The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the lineup for the last Test in the ongoing series against India. With just one alteration from the previous match, where they endured a defeat in Ranchi, England seeks redemption in the fifth Test commencing at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday, March 7.

Mark Wood steps in for Ollie Robinson, while James Anderson retains his spot despite featuring in three consecutive Tests, merely two wickets away from the coveted 700 mark.

Battling for Redemption in Dharamsala Amidst Series Defeat

Robinson’s lackluster performance in Ranchi saw him exit the XI, despite his notable contribution with the bat alongside Joe Root. The official statement from England Men confirmed the change, asserting the team’s readiness for the final showdown.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, and Shoaib Bashir.

Ben Stokes, the England captain, accentuated the positives gleaned from their tour despite the series loss, highlighting significant improvements in fitness and overall performance.

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England’s journey in India saw debutants Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley showcasing promising bowling displays, with Hartley’s seven-wicket haul in the series opener being particularly notable. Despite such individual efforts, England’s quest for victory remains unfulfilled, conceding the series 3-1 to the hosts.

Rohit Sharma’s imperious century gave India the edge over England after three days of a fascinating fourth Test at The Oval. Rohit was commanding in making 127 – his first Test hundred outside India – leading the way as the tourists reached 270-3, a lead of 171. He added 83 for the first wicket with KL Rahul, then 153 for the second with Cheteshwar Pujara, who was impressive for 61.

Ollie Robinson struck twice in the first over of the second new ball to see off Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara (61), giving England something to cling to after managing a solitary breakthrough in more than two sessions. Rohit is renowned as one of the greatest one-day batsmen in history but there was one notable blind spot on his Test CV – with all seven of his centuries coming in home conditions.

In a series that has been fascinatingly contested and a Test that had seen the sides arm wrestle for three days, India may have made the decisive move. Faced with overheads that would have encouraged the bowlers, the tourists collectively stuck to old-fashioned Test values to bat themselves into a position from which they will be considered favorites.

There were times when England was flat, the mood of the home team as dark as the sky overhead. Some of England’s problems are of their own making. They could have bowled India out more cheaply on day one and been more ruthless with the bat on day two. In total, they have missed six catches. They are not out of this contest – early wickets on Sunday with a ball that is only 12 overs old may yet mean their fourth-innings target is within reach. However, England will have to be near-perfect from now on if they are to emerge victoriously.

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Rohit finally cures travel sickness

Rohit is one of the finest white-ball openers of all time, but his growing stature in Test cricket has been built on performances in India. In, his 25th away Test, he played with discipline, determination, and control to finally reach three figures overseas. After he was missed by Burns on Friday evening on six, the same man put down a diving one-handed chance at second slip off Robinson when Rohit was on 31.

Rohit capped his impressive efforts in the series with a superb 127, his first-ever overseas ton, helping turn a first-innings deficit of 99 into a lead of 171 by the time bad light drew in. India finished on 270 for three and is poised to make life extremely difficult for the hosts, with captain Virat Kohli ominously positioned to lead the charge on day four.

Reprieved, Rohit moved to his slowest half-century in Test cricket, from 145 balls with only two fours. Though his defense remained solid, he needed just another 59 deliveries to go to 100, bringing up the milestone with a majestic six over long-on off Moeen Ali. Pujara painfully rolled his ankle early in his innings, yet played with uncharacteristic fluency, especially on the cut. The drama of the second new ball brought The Oval to life, but Kohli’s continued presence is ominous for England.

England finally rewarded

This was a back-breaking day for England. Though the clouds were present virtually throughout, the hosts were faced with the batting of the highest class on the flattest of pitches. There were times when England looked weary. There were others when an attack of four fast-medium bowlers lacked variety and the off-spin of Moeen was manipulated.

The dropped catches have proved incredibly costly and Joe Root’s side was strangely reluctant to go short – Rohit barely faced a bouncer until after tea. Even when the breakthrough came, it was from a Robinson loosener, a long hop that Rohit inexplicably helped to long leg. Five balls later, Pujara inside-edged onto his thigh and was adjudged to have been caught at third slip on review. As the light worsened, Root was told he could only employ spin, which he did for two overs before deciding it was too comfortable for the batsmen, and when England tried to go back to pace, the umpires intervened.

He eventually fell to the first delivery of the second new ball, an underpowered short one from Robinson, but by then his stands of 83 alongside KL Rahul and 153 with Pujara flipped the game heavily in the tourists’ favor.

The tourists had scraped and clawed their way back into the game on day three, reaching 215 for two to clear much of their foreboding 354-run deficit, but saw their resistance reduced to rubble as England squared the LV= Insurance Series 1-1 in emphatic fashion. Ollie Robinson completed a five-wicket haul as England thrashed India by an innings and 76 runs to win the third Test at Headingley on Saturday with more than a day to spare.

The hosts leveled the five-match series at 1-1 after India’s 151-run success in the second Test at Lord’s. The tourists, 215-2 overnight, collapsed to 278 all against the new ball as they lost eight wickets for 63 runs in 19.3 overs during a mere 103 minutes’ play on the fourth morning.

Robinson, in just his fourth match at this level, returned Test-best figures 5-65 for a match haul of 7-81. India’s 278 all-out, however, was 200 runs more than their woeful first innings 78 — made after captain Virat Kohli won the toss — which saw England’s great James Anderson rip through the top order with 3-6. “It’s a great day,” Root told the BBC after his 27th Test win as England captain surpassed the record previously held by Michael Vaughan.

From the moment Cheteshwar Pujara was out without adding to his overnight 91, lbw playing no shot to Robinson, England was in complete command with Kohli falling soon afterward for 55 — his first fifty of the series — when he was caught in the slips by Root off Robinson. Ajinkya Rahane (10) edging Anderson to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler before Rishabh Pant (one), reaching for a wide delivery, nicked Robinson to third slip.

If you are reading this, I hope you know what happened yesterday. NO! Then what are you waiting for, click the link and see how Pujara and Kohli turned out for India on Day 3: India vs England, Day 3, 3rd Test: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli Hold Firm For India In Leeds.

England’s victory, which saw Root make 121 — his third hundred of the series and sixth in Tests this year — in a total of 432 on the Yorkshireman’s home ground, followed a poor last day at Lord’s. Asked if England’s revival had been a surprise, Root replied: “It might be for you but it’s not for me because I know the talent we’ve got and what we’re capable of.

Ollie Robinson takes it all away from India for England with his 5ver.

England took eight wickets for 63 as they blew their rivals away with a relentless whirlwind of probing pace bowling and unflappable catching. Robinson was the star performer, taking four big wickets to wrap up fine figures of five for 65. Robinson has become an increasingly important figure in a pace attack missing the injured Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Olly Stone, with all-rounder Ben Stokes out of action due to mental health issues.

“To get a five-for at Headingley, where I started my professional career, is very special,” said player of the match Robinson. “I enjoy bowling here and to bowl with Jimmy is an absolute honor. I learn from him every day.”

Meanwhile, Kohli, one of Robinson’s wickets a spell of 4-25 in eight overs on Saturday, praised the Sussex seamer by saying: “He understands his skills really well, understands angles, swings the ball both ways, is very consistent and especially in these conditions. A real find for them.” ‘Crumbled’ -Kohli, whose side must regroup quickly before the fourth Test at the Oval starting on Thursday, insisted he had no regrets about batting first as he put India’s collapse on Saturday down to “scoreboard pressure”.

“We knew we were always up against it when you are all out for 78 and the opposition then puts such a big score on the board,” he said. “The English bowlers were outstanding today. The pressure was relentless and difficult to deal with. The batting order crumbled.” India resumed on Saturday on 215-2 but, with 80 overs bowled, England took the new ball straight from the start of Saturday’s play.

Now the only question was whether India could keep the match going beyond the lunch interval. They could not for all Ravindra Jadeja made 30, with the recalled paceman Craig Overton (3-47) ending the match when he had Mohammed Siraj caught in the slips for a duck to the delight of the sun-drenched crowd of more than 16,000. England was done before lunch, back in a series that had threatened to slip through their fingers and will head to the Kia Oval next week in the ascendance.