England ring changes in bid to draw level

Match Facts

November 26-30, 2016 Start time 9.30 local (0300GMT)

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It was route-one to victory for India in Vizag: win the toss, bat big, get the spinners to work, allow the pitch to wear, then back to the spinners. But they have been challenged enough by England – more than by recent visitors – over the first two Tests to suggest they can’t afford a slip.

In the past, a trip north to Mohali may have brought the encouragement of some extra assistance for the quicks, but that was not the pattern last year against South Africa and, judging by the look of the pitch this time, the pacemen will not be leaping out of bed in the morning.

There are five members of the England squad, including captain Alastair Cook, who will have fond memories of fighting back from 1-0 down on the 2012-13 tour but as Nick Compton, another member of that side recalled, that was a team chock full of experience. For this England to emulate that comeback would be astonishing, but it is not impossible.

As has been the theme throughout the Bangladesh tour, and now India, England will tinker with their XI but, fundamentally, they will need runs from Cook and Joe Root if they are to compete. The middle order is strong – the development of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow continues to impress – but it is mighty difficult if you fall behind.

With that in mind, England have to be able to stay in the contest should India put a big first-innings score on the board. They played some impressive cricket on days three and four in Vizag, but the game was lost during the final session of the second day when they slipped to 80 for 5.

There was an understandable air of confidence from Virat Kohli as he spoke after the second Test: it was a solid performance and he contributed 248 runs with batting on a different level to anything else seen in the contest. His opening-day century was the first time in 13 innings against England that he had …

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