With Ben Stokes cleared of his allegations following a year of lengthy legal processes, he has joined the England test squad immediately as they lead the series against India 2-0.
The addition of Stokes only bolsters the England squad as the all-rounder is arguably one of the finest cricketers in the world on his day.
Stokes or no Stokes?
However, the question on everyone’s lips is whether he can recapture his form from before the incident, when he was the best player in the IPL and performed for England in all three formats.
Stokes has missed seven of England’s past 11 Tests, dating back to the Ashes, but he did play in England’s first Test with India at Edgbaston this summer, taking 4-40 in India’s second innings as England won by 31 runs.
If he can return to this sort of form coming back into the squad, it is hard to look past England getting a third win in this series as the tourists have struggled with the conditions in the UK.
England took a 2-0 series lead by thrashing India by an innings and 159 runs in the second Test at Lord’s as James Anderson starred, returning match figures of 9-43 and claiming his 100th wicket at the ground.
Ageless Anderson
If Anderson can continue his fine wicket taking form into the third Test, England stand every chance of maintaining their winning form - Anderson is sat at 2/1 to be England’s lead wicket taker.
India have looked poor this series, struggling to deal with England’s bowling - only Virat Kohli has really managed to deal with them and he seems to have picked up an injury in his back, but India have no choice but to play him.
Ishant Sharma has been India’s best man with ball in hand, managing to get it to swing and he has the best chance to get wickets against a solid England order – odds for him to be India’s top wicket taker sit at 16/5 for the third Test in Nottingham.
Joe Root has endured mixed form as captain, but he has won two very good tosses to win in this series and looks as though he’s setting the right fields at the right times.
Captain’s Ton?
He hasn’t hit a century in a while and it looks as though he is struggling to balance both responsibilities like Alistair Cook did for much of his time as captain, however, these two wins will give Root momentum and he tends to thrive when he has it.
The Test captain has odds to be England’s top run scorer of 5/2 with Alistair Cook sitting at 16/5 to lead the run chase.
Root has claimed England are targeting a 5-0 historic win over the tourists and with Ben Stokes’ return, James Anderson’s wicket taking habits and India’s uncharacteristic poor form, things seem to be heading in that direction.
We believe England will make it 3-0 in this series with a comfortable win at Trent Bridge starting on Saturday with betting odds at 4/7.
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