Image Credit- AFP
On a cracked Ranchi pitch, England will take on India
in the fourth Test, which will see Ollie Robinson and Shoaib Bashir rolling the
dice in a must-win match. The only two changes from the 434-run loss to India
in Rajkot are these two, who will take the places of Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed.
England is now 2-1 behind and really needs to win this five-match series.
After suffering a back spasm during the first innings of the third Ashes Test
in July of last year, which also happened to be his last competitive match,
Robinson will play his maiden Test in India. James Anderson, who bowled 38
overs in the third Test at Rajkot and finished with match stats of 1 for139,
will bat beside him.
Bashir, an offspinner from Somerset, was also selected ahead of Rehan, the
second-highest wicket-taker for the squad with 11 wickets at 44 from three
games. The 19-year-old has bowled with great effort, but in Rajkot’s second
innings, he was singled out by India’s batsmen and finished with 1 for 108 from
25 overs.
The choice to go with Bashir’s highly actioned finger-spin instead of Rehan’s
wrist-spin shows that England thinks the surface Stokes mentioned is
“interesting” and will help create a fast-paced, spin-friendly game.
Dan Lawrence of Surrey, who can provide occasional off-spin and strengthen the
batting, was also a contender for Bashir’s position.
Rather, Bashir will form a slow-bowling duo with Tom
Hartley and Joe Root. After being forced to miss the first Test of the series
in Hyderabad due to visa concerns, Bashir made his debut in the second Test at
Visakhapatnam, taking 3 for 138 and 1 for 58 in the match.
Robinson will be wearing his 20th cap, and his choice is an indication of
confidence in the 30-year-old. He has been dismissed 76 times at an average of
22.21, although issues have always been raised about his endurance and ability
to deliver several periods at a consistently difficult spot throughout the
course of a Test match. He gets the opportunity to prove his value as a Test
bowler once more when England needs it after working hard to increase his
fitness over the past nine months.