The third Test of the series between India and England is all set to kick off tomorrow. The game will be a day-night affair at the newly built Motera Stadium. The game is arguably the most crucial encounter of the series with the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the line. Ahead of the encounter, England captain Joe Root was all praises for young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Pant has been in great form lately having played four fifty-plus innings in his last four Test matches. Lauding the youngster, Root shares that Pant’s fearless brand of cricket makes him a difficult batsman to bowl to. But he adds that the opposition will get chances when Pant is in the middle. Root asserts that it is all about grabbing those chances when it comes to keeping the southpaw tamed.
“He (Pant) is a fine player and plays some extraordinary shots. He makes it very difficult for some bowlers to bowl at him. But more than anything, (it is on us as to) can we keep him quiet and can we make it difficult for him to really take us on. And find ways of either getting him off the strike or get him out. Rishabh is extremely talented and he has got a great game. But he will give you a chance and we just got to be ready to take that when it comes,” Root said during the virtual press conference.
The duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad might feature at Motera confirms Joe Root
It has been long since the legendary duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad has been in action together. With the pink ball set to offer some help to the pacers, the duo might feature in the third Test. Root confirms the news as he hails it is as a “great selection headache to have”. He is positive that Anderson and Broad’s experience could see Englan clinching the third Test to take a lead in the series.
“Yes, they have got a chance. It is a great selection headache to have and to have all of these bowlers performing and giving us variety. We feel that we can pick a team that can best suit the conditions.“
“The records that they (Anderson and Broad) have and the things that they produce, especially in the last couple of years, is the reason why they are up there with the top three bowlers in the world. They are consistently getting better and the older they get, they are using that experience to their advantage. I am sure there will be opportunities where they will get to play together in the near future and much further down the line as well. The records that they set will be very difficult to surpass,” he said.
The result of the Test will decide which team is the first to crash out of the race for the WTC final. A win for a side means the other’s hopes of making it to Lords are squashed. On the other hand, a draw will end England’s hopes of making it to the final.
