England vs India 2018: 5 selections that India should make for the 1st Test

Go with Two Spinners- Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav

England v India: 2nd Investec Test - Day Four

Whenever India leave the subcontinent (except for the West Indies), the tendency of the management is to select one spinner. English pitches, however, have turned a lot over the last few seasons, especially in later in the season- Moeen Ali took 25 wickets in four tests against South Africa last summer. Thus, the Edgbaston pitch may be drier than expected, and even England have selected two spinners in their squad.

Moreover, considering the injuries to Bhuvi and Bumrah, the pace attack lacks teeth. Therefore, India should trust their best bowlers: the spinners. There might be an inclination to pick Ravichandran Ashwin, because of his experience and recent success.

However, India should instead go with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin’s record in Australia, South Africa and England is abysmal with an average of 50.74 in those countries.

Yadav is untested in these conditions but his wicket-taking in the ODI series showed that he can flourish in these conditions. Moreover, the English batsmen were completely at sea against him, and this bodes well for the Test series. Yadav has flourished in the tests he has played so far (taking two four-wicket hauls in two tests), showing that he has the requisite temperament.

Between Ashwin and Jadeja, the latter should be preferred simply because of his relative success in adverse conditions. Jadeja’s average in England, South Africa and New Zealand is a slightly less abysmal 46.16.

Moreover, Jadeja can keep it tight: his economy rate in these countries is 2.70 compared to Ashwin’s 3.18. The Saurashtra all-rounder can also provide an attacking dimension to the batting lineup, as proven by his vital innings in the 2014 Lord’s Test (Ashwin may be an equal batsman but he doesn’t provide the same attacking verve needed in the lower order). Thus, Kohli should make the unpopular decision of dropping Ashwin and playing Kuldeep and Jadeja.