5 Indian Test issues that remain unanswered

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav vs Ravichandran Ashwin vs Ravindra Jadeja

England v India - 3rd ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

In previous decades, India have placed their spinners on a back burner on trips outside the subcontinent. The Men in Blue have usually opted for one spinner on such tours and that player tends to be used as a defensive option.

This has intensified in recent years as Ashwin and Jadeja have become India’s preferred spinners. Both struggle outside the sub-continent: the duo has a combined one five-wicket haul in 30 innings (in Australia, South Africa and England).

This record will have to improve if India are to have a chance against England. Both are unsuited on green pitches: Jadeja’s darts are ineffectual in non-spinning conditions while Ashwin usually resorts to bowling a defensive leg-stump line.

However, there is some hope that at least Ashwin has improved: he took four wickets in the second test of the South Africa series.

Yet, another spinner has appeared which may challenge Ashwin and Jadeja’s dominance in tests. Kuldeep Yadav has been fantastic in his limited test opportunities so far: his four-wicket haul was crucial for India’s victory in last year’s incredible series with Australia.

More importantly, Yadav was fantastic in the limited-overs leg of this tour, suggesting an ability to bowl well in English conditions.

If India elect to go with two spinners (in an attack with five bowlers), then Yadav could be used as an attacking option combined with the comparatively defensive bowling of Ashwin or Jadeja.

If India choose to go with one spinner, it is likely to be Ashwin considering the paucity of left-handers on the English side and the fact that India will not want their sole spinner to be leaky.