England spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel has hinted at the team’s possible playing XI in the fourth Test against India in Ahmedabad. They lost the third Test inside two days at the same venue and were eliminated from the World Test Championship race. Meanwhile, India needs to ensure that they do not lose the fourth Test to book a berth in the final against New Zealand. England, on the other hand, would like to play spoilsport to India’s hopes.

After England’s selection on a spinning track was heavily criticized in the third Test, they will look to choose the best-suited playing XI according to the conditions in the final Test.

England spin coach Jeetan Patel has also been questioned over the nature of the bowling unit that was chosen for the pink-ball Test. The tourists only fielded Jack Leach in the XI while Joe Root rolled his arm around as a part-time spinner.

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England Bowling Coach Sheds Light On Probable Playing XI For 4th Test

“Look, it is India, it is Asia. We expect to get spinning surfaces, maybe we did not expect to take spin as early as it did and hence the line-up we picked. It was a tough pitch to play on and we got on the wrong side of it. In the first innings when we won the toss, 112 was not going to be enough on any surface — spinning, flat or seaming. We were excited when we bowled India out for 140-odd. But again it did not click in second innings. If we had scored 200 or 230 in the first innings, the game could have been different,” Patel said at a virtual press conference.

Another major difference between the third and the fourth Test is that the final Test will be played as per the normal timings and will be a day game. Also, the red-ball will be in use rather than the pink ball which swings more under lights.

Picking three spinners, England dearly missed Dom Bess and Moeen Ali as the spinning options. Skipper Joe Root almost covered up for them picking five wickets with the ball, still, England ended up losing the match.

England Squad For Fourth Test

Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Daniel Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ben Stokes, Dominic Sibley, Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, Jofra Archer, Ollie Pope, Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow

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