The colorful HPCA Stadium is a relative newcomer to Test cricket, ranking 114th out of 122 venues to host the men’s game. But Toblerone, located 1,317 meters above sea level, with a backdrop of snow-capped Himalayan peaks and eagles soaring overhead, is arguably one of the most breathtaking.
Add in the presence of the Dalai Lama, whom England cricketers will meet on Wednesday, a day after the fifth Test, and the Tibetan people living in exile in Dharamsala; this one is among the most fascinating. Although India won the series, those attending the region’s second Test match (the first since Australia lost by eight wickets in 2017) must feel pretty blessed.
Relating to: The series may be over but England still have plenty to play for in the final Test | Ali Martin
This all seems like a good antidote to what is known in cricket as take-off hall syndrome; the wave of collective mental exhaustion that can come with a defeated tour before a series is completed. It’s not like Ben Stokes thinks of the situation this way. The England captain is in awe of the pitch – the barrage of photos on social media couldn’t be further from that – but he is also confident of India’s motivation despite an unassailable 3-1 lead.
“I don’t think anyone was thinking that way,” Stokes said of the thoughts returning home Tuesday. “We think the opportunity to play for England is special. That’s our mentality and mentality no matter where you are or how long you’ve been away. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact that it’s pretty special here.”
There are of course some milestones this week, like 100 Test caps for Jonny Bairstow and Ravichandran Ashwin, Jimmy Anderson needing two wickets for 700 or youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal needing a single nudge to break Virat Kohli’s record in India there is. 655 runs in a Test series against England. Stokes shrugged off his 100th cap earlier in the tour, calling it “just a point”, but the sentiment was different for the buzzing Bairstow.
“This will probably be a more emotional thing for Jonny than it ever was for me,” Stokes said. “He has his mother, his sister, his partner, his little son and some friends here. Playing for England means a lot to him. I’ve been there many times with him for most of his career, from age-group cricket to playing against him or for England. “He is one of our best batsmen across all formats and has done some incredible things.”
The match can also be seen as the end of the first half of Bairstow’s Bazball project, which he launched in 2022. Stokes has no tenure as captain but Brendon McCullum has signed a four-year deal as head coach until the end of the season. 2025-26 Ashes. The New Zealander, unlike his predecessors, is not one to think too much about the future, but he is still working in the same cycle that England’s Test side have long run.
After a very fast start with 10 wins from 11, where a brave new culture was established, results tapered off as the quality of the opposition improved and the ledger now reads: 22 played, 14 wins, seven defeats, one draw (rain). A similar trend will follow over the next two years with series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer, returns to Pakistan and New Zealand next winter, followed by the final two clashes with India at home in 2025 and the next jar from Australia. will come with an attempt to take it back.
England (possible): Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes (c), Foakes (wk), Hartley, Wood, Anderson, Bashir
India (possible): Sharma (c), Jaiswal, Gill, Patidar, Jadeja, Sarfaraz, Jurel (wk), Ashwin, Kuldeep, Bumrah, Siraj
Therefore, the end of this tour may be a point to evaluate; To decide which areas need to be renovated. Harry Brook’s expected return is natural and will have a knock-on effect on the goalkeeper. Seam stabilization needs to improve given Anderson’s age and Ollie Robinson’s unreliable fitness. Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir have done enough to challenge Jack Leach’s first-choice spinner status, however unfortunate.
“If you take the results alone you’d say we’re going backwards,” Stokes said, offering a broader assessment of the tour. “But we didn’t. Individuals and the team improved greatly on this tour. “Progress doesn’t always show up in results.”
Stokes talked about fitness and attitude despite the middle order struggling and winning important moments eluding England. He again denied that the latter was a mental problem, pointing to India’s superiority in his home country. “The only thing you can do is try your balls in the nets because that’s where you’ll get better,” he added. “We’re not the driving force that a lot of teams seem to be when they come here.”
Stokes was still reflecting on his final XI on Tuesday; He was torn between the atmosphere, similar to the regional fixture in April, and the handsome cowboy hat-wearing head groundsman Sunil Chauhan, who prepared a flat, beige pitch. Speaking ahead of the personal milestone, Ashwin said the ground “feels like an away game in India at times” but that will help his run scoring before off-spinning later in the competition.
Be that as it may, India cannot be said to have not covered all the bases, with the home team welcoming back Jasprit Bumrah after he missed the fourth Test to catch his breath. England were eyeing the return of Mark Wood, most likely Robinson, after last week’s rusty performance. But even if the game is three-seamer – Bashir is nursing a sore spinner finger as his workload reaches a new level – uncapped Gus Atkinson looks more likely.
Whatever the final selection and subsequent score, an unforgettable week awaits us in the Himalayas.