India vs England: Ishant could be dropped for Oval Test, Ashwin may get his first game

India
vs
England:
Chris
Woakes
returns
as
Silverwood
names
15-member
squad
for
fourth
Test

Ishant’s
figures
of
22-0-92-0
were
worst
among
the
Indian
pacers
as
England
scored
432
runs
but
more
importantly,
the
veteran
looked
jaded.
The
gingerly
run-up
never
transformed
into
the
bustling
Ishant
that
the
fans
are
accustomed
to
watch.

He
bowled
primarily
in
the
late
120kmph
and
early
130kmph
but
was
hardly
penetrative,
effectively
turning
India’s
attack
into
three-pronged
pace
unit.
There
has
been
no
confirmation
whether
Ishant,
who
has
had
a
history
of
ankle
injuries
as
well
as
side
strain
issues,
was
fully
fit
during
the
third
Test
match.

Skipper
Virat
Kohli
refused
to
speak
about
Ishant’s
performance
after
the
match
but
did
indicate
that
there
will
be
changes
keeping
in
mind
the
workload
of
the
pace
bowlers.
However
Ishant,
who
didn’t
play
the
first
Test
has
bowled
56
overs
across
three
innings
with
five
wickets
to
show
for
his
efforts.

It’s
clear
that
during
this
English
summer
since
the
World
Test
Championship
final
Ishant
does
not
seem
to
have
the
sting
when
he
bowls
third
or
fourth
spell.

Meanwhile,
all-rounder
Ravindra
Jadeja’s
knee
scan
report
hasn’t
revealed
any
significant
damage
but
off-spinner
Ravichandran
Ashwin
looks
favourite
to
start
in
the
fourth
Test
at
the
Oval
from
September
2.
It
is
still
not
clear
whether
India
will
plan
to
go
in
with
two
specialist
spinners
but
Ashwin,
who
had
a
great
county
game
for
Surrey
at
the
same
venue
won’t
be
benched
at
least
in
this
game.

In
case
of
Ishant
going
out,
the
choice
would
again
be
between
Umesh
Yadav
and
Shardul
Thakur.
Shardul
with
his
better
batting
abilities
has
his
nose
ahead
but
Umesh
is
certainly
a
better
red
ball
bowler
than
the
Mumbaikar.
But
with
Kohli
clearly
pointing
out
that
workload
will
be
monitored,
it
remains
to
be
seen
whether
the
seasoned
Mohammed
Shami
with
11
wickets
from
96.5
overs
is
rested
to
keep
him
fresh
for
the
final
Test
or
Jasprit
Bumrah.

Bumrah
has
bowled
the
maximum
overs
among
Indian
pacers
(108
overs)
taking
14
wickets.
The
pacer
is
expected
to
play
most
games
for
Mumbai
Indians
in
the
IPL
and
is
very
important
member
of
the
T20
World
Cup
team.
The
other
pacer
Mohammed
Siraj,
who
is
only
a
couple
of
months
junior
to
Bumrah,
has
bowled
100.5
overs
in
the
series.