Washington in Birmingham?

With Ten Doeschate admitting that India are set to play two spinners, focus shifts to tweakers ahead of 2nd Test

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Chennai

WITHIN a few hours on Monday afternoon, the two contrasting management styles of India and England were laid bare. The hosts, up 1-0 in the five-match series, named their XI for the second Test, beginning at Edgbaston from Wednesday. As expected, they will play an unchanged side. Jofra Archer was included in the long list, but they were never going to risk him with less than 20 red-ball overs in his legs over the last few seasons.

In sharp contrast, the Indian think-tank stuck to their template of not giving a lot away two days out from the Test. Will Jasprit Bumrah play? "He's available but..." was the gist of Ryan ten Doeschate's summary. The smart money is on the Indian pacer missing the Test.

That, however, leaves Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill & Co. to mull over other decisions. Do they stick with three pacers or try to diversify the bowling attack? With the square at Edgbaston dry and Bazball pitches tending to be on the flatter side, there could be a temptation to bring in Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav.