India's Bumrah dilemma, England search for top order stability

INDIA must make a crucial call on the fitness of star pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford.

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England can clinch the series with a victory in Manchester but they have top order questions to resolve, while Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja will be looking to repeat their third Test exploits.

Here is a look at three talking points ahead of the first day of the Test today:

Trailing 2-1 in the five-match series after their painful 22-run loss at Lord's, India cannot afford another defeat if they are to win a Test trip to England for the first time since 2007.

That perilous position has increased the pressure to make the right decision on the fitness of Bumrah.

India coach Gautam Gambhir made it clear at the start of the series that Bumrah would only be available for three matches due to a nagging back injury.

Bumrah, 31, played in the first and third Tests against England, with India losing both matches, and missed the second game, which the tourists won.

If India opt to use the world's top ranked Test bowler in Manchester, it would likely rule him out of a potential series decider in the fifth Test.