by England begin a busy year of Test cricket with a five-match series in India, as they look to continue their ‘Bazball’ revolution in the subcontinent.
Since Brendon McCullum took over the Test team in 2022, England are yet to lose a Test series home or away, winning four and drawing three. Their overall Test win-loss record is 14 wins and six defeats in the same period.
The last time England toured India, however, they trailed 3-1. They won the first Test but then lost the next three heavily: by 317 runs, 10 wickets and an innings of 25 runs respectively. In fact, since their famous 2-1 defeat in 2012-13 England have won just one Test out of nine in India, losing seven and drawing the other.
The tour comes as England’s white-ball side finished 2023 with a T20 international and one-day tour of the West Indies.
What is the full fixture list and schedule?
Every time in the UK
1st Test: January 25-29, Hyderabad (4 am)
2nd Test: 2-6 February, Visakhapatnam (4am start)
3rd Test: 15-19 February, Rajkot (4 am)
4th Test: 23-27 February, Ranchi (4am start)
5th Test: 7–11 March, Dharamsala (4am start)
Which TV channel is India vs England on?
As of the second week of the new year it is still unknown which TV channel in the UK will broadcast the action live from India. However, it is not unusual for television rights to arrange tours of the subcontinent at very short notice.
Radio coverage will be live on Talksport, not BBC Test Match Special. Although the BBC offered the rights, Talksport knocked them down.
Who is in the England squad?
England surprised their supporters when they announced Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old Somerset attacker, as one of three starters in their squad.
Bashir, who has played just six first-class cricket matches for Somerset, was selected on the basis of potential, presumably based on his high activity and impressive performances at a training camp with the England Lions in the UAE.
In the 16-player touring party the other two uncapped men at Test level are Lancashire left-arm spinner Tom Hartley and Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson. Hartley and Atkinson played white ball cricket for the national team.
Rehan Ahmed, the leg-spinner, is also in the squad and Jack Leach, who is returning from a stress fracture in his back, has the option of fourth spin. Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, two other spinners with international experience, have been left out.
There are four seam bowling options: James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood and Atkinson.
England’s 16-man squad for India
Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root , Mark Wood
Who is in the India squad?
India are the best side in Test Cricket, after a 1-1 draw in the three-match series against South Africa. The hosts are yet to announce their squad to play in England, but it is likely to be based on the players who toured South Africa under captain Rohit Sharma.
India’s 16-man squad for South Africa
Rohit Sharma, Srikar Bharat, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishrna, Mohammed, Mohammed , Mohammed, Mohammed. .
What are the latest Test results between the two teams?
India in England (2021)
August: Match drawn
August: India won by 151 runs
August: England won by an innings and 76 runs
September: India won by 157 runs
July 2022 (Covid delay game): England won by seven wickets
England in India (2021)
February: England won by 227 runs
February: India won by 317 runs
February: India won by 10 wickets
March: India won by an innings and 25 runs
What are the venues and locations for the Trials?
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium/Uppal Stadium
Location: Hyderabad
Established: 2003
Capacity: 55,000
Dr YS Rajashekar Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium
Location: Visakhapatnam
Established: 2003
Capacity: 40,000
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium/Khandheri Cricket Stadium
Location: Rajkot
Established: 2009
Capacity: 28,000
Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium
Location: Ranchi
Established: 2011
Capacity: 50,000
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium
Location: Dharamsala
Established: 2003
Capacity: 23,000
