IND vs ENG: England's pace spearhead eyes 400th match in Dharamshala Test

IND vs ENG: Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson is on the brink of another remarkable achievement in his illustrious cricketing career. The 41-year-old, Anderson is currently accompanying the English team in India for a five-match Test series against the home team led by Rohit Sharma.

With four matches already played, both teams are gearing up for the fifth Test at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on March 7. This match holds special significance for Anderson as it will be his 400th international appearance, making him the 39th player to reach this milestone. Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 664 appearances. Anderson has represented England in 186 Tests, 194 ODIs, and 19 T20Is, where he claimed a total of 985 wickets. The upcoming Test will be his 187th Test match.

Pace spherehead's new record

Anderson has numerous world records, including being the leading wicket-taker among pace bowlers in Test cricket, with 698 wickets to his name. He needs just 11 more wickets to surpass the late Shane Warne's tally.

The ongoing Test series between India and England has been intense, with both teams fiercely competing across the four matches played so far. While England secured victory in the first Test in Hyderabad, India staged a remarkable comeback, winning in Vizag, Rajkot, and Ranchi. Rohit-led 'Men in Blue' has taken the inaccessible lead of 3-1 in the five-match Test series. 

Does England stand a chance against India in Dharamshala?

Despite losing the series, England aims to salvage pride with a win in the final Test in Dharamshala. A victory could also help them improve their standings in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.

Before the fifth Test, Anderson and several England teammates were spotted enjoying a recovery session in Dharamshala, exploring the picturesque Dhauladhar mountain range.

England cricketer James Anderson and his teammates enjoying a refreshing dip in a local khadd in Dharamshala 😍 pic.twitter.com/JQravFPLvM

— Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) March 6, 2024

England's team combination for fifth Test

For the fifth Test, England has decided to stick with their seam-bowling lineup, making only one change from the XI that lost in Ranchi, with Mark Wood replacing Ollie Robinson. Despite discussions about the inclusion of three quality pacers due to expected cold conditions and a seam-friendly pitch, England has chosen to maintain their current composition, underscoring the confidence in their bowling resources despite the challenging conditions awaiting them in Dharamshala.

England's playing XI for the 5th Test:

Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes (C), Foakes (WK), Hartley, Wood, Bashir and Anderson. pic.twitter.com/ZYwkG8RZDq

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 6, 2024

England XI for the fifth Test:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, and Shoaib Bashir.