England have decided to change their bowling attack after the humiliating 336-run defeat at Edgbaston. The inclusion of Gus Atkinson in the squad and the plan to bring back Jofra Archer clearly shows that the English camp are concerned about their limited edge in attack. But the question arises whether these changes will be able to stand up to India's tremendous batting?
Atkinson may have suffered a hamstring injury in May, but his statistics quietly say a lot. 55 wickets in 12 Tests and an average of just over 22. He can bowl long spells, extract bounce from the new ball. The special thing is that the pitch at Lord's is not as flat as Edgbaston. If there is a Dukes ball and light clouds, bowlers like Atkinson can get help. Still, do not forget that how well a bowler returning from injury survives will shape England's hopes.
There is a heated debate on Jofra Archer's return. It is not easy to enter Test cricket after four years. The fitness of a fast bowler, especially in long spells, is the real test. Archer's 90 mph speed can surprise the Indian batsmen, but the biggest question remains whether he will be able to maintain his rhythm for five days after a long injury. If Archer can bowl with full force, then he can make even the strong batsmen like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant think.
If you look at Chris Woakes' Lord's record, then confidence is born. 34 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 22. He is difficult to counter with his bowling at Lord's, but his impact was missing in Edgbaston. India's batsmen tired him. Now, if new partners like Atkinson and Archer keep up the pressure, then Woakes can take full advantage of his experience.
On the other hand, India's batting order is no joke. Shubman Gill has scored 430 runs, that too with two centuries and a double century. Pant's aggressive style can tear apart any attack. On top of that, India have depth, due to which more than 1,800 runs have been scored in four innings. In such a situation, England's hopes are linked to the conditions at Lord's. If the weather favors swing, then the trio of Atkinson, Archer and Woakes can trouble the Indian batsmen.
But India is also not dependent on batting. With the return of Jasprit Bumrah, there will also be pressure on England's top order. Already, England's batsmen have been seen struggling for runs in their second innings at Edgbaston. In such a situation, there have been bowling changes, but the batsmen will also have to respond to win.
In our opinion, this new bowling line-up of England looks good on paper, but it will not be easy to stop the Indian batsmen. Archer's fitness and Atkinson's rhythm can prove to be decisive. If the Lord's pitch helps, the match will be interesting; otherwise India's batting will wreak havoc again. Overall, England have taken the right step, but the path to victory will not be that easy. To stop India's batting strength, not only changes but also strong execution is needed.
