ENGLAND v INDIA: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Thursday’s 4th Test between England and India which gets underway at The Oval on Thursday. Find out the recommended BETDAQ bet.

MATCH OVERVIEW:

After another dramatic Test match between these two sides at Headingley last week, we have a quick turnaround as the sides head back to London for the fourth Test at The Oval. We’ve had plenty of memes over the last few days that you don’t wind up Jimmy Anderson, and while they are 100% correct, England benefited a lot from pitch conditions on the first day. It adds another layer of spice to what has been a wonderful series though, and one doesn’t have to wonder for long as to what England have asked for from the groundsman at The Oval! Whatever kind of pitch we get, it promises to be another excellent Test match for trading on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.

Virat Kohli was keen to insist that the type of defeat won’t bother them mentally going into this Test match, but 78 all out is always a worry for any side – regardless of how big or small they are. Perhaps it’s a positive that they managed to get to 215/2 before losing the third wicket on that score in the second innings – but they quickly collapsed again to 278 all out. Worrying signs after starting the series so strongly. In theory, conditions at The Oval should suit India but surely the England staff will be putting in a request for a seam friendly pitch. They have to – that’s what home advantage is all about.

We all knew batting would get tougher as this series went on because we run so much into September. Conditions will get cooler, the ball should seam more, perhaps we’ll get more rain. Ironically we got a lot of rain at the start of the series when we thought September would be worse! India need to bounce back – another collapse of any sort here and you can see England steamrolling the series 3-1. This Test is massive. Even a draw for India here would be reasonably good given the big picture.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

After the first two Tests had weather interruptions, it’s good to see a good weather forecast for this Test. Hopefully it stays that way as it’s the long-range forecast at the moment; generally the weather is reliable in London though. We haven’t had a recent Test here – the last Test was an Ashes Test back in 2019. England won by 135 runs that time and the scores were 294 for England in the first innings and then 225 for Australia followed by 329 and 263 respectively. In the Test prior to that, which is all the way back in 2018 – England beat India by 118 runs. Those scores were 332 for England followed by 292 for India and then 423/8d and 345. Those scores might seem meaningless depending on what pitch the groundmen have prepared for England however – I’m sure they will be aiming for a seam friendly pitch.

RECOMMENDED BET:

Up until the last Test, India looked the better side. The 78 all out does change the dynamic of the series in my opinion however. I know Kohli said it won’t affect their mentality but it does. If we get a seaming pitch here and India get put in first, I can see England bowling them out for a low score again. That will obviously give them a huge edge in the game and with the forecast set fair, I can’t see a draw. Joe Root scored another wonderful century again, but I do worry how England will cope if he got out early. This is a fascinating Test to be honest, so many questions to be answered, however a small bet on England looks the value call pre-off.

The Edge Says:
One point win England to beat India at 2.38 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQEngInd4

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

A lot of the in-running strategy depends on the wicket, so spend a bit of time doing research on that. You’ll get little previews on Twitter in the morning of the game or the evening before, then watch what they say at the toss and then eventually you’ll see the pitch report on Sky before the game. If it’s as seam friendly as Headingley, you want to be on the bowling side first regardless of who is batting – however I would put stakes if England bowl first given they were all over India in the last Test.

Joe Root is the big wicket for India, and although the England openers did well in the last Test, in generally they are still worth taking on in my opinion, especially if batting conditions are tricky to start with. The best time to bat is probably day two and three – so that’s when you look for trades on the batting side.