Ben Stokes' England take on an India team under new captain Shubman Gill at Headingley on Friday in the first Test of a five-match series. The visitors are embarking on a new era without heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they seek to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
AFP Sport looks at three key battles that could define the series, which comes at the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bumrah v England's top order<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Jasprit Bumrah can lay claim to being the best all-format bowler in world cricket today, with his Test figures of 205 wickets at under 20 apiece putting the paceman alongside the greats of the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But with five gruelling matches to come in less than seven weeks, Bumrah, who suffered a back injury in Australia in January, is unlikely to feature in every game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Blessed with a unique action and an ability to generate sharp pace off a short run, the 31-year-old is one of the most difficult bowlers for batsmen to face.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He was crowned ICC men's cricketer of the year for 2024 after taking 71 Test wickets at a remarkable average of just 14.92.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Wisden editor Lawrence Booth described Bumrah as "uniquely challenging" as he was named the leading men's cricketer in the world in the 2025 edition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England's hope is that they can blunt Bumrah, forcing him to bowl more overs than he would like. If they achieve that it might be half the battle won.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Skippers: Stokes v Gill<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Shubman Gill would love nothing more than to lead from the front in his first series as India captain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The 25-year-old, however, has a modest Test batting average of 35 in 32 matches and a paltry average of under 15 in three matches in England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gill has a tough task in shaping a new-look side without retired star batsman Kohli and former skipper Rohit as he targets India's fourth series win in England following triumphs in 1971, 1986 and 2007.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He will be pitting his wits against Stokes, who has repeatedly demonstrated a priceless ability to inspire those around him since succeeding Joe Root as England captain in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But are his superhuman all-round powers waning?<\/p>\r\n\r\n It is now two years since Stokes made the last of his 13 Test hundreds, a remarkable 155 against Australia at Lord's, and he has been dogged by injuries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n However, the 34-year-old remains a threat with his lively medium pace, showing again in last month's Test win against Zimbabwe his enduring ability to take wickets at key times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Keepers: Smith v Pant<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n It is increasingly rare for a Test wicketkeeper to be selected purely on the quality of their work behind the stumps, with runs now a major factor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Nobody better exemplifies this trend than India's Rishabh Pant, who averages just over 42 in 43 matches, with six hundreds, and has the ability to dismantle attacks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n At his sharpest, Pant is capable of spectacular dismissals in the field, although there are occasions when he can appear to lose concentration.<\/p>\r\n\r\n His presence on the field is something of a minor miracle given he was out of the game for 15 months after being seriously injured in a car crash in December 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England 'keeper Jamie Smith, 24, is just 10 Tests into a highly promising international career, averaging a shade under 43 after displacing Surrey teammate Ben Foakes, widely regarded as the superior gloveman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n