England Against India Test Series Talking Points, Kohli Factor To Stokes Absence

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England face India in the first of a five-Test series at Trent Bridge starting on Wednesday, with Joe Root's men looking to avenge their 3-1 reverse in the sub-continent earlier this year.

Below  looks at five points that could influence the outcome of what promises to be a fascinating series.

The Kohli factor

India captain Virat Kohli is one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation and on his side's last tour of England scored an impressive 593 runs. But his recent form has been below the high standard associated with his career.

In eight Tests since the beginning of 2020, Kohli has only made 345 runs at an average of 24.64, with the way New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson nipped the ball off the seam to him in India's World Test Championship final loss, an example for England to follow.

Stokes absence a worry for England

England were dealt a huge blow when Ben Stokes announced Friday he was taking an indefinite break from all forms of cricket to "prioritise his mental well-being". In 71 Tests, he has scored 4,631 runs at 37.04 as a dynamic left-handed batsman, including 10 hundreds, and taken 163 wickets at 31.38.

But more than the raw figures, it his ability to balance the team, and above all turn a game with bat or ball, that make Stokes such a valuable player. England may now be reluctant to field a specialist spinner without the re-assurance provided by their star all-rounder.

And a further concern is that if Stokes, who prides himself on being a big-match performer, is struggling with the pressure of playing international cricket amid off-field Covid restrictions, how many more players feel the same way?

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