Hit For Six: England youngsters urged to step up against India

England’s much-anticipated Test series with India begins on Wednesday and this week’s Hit For Six focuses on the match-up between the two cricketing giants.

The absence of England talisman Ben Stokes has dominated the build-up to the opening Test with India.

Stokes, 30, is taking an indefinite break from the game for mental health reasons and looks set to miss the rest of the English summer.

While skipper Joe Root was quite rightly more concerned with his team-mate and friend’s well-being than how it affects his side, it does leave England with a big hole in their line-up.

Many of of Root's top-order batsmen were already under pressure and former Test star and commentator Geoffrey Boycott has called on them to step up to the plate.

Writing in The Telegraph, the 80-year-old said: "Stokes is England’s best player because he performs under pressure and delivers in tough situations. In his absence the batsmen will have to step up to the plate and perform better.

"So often the exceptional talent of Root and Stokes has got England out of sticky situations, with occasional help from the tailenders.

"But let’s be frank, bowlers are there to take wickets and batsmen to score runs. Put simply, England’s top six batsmen have to do better as a unit."

One of those young stars looking to secure his spot in the side ahead of this winter’s Ashes is Ollie Pope.

Regarded as the brightest batting talent in the country, Pope has only made one century in his 19 Tests and currently averages 31.50.

Pope, alongside Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence, will be under pressure to score big runs against Virat Kohli’s men. 

Not that he needs telling.

Pope, 23, said: "You always want to get the big scores.

"Obviously a two-match series comes and goes pretty quickly. It was frustrating not to kick on [against New Zealand] and make a bigger score.

"But I felt really good in the middle and sometimes that's just how cricket goes — you can feel really good and be playing really well and then suddenly you're out.

"So hopefully I can get myself in, kick on and get a big one. But there's always pressure on you to perform and score the big runs.

"I always try to approach each match in the same way and try to give myself the best possible chance of making a big 100."

Pope’s technique came under intense scrutiny during the short series with the Black Caps as he shuffled across his stumps and became a prime candidate for lbw decisions.

But the Surrey man has opted to shut out the noise and back his own judgement.

He added: "When I first played, people said I should stand a little further across and it would help me leave the ball.

"Then, when I did, I was hit on the pad and suddenly I was standing too far across. You have to be stubborn and work out what’s best for you. 

"I averaged 60-odd for Surrey earlier this season batting this way against international bowlers, so there’s some sort of method to it. Everyone has their opinions but you have to know your game better than anyone."

Curran keen to grab chance

The absence of Stokes and fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes means a big opportunity for Sam Curran.

Since playing all four Tests as England beat India 3-1 in 2018, the left-arm seamer has failed to nail down a regular spot in the side.

Though Curran, 23, usually impresses when in the side and is often said to 'make things happen', he has yet to claim five-wicket haul or make a century in Tests.

But there is a real chance he will play all five matches over the next month.

Speakng to ESPN Cricinfo, he said: "I'm really excited — five Tests against India in England with the crowds back. 

"I love playing in front of the fans. It gives you that extra adrenaline and rush to keep performing.

"I haven't played a red-ball game for a while, so I feel pretty fresh. I got away from the game for a bit in terms of getting a rest. 

"The basics stay pretty similar. The patience element comes into it a bit more [in Tests] but I don't change too much. 

"You've got to be prepared for bowling a lot more overs, batting a longer period of time. Fielding's a longer situation. 

"The group had a training day the other day at Loughborough, where we went through some nice bowling spells, getting those overs back in the body."

And Boycott sees the chance to give Curran a set role for the series as a bonus for Root and coach Chris Silverwood.

He added: "The one bright spot for England is an opportunity with no Stokes or Woakes to let Curran play all five Test matches and give the team all-round balance.

"So far he has played 21 Tests but popping in and out of the team is not an ideal way to get the best out of him. 

"He has done well in the IPL and England’s Twenty20 team but batting wise he only goes in late for a quick slog. This should be a great opportunity for him to play the whole series in English conditions. 

"His left arm over swing bowling gives the team something different and he needs to show he can bat properly and put some good scores together."

India’s opening problem

India have not enjoyed an easy build-up to the First Test.

It is still unclear who will open for Kolhi’s side after Mayank Agarwal was ruled out with concussion on Monday.

Agarwal, who was only expected to play after Shubman Gill had to return to India with a shin problem, was hit on the helmet by Mohammed Siraj during a net session.

Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran travelled with the squad as a reserve player and could play.

Prithvi Shaw has been called up from the India white-ball squad, who have just finished a series in Sri Lanka, but quarantine rules means he is unlikely to be available until the Third Test.

It means KL Rahul, who has opened 33 times in 36 Tests, may be moved back up the order following an impressive 101 in a warm-up game last week.

Hanuma Vihari is the other option for India as vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane ruled out the prospect of putting dogged No3 Cheteshwar Pujara at the top of the order.

He said: "Pujara is our No3 batsman. Who'll open our innings we are again finalising our combination, it's not yet finalised. 

"Pujara has been really solid for us as No3 and he'll continue to bat there. 

"As [far as] opening bat [goes], the captain, coach and management will decide the combination and you'll get to know soon."

India’s only Test since the series win over England came in the World Test Championship final, which they lost to New Zealand in June.

Their much-vaunted bowling attack looked short on form and fitness in Southampton, which is not something coach Ravi Shastri is concerned about.

Shastri said: "The WTC was a very tough ask for our bowlers. Long days in quarantine, when you can’t get out for practice and then when you can, you are stuck in your room afterwards.

"Playing the WTC final shortly afterwards was tough. So if they were short of a gallop it was understandable.

"They had played very little first-class cricket and been in lockdown. 

"People find it hard to understand — in India it’s far different to England or Australia in lockdown. You can’t get to parks as you might in England. If you are stuck in an apartment in Mumbai, that’s it. 

"Whatever you have to do you have to do in that 2,000 sq ft of space or whatever it is. 

"It’s not been easy and it showed in the WTC. They were good for the first innings but in second innings it showed."