Cricket is a team sport. Performance of the whole squad matters the most in it. The longest version of cricket tests the skills, endurance, hunger, nervousness, excitement, brainstorming skills and the character of the team as a whole. But each and every single player is put through a test individually and this makes it even more nerve-wrecking. Performance of each player matters and brick by brick, the structure comes into life. Plans are made specifically for such players. It gives life to a battle of minds; minds fighting each other and the cricket ground a battle field for them. These battles decide the fate of the match and it makes everything little bit more interesting. 

Let’s take a look on battles within the battle during India vs England Test series

Alastair Cook Vs Ravinchandran Ashwin

Alistair cook has to be one of the most consistent run getters in Test cricket for England. He became the highest run getter, player to score most numbers of centuries and fastest to score 10,000 runs (in terms of time taken) for England. His records are phenomenon. He is an anchor, Mr. Reliable and a player whose technique oozes class. And when it comes India, he did everything right. He scored 1735 runs (2117 most against Australia), averaging 54.21 (57.40 highest against West Indies), and his highest of 294 came against India as well. His technique makes him a player who ticks all the right boxes. He is going to prove difficult for the Indian bowlers.

But if there’s one bowler who should be licking his fingers in excitement is Ravichandran Ashwin. He is the main strike bowler for Virat Kohli. It’s a great responsibility as well a chance to prove himself once again. He just needs to improve his record against England. He doesn’t have a single 5-wicket haul against England as he has just taken 17 wickets in 10 innings with best bowling figure of 3/72. And one thing is for sure -- his skill level is way too high for this type of kiddish record against any opposition for that matter. India is playing five-test match series in their own back yard after quiet a long time. This is one-up for Ashwin already. Pitches will assist him, his batsmen are in top form, English players are not good at playing spin traditionally and he is the aggressive off spinner. All sums up to an advantage but this cannot be the deciding thing. Let’s wait and watch. Exciting times ahead!

Joe Root Vs Ishant Sharma

Root is one of the most talked about players in the world cricket currently and it’s for all good reasons. He has created a niche for himself, gained respect from his opposition, scored runs all over the globe and providing us, the lovers of cricket, with a feast every times he bats. His average against India is higher than Mount Everest. He averages whooping 101.83, scoring 611 runs in just 9 innings played against India. Most of these runs came in his debut series in Indian sub-continent as well. This should clear out the air about his talent and his ability to dominate bowlers. He will prove to be a hard nut to crack for the Indian bowlers.

On the other hand, Ishant Sharma was on fire when he was playing England in their backyard in 2014. His best bowling figures came in that same series where he took 7/74 in the historical win at Mecca of cricket, Lord’s. He has now returned to the squad after recovering from illness. He is fresh, well rested, experienced and motivation won’t be an issue for him. More over his performance at Lord’s should be fresh in the minds of English players. He will make it count.

Virat Kohli Vs James Anderson

Kevin Pietersen said in a recent interview that Virat Kohli is a class above the rest and he shouldn’t be compared to Joe root or any of the other payers. Not only he obliged the talent of Virat Kohli but also gave a tribute to his hard work, determination, work on small details and his desire to win. His records are exceptional, his work ethics are world class and his target should be to make some amends in his record against English bowlers. He has played 17 innings in which he just scored 322 runs at an average of 20.12. This is very low if compared to his overall average of 40.90. He will rectify the situation in his hands and will make changes in record book.

There is no better sight in world cricket than James Anderson delivering a perfect out swinging delivery, displaying perfect seam and rattling the stumps in the process. This can never go out of fashion, one can never get bored of this and he is ‘The bowler’ captain’s dream about a night before the match. His experience is a great asset. He possesses the art of ‘reverse’ swing, which is rare of a non-sub-continent bowler. He has the control needed to execute reserve swing in Indian sub continent conditions and does it with ease. His record is amazing, just too good. He took 82 wickets in just 37 innings and also bowled 191 maiden overs against India.He is a serious bowler with serious pace, control, variation and class. He should be one bowler, Indian batsman should be careful about.

Ajinkya Rahane Vs Stuart Broad

Mumbai produced another gem of a player for India in Ajinkya Rahane and this match winner is about to get into the mix of folds. He has scored run all around the globe, on fast pitches, against fastest of the fast bowlers, in conditions not friendly for the batsman, and mostly importantly, he was given a special place on the honor’s board of Lord’s when he scored a match winning century in 2014. Something which even God, Sachin Tendulkar, couldn’t achieve. That in itself is something amazing. And now he is going to play in homely conditions; with his talent and shear will power, he should be a game changer for India. Time will reveal the truth, soon.

You know how many runs Stuart Broad leaked to get a single Indian batsman’s out?? His average per wicket against no. 1 team in the world is just 23.34. That means he gives away just 230 to get the whole team out. That’s not bad and if he bowls as economical as he can, it’s going to be an uphill task for the Indian cricket team. He has a brilliant bouncer, good slower one and he bowls in a great channel. Teams like Australia has been put to the ground single handedly by him. He doesn’t talk much on the field but he makes sure that his bowling speaks. Be prepared for ooohh’s and aahhh’s and OMG’s!