The last stop of the high-profile Test series between India and England will be at The Kia Oval in London, where the fifth and final of the rubber is set to begin on July 31, Thursday. As usual, the overhead conditions will be firmly in focus, given the behaviour of the pitch will largely depend on that.
According to Accuweather, the chances of showers are 65% on day 1 of the fifth Test, while the cloud cover will remain at 93%. Thunderstorms are also expected in the afternoon, with cloud cover remaining at a high of 77%. The probability of precipitation stays at 60%, as is expected to be the case in the afternoon. Although the team winning the toss might want to bowl first due to the conditions, the weariness of both sides' bowlers might mean they bat.
Weather conditions of London morning. | (Credits: Accuweather)
Weather conditions of London evening. | (Credits: Accuweather)
Both sides are expected to make changes, especially in the bowling unit due to largely unhelpful tracks in England. According to reports, Jasprit Bumrah is certain to miss the Oval Test, with developments indicating that Arshdeep Singh will get his maiden Test cap.
Team India coach gets into verbal altercation with Surrey groundsman
48 hours before the final Test of the series, Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir had been involved in a heated chat with The Oval Ground's chief curator as a video of the same had been surfacing on social media. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later addressed the incident in the press conference and said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"When some of us coaches went to see the wicket, a member of the groundstaff said stay away at least 2.5 metres, which was a little surprising. Because it is the pitch, the match is starting day after, it will be a five-day Test, and we're standing in our joggers, so we felt a little awkward."
Team India had defeated England the last time these two sides played at The Oval.
