Yet the call-up of spinner Liam Dawson for the injured Shoaib Bashir has set selection speculation running. How many changes are England, 2-1 up with two Tests to play, likely to make? And what about the pitch and the bad blood between the teams?
Having Bashir ruled out of the rest of the series with a broken finger was bad luck for England.
That means Dawson, called up to England’s Test squad for the first time in eight years this week, is almost certain to play.
That, however, seems a long shot, especially as head coach Brendon McCullum has said that Bethell was only being considered as a batting option this summer.
Is Jofra Archer going to be ready to play again?
Jofra Archer could be rested following his exploits at Lord’s (Photo: Getty)England will be cautious given Archer’s injury history but he was back to his explosive best, with an average speed of 87 miles per hour but bowling regularly above 90mph.
With the Ashes getting ever closer, England will be reluctant to risk the fast bowler. I’d expect Archer to sit this one out.
Dawson’s batting strength also means Woakes won’t be missed at No 8.
If Archer is rested, expect Josh Tongue to come back into the attack alongside Brydon Carse, who produced his best performance of the series at Lord’s.
Will Zak Crawley or Ollie Pope be dropped?
His 189 at Old Trafford against the Aussies two years ago is relevant here for a number of reasons.
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As for Pope, his first-innings 44 at Lord’s has gained in value given the closeness of the contest.
England, aware the bowlers won them the Lord’s Test, could decide to be bold from a position of strength and replace him with Bethell for the rest of the series. But I wouldn’t bank on it.
That seems even more likely at Old Trafford, where all four of Lancashire’s County Championship matches this season have been draws.
And the aggro between the teams?
England’s time-wasting tactics at the end of day three at Lord’s lit the fuse on a tumultuous final two days, with the needle between the teams spilling over on several occasions.
Archer revealed after Lord’s that England decided to ramp up the aggression – and the sledging – as a “pack” to try and unsettle India after they had come at Crawley and Ben Duckett on that third evening.
The tactic worked, too, as India lost their nerve, if not their fighting spirit, during their chase of 193. Expect more fireworks at Old Trafford.
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