International cricket tour
The Indian cricket team toured England in August and September 2021 to play five Test matches.[1][2] Prior to their matches against England, India played New Zealand in the 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final at the Rose Bowl in Southampton in June 2021.[3] The Test series were the first matches of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship.[4]
In May 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a request to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to adjust the schedule of the tour to accommodate the remaining matches of the 2021 Indian Premier League.[5] However, a change would impact on tickets that have already been sold and the need to reschedule matches in The Hundred.[6] On the second day of the third Test, England players wore black armbands in remembrance of former England cricketer Ted Dexter, who died on 25 August 2021.[7] Likewise, on the first day of the fourth Test, Indian players wore black armbands in remembrance of former Indian cricketer Vasoo Paranjape, who died on 30 August 2021.[8]
The first Test of the series ended in a draw, after more than two days of play was lost across the duration of the match to rain.[9] India won the second Test by 151 runs, in the final hour of the fifth day, to take a 1–0 lead in the series.[10] England won the third Test by an innings and 76 runs before the lunch break on day four, levelling the series 1–1.[11] It was Joe Root's 27th win as captain, the most by a captain of England in Test cricket.[12] India won the fourth Test by 157 runs, to lead the series 2–1 with one match to play.[13]
On the morning of the scheduled start of the fifth Test of the series, both cricket boards confirmed that the match would not start on 10 September 2021, following positive COVID-19 results in the Indian team.[14] The ECB then issued a statement to say that the Test match had been cancelled,[15] as India were unable to field a side.[16] Clarification on the result of the series was sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the match referee Chris Broad.[17] The BCCI issued a statement saying that they were working with the ECB with the aim to reschedule the match.[18] In September 2021, the ECB announced that India would play a one-off Test match in 2022, ahead of India's limited-overs matches against England.[19] The following month, the ECB confirmed that the rescheduled match would determine the outcome of the Test series.[20] After being set a target of 378 runs, England won the fifth Test by seven wickets to record their highest successful run chase in a Test match,[21] with the five-match series being drawn 2–2.[22]
Squads
India also named Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Arzan Nagwaswalla as standby players.[27] In May 2021, K. S. Bharat was added to India's squad as cover for Wriddhiman Saha.[28] On 6 July 2021, the BCCI requested that Shubman Gill returned to India after suffering with a stress injury.[29] Prior to the warm-up matches, Rishabh Pant tested positive for COVID-19, and did not travel with the Indian squad to Durham, with Pant remaining in quarantine.[30] After Pant's positive test, four more of India's contingent also tested positive and were quarantined in London for ten days.[31] On 21 July 2021, the ECB announced the 17 member squad for the first two Test matches.[32] On 22 July 2021, Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar were both ruled out of India's squad due to injury.[33] On 25 July 2021, Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav were announced as replacements for Gill, Khan, and Sundar.[34] Abhimanyu Easwaran was also added to India's main squad from the group of reserve players.[35] Mayank Agarwal was ruled out of India's squad for the first Test after suffering a concussion during a training session.[36] Prasidh Krishna, one of India's standby players, was added to the main squad for the fourth Test match.[37]
On 30 July 2021, England's Ben Stokes announced that he would be taking an "indefinite break" from all cricket with immediate effect.[38] Craig Overton was added to England's squad as his replacement.[39] Ahead of the second Test, Moeen Ali was added to England's squad.[40] Saqib Mahmood was also added to England's squad for the second Test, as cover for James Anderson and Stuart Broad.[41] Stuart Broad was later ruled out of the rest of the series after suffering a tear to his right calf.[42] Dom Bess and Ollie Pope were both released from England's squad, allowing them to play in the 2021 Royal London One-Day Cup.[43][44] Dawid Malan was added to England's squad for the third Test, replacing Dom Sibley.[45] Ollie Pope was recalled to the squad for the match, with Zak Crawley being released.[46] Jack Leach was not included in England's squad, but remained on standby for Moeen Ali.[47] Mark Wood was ruled out of England's squad for the third Test after suffering a shoulder injury in the previous match.[48] Wood and Chris Woakes were recalled to England's squad for the fourth Test.[49] Jos Buttler missed the match due the birth of his second child, with Jonny Bairstow keeping wicket, Sam Billings added as wicket-keeper cover.[50] Moeen Ali was also named as the vice-captain for the match.[51] Saqib Mahmood was released from the squad, allowing him to play in the 2021 County Championship for Lancashire.[52] Billings was released from England's squad during the fourth Test, to play in the 2021 County Championship for Kent.[53] Jos Buttler and Jack Leach were both recalled for the fifth Test.[54]
In January 2022, following India's third Test match against South Africa, Virat Kohli announced that he had stepped down as India's captain in Test cricket.[55] On 22 May 2022, the BCCI named their squad for the rescheduled match against England, with Rohit Sharma leading the Test side.[56] In June 2022, Mayank Agarwal was added to India's squad for the fifth Test,[57] after Rohit Sharma tested positive for COVID-19.[58] On 29 June 2022, Rohit Sharma again tested positive for COVID-19, with him undertaking two further tests to confirm his availability for the fifth Test.[59] KL Rahul was ruled out of India's squad for the fifth Test after undergoing surgery for a hernia.[60] Sharma was ruled out of the match, with Jasprit Bumrah named as India's captain and Rishabh Pant as the team's vice-captain.[61]
On 27 June 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the series against New Zealand, England confirmed their squad for the fifth Test.[62] Ben Foakes was ruled out of the match after failing to recover from COVID-19.[63]
Warm-up match
Ahead of the Test series, India were scheduled to play two intra-squad warm-up matches against India A.[64][65] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that India would play two intra-squad four-day matches instead,[66] with India travelling with a larger squad.[67] Two first-class matches were planned against county teams,[68] but were initially replaced with intra-squad matches in Durham.[69] On 14 July 2021, both cricket boards agreed to a three-day match against a County Select XI side as part of India's preparation for the Test series.[70] Will Rhodes of Warwickshire was named as the captain of the County Select XI team.[71]
- India won the toss and elected to bat.
- James Rew (County Select XI) made his first-class debut.
