Unsure hosts, resurgent India
England head into Thursday's fourth Test against a resurgent India at Southampton facing several awkward questions.
Whether Jonny Bairstow is fit to play at all, never mind keep wicket, after suffering a broken finger during India's dominant 203-run win in the third Test at Trent Bridge, has still to be decided.
"The swelling has gone down," Bairstow told reporters in Southampton on Tuesday. "I'm going to try and keep wicket in training this afternoon as well."
Even if Bairstow is included purely as a specialist batsman, England, seeking a victory that would see them win the series, will still have to consider whether they need to bolster their fallible top order.
If Bairstow is ruled out completely, James Vince is set for an England recall, with Jos Buttler taking over behind the stumps. But even if Bairstow plays, the in-form Vince could still return in a bid to strengthen the batting.
England also have concerns over the balance of their attack, with pace-bowling all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes not yet fully fit.
India have yet to field the same side for two consecutive Tests under Virat Kohli's captaincy. But that could change following a dominant display in Nottingham.
Victory kept alive India's hopes of coming from 2-0 down to win a five-match series, something achieved just once in Test history, by a Don Bradman-inspired Australia against England in 1936/37.
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