INDIA welcome England to Chennai for the first encounter of their four-match Test series.
The hosts are on a high following a remarkable victory in Australia, where an under-strength side ended the Aussies 33-year dominance at the Gabba.
Joe Root and England meanwhile are buoyant after shaking off the cobwebs in style against Sri Lanka, winning both Test matches comfortably in Galle.
This is the first series between the two nations in India since November 2016, when Alastair Cook’s side were sent home with a 4-0 battering.
The sides will face each other again this year with a five-match contest pencilled in for the summer on English soil.
When is India vs England, First Test?
- The first of a four-match Test series, the First Test will be played over five days and starts on Friday, February 5.
- It will take place at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
- The toss on day one will be at 3.30am GMT, with play starting at 4am GMT on each day.
Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
In a real treat for cricket fans during national lockdown, the entire of the India vs England series will be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK.
For the first time since the famous Ashes in 2005, Channel 4 will broadcast every ball live to your living room.
Coverage on each day is expected to start around 3.30am GMT.
If you want to stream, head to All 4 or TVPlayer.com where you can watch Channel 4 live – but you must have a valid TV licence.
Highlights of each day’s play will also be available on the streaming service.
Channel 4 will take commentary from the world TV feed but will have a team of experts in their own studio.
What is the team news?
After missing a number of keys players in Sri Lanka, England are taking a full-strength team on their Indian tour.
Jofra Archer didn’t travel to Galle due to the punishing schedule England face this year, while Ben Stokes returns to the set-up after two months away from the game due to family reasons.
It remains to be seen if he is fit to play, while Ollie Pope looks set to feature after fighting back from a dislocated shoulder.
Moeen Ali was forced to quarantine when arriving in Sri Lanka after testing positive for Covid-19, but has now recovered and in contention.
For India, skipper Virat Kohli returns after missing the famous victory at the Gabba while Rishabh Pant’s heroics Down Under could see him start ahead of Wriddhiman Saha.
England squad
- Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt)
- Jofra Archer (Sussex)
- Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
- James Anderson (Lancashire)
- Dom Bess (Yorkshire)
- Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
- Rory Burns (Surrey)
- Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wk)
- Zak Crawley (Kent)
- Ben Foakes (Surrey, wk)
- Dan Lawrence (Essex)
- Jack Leach (Somerset)
- Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)
- Ben Stokes (Durham)
- Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
- Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Reserves: James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Amar Virdi (Surrey).
