ENG vs IND 2021 Dream11 Prediction: Fantasy Tips, Top Picks, Playing XI Updates, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast for 1st Test at Nottingham

ENG vs IND | 1st Test Preview

India and England will be squaring off in a much-anticipated five-match Test series starting August 4. The first Test match will be played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. It will be highly important for both teams to start well and take an early lead in the 1st Test itself. With some quality players featuring on either side, one can expect a close battle between bat and ball. As a result, it will also be tough to make any Dream11 Fantasy cricket prediction for the ENG vs IND 1st Test in Nottingham.

The visitors will aim to better their performance from the previous two outings against England in 2014 and 2018. The venue for the 1st Test has always been a happy hunting ground for Team India. Their solitary win in the 1-4 series loss in 2018 came at the same venue. However, England will be equally prepared to continue its sheer dominance over India as far as head-to-head Test records are concerned.

IND vs ENG head to head Test Records
Team India won the series earlier in the year 3-1 (Source: BCCI)

Here’s a detailed look at the ENG vs IND Dream11 Match Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, and Top Picks for 1st Test in Nottingham:

Match  Details
Match Date & Time Venue Live Telecast Channel & Streaming
ENG vs IND, 1st Test August 4 – August 8, 3.30 PM IST Trent Bridge, Nottingham Sony Sports Network & Sony LIV
What to Expect – Pitch Report & Weather Conditions?

The nature of the pitch always tends to play a huge role in deciding the fate of a Test match. The surface at Trent Bridge is usually a good batting strip. The team winning the toss bats first in a bid to post a huge 1st innings score on the board. Seam bowlers are always in the game with their nagging lines which keeps the batsmen on their toes. From Day 3 onwards, with enough rough patches, spinners also come into the game. To sum up, it is a bat-first pitch while enough assistance for bowlers to keep themselves in the contest.

 

Nottingham Weather Report for ENG vs IND 1st Test
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Trent Bridge, Nottingham

The weather forecast for the first Test between England and India at Nottingham isn't too pleasant. While there's no chance of rain on Day 1 of the Test, the next four days are likely to witness light spells of rain. In a typical English weather forecast during summer, the rain forecast isn't surprising at all. However, the result of the match, in all likelihood, will be decided with enough action which can be expected on all five days between August 4 and August 8.

 

Team News
Ben Stokes England
Ben Stokes has pulled out of Test series vs India (Source: Getty Images)

The hosts have suffered a major setback after Ben Stokes pulled out of the Test series after taking an indefinite break from cricket. Stokes was a crucial member of the England squad and a utility cricketer in a home Test series. With a fragile top-order, Stokes' unavailability comes as a huge void for the hosts. He will be replaced by the bowling all-rounder Craig Overton in the 17-man squad for England.

India's build-up to the first Test has been marred with a few injury concerns. Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill are already ruled of the five-match series owing to their respective injuries.

In the lead up to the series opener Mayank Agarwal was also ruled out from the first Test due to concussion. As a result, the tourists have called upon Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav into the Test squad.

 

Probable Playing XIs

England XI: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (C), Ollie Pope/Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (Wk), Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson

India XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rishabh Pant (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

 

Top Fantasy Picks for ENG vs IND 1st Test Match
England
James Anderson
England will hope for another brilliant performance from James Anderson
James Anderson

England's James Anderson will be their key weapon in the upcoming Test series against India. Anderson's ability to bowl make the ball talk has always exposed India's batting worries in England. The seamer has picked his most wickets against India with over 100 scalps.

The 39-year old will yet again be keen to make a good start in the first Test at Nottingham. He's a top pick among England players in the Dream11 Team Prediction for the ENG vs IND 1st Test.

Sam Curran

The English all-rounder Sam Curran proved to be the major difference between the two sides in 2018. Curran's ability to muster few important runs with the tail helped the home team take the game away from the grasp of the tourists on more than a few occasions.

He was highly effective with medium-pace swinging deliveries to catch most Indian batters napping. The 23-year old is in great form and could potentially earn a lot of Dream11 Fantasy points both with bat and ball.

 

India
Rishabh Pant Test Cricket India
Rishabh Pant is vital member of India's Test Playing XI
Mohammad Shami

India's premium pacer Mohammad Shami looked by far the best Indian bowler on show against New Zealand in the WTC Final 2021. He was accurate and created chances in his every spell. Shami, who has regarded unlucky on the England tour in 2018, will be raring to massively change his bowling stats in England.

He's in the form of his life and can trouble the English line-up with his seaming deliveries. The Indian pacer will enjoy the conditions and could potentially turn out to be India's Player of the series in 2021.

Rishabh Pant

The young Indian wicket-keeper batsman has created a huge fanbase in the cricket community in the last year or so. His heroics in India's win over Australia in 2020/21 reassured of his talent as an individual in the Test format. In the first Test, Pant will be back at the venue where it all started for him in Test cricket at Trent Bridge.

He's a sure starter in the playing XI and will take the gloves for the tourists. His attacking instincts always augurs well for his inclusion in the Dream11 Team for the ENG vs IND 1st Test.

 

Dream11 Team Prediction for ENG vs IND 2021 

Playing XI No.1 for 1st Test:

Wicket-Keeper: Rishabh Pant (C)

Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Joe Root, Rory Burns

All-Rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Curran

Bowlers: Mohammad Shami, James Anderson (VC), Stuart Broad, Ishant Sharma

ENG vs IND Dream11 Prediction 1st Test
ENG vs IND Dream11 Team Prediction – Playing XI No.1

 

Playing XI No.2 for 1st Test:

Wicket-Keeper: Rishabh Pant, Jos Buttler

Batsmen: Virat Kohli (C), Cheteshwar Pujara, Joe Root, Rory Burns

All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran (VC)

Bowlers: Mohammad Shami, James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah

ENG vs IND Dream11 Prediction 1st Test
ENG vs IND Dream11 Team Prediction – Playing XI No.2

 

Dream11 Match Prediction – Who will win the ENG vs IND 1st Test Match?

The first Test between England and India will set the flavor for the rest of the series. While both the teams are equally matched, England will definitely have an edge due to their familiar conditions. Despite the fact that the home team has an experienced batting order, Team India has also had vulnerabilities against the moving ball. As a result, England will start as favorites and are likely to win the 1st ENG vs IND Nottingham Test.