Expect fireworks as Bumrah-led India try to meet England's 'Baz-ball' revolution head-on

The visitors may opt for all-out attack against Ben Stokes and Co

India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, right, during a nets session at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, on Thursday, June 30, 2022, on the eve of the 5th Test against England. PA

India's Jasprit Bumrah, right, and coach Rahul Dravid during training at Edgbaston. AP

India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah at a training session at Edgbaston on the eve of the 5th Test against England. Getty

India's Rishabh Pant, left, after a net session at Edgbaston. AP

India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah speaks during a press conference at Edgbaston ahead of the 5th against England Test. AP

India's Cheteshwar Pujara walks to bat in the nets during a training session ahead of the 5th Test at Edgbaston. AP

India's stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, right, during a training session at Edgbaston. AP Photo

India's Rishabh Pant leaves after batting in the nets during a training session at Edgbaston. AP

India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, and coach Rahul Dravid at Edgbaston. AP

India's stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah during a press conference at Edgbaston. Reuters

India's Ravichandran Ashwin signs autographs for fans after attending a training session at Edgbaston. AP

Indian team coach Rahul Dravid signs autographs for fans after at Edgbaston. AP

India's Jasprit Bumrah, during a nets session at Edgbaston. PA

The Baz-ball revolution may be in its infancy, but it has already achieved something significant. Everyone is talking about England’s new game plan for storming Test cricket.

So much so, it has relegated all the usual headliners to mere footnotes. When England and India started their five-Test series last year, it felt like the latest instalment of the Virat Kohli v James Anderson saga.

Now, in the build up to the postponed fifth Test, which starts at Edgbaston on Friday, mentions of both have been fleeting.

Anderson will line up for the home team, in place of Jamie Overton, after overcoming the niggling injury that kept him out of England’s win over New Zealand at Headingley.

Run-shy Kohli will be bidding to end a run of 74 innings without an international hundred. He will not, this time, be burdened by the captaincy.

The fourth-Test win over England at The Oval last year was the last of Kohli’s tenure as India captain.

Even in times of need, he will not be called upon. India have handed the armband on to fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah after Rohit Sharma, the new permanent incumbent, failed to recover from Covid-19 in time to make the starting XI.

England train for 5th Test against India at Edgbaston - in pictures

England's Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, head coach Brendon McCullum and Joe Root during a break from batting, during a nets session at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, on Thursday, June 30, 2022, on the eve of the 5th Test against India, PA

England's James Anderson prepares to bowl, during a nets session at Edgbaston. PA

England captain Ben Stokes during a nets session at Edgbaston. PA

England captain Ben Stokes bowls during a nets session at Edgbaston. PA

England captain Ben Stokes bowls at Edgbaston. Getty

England's Zak Crawley looks on as Ollie Pope attempts a diving catch during nets at Edgbaston. Getty

England coach Brendon McCullum throws a ball during nets at Edgbaston. Getty

England captain Ben Stokes bowls. Getty

England's Jack Leach prepares to bowl in the nets during a training session at Edgbaston. AP

England captain Ben Stokes and James Anderson. Getty

KL Rahul, the opener who combined so well with Rohit to give India a 2-1 advantage in this series last summer, is also missing with a groin injury.

Both sides are changed vastly now. Just four of England’s starting XI from the fourth Test at the Oval last year have survived to play in the fifth – Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow and Anderson.

And yet, more than the personnel, what feels most pertinent is the mindset change they exhibited in their 3-0 win over world Test champions New Zealand this month.

England scored at nearly five runs an over in beating the Black Caps at Headingley. When they faced India last, their second innings scoring rate was less than half that.

The homes side’s transformation during the tenure of new captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum – which is, admittedly, just one series old – has been startling.

Bumrah’s first task as India captain will be to try to quell the assault of a revived English batting line up.

Given his own personal capabilities with the ball, his best form of defence might be all-out attack as well. Expect fireworks.

England v New Zealand 3rd Test, Day 5 - in pictures

Jonny Bairstow smashes a six to take England to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand on Day 5 of the third Test at Headingley on June 27, 2022. England won the series 3-0. Getty

England captain Ben Stokes lifts the series trophy. Getty

England celebrate after winning the series against New Zealand at Headingley. Getty

England batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root celebrate. Getty

England's Jonny Bairstow celebrates reaching his half century off 30 balls - the second fastest Test 50 for England after Ian Botham in Delhi in 1981. Reuters

England's Jonny Bairstow hits out on his way to an unbeaten 77. PA

England's Jonny Bairstow pulls the ball. PA

England's Joe Root scored an unbeaten 86. AP

England's Jonny Bairstow in full flow. AP

Joe Root of England plays a scoop shot. Getty

Jonny Bairstow of England hits a six. Getty

England's Ollie Pope is clean bowled by Tim Southee for 86. PA

Tim Southee of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of England's Ollie Pope. Getty

And, even though by the end it seemed as though they were on a flat track given the way they steamrollered New Zealand, Stokes says his side will adopt the same method against India.

“Just because the opposition changes does not mean we change,” Stokes, who missed last summer because of injury and personal issues, said in his eve-of-Test press conference.

“I think what we managed to do over the last three weeks is just reshape Test cricket with the way we played.

“We want people to enjoy us watching play. I think people are enjoying watching us play because they do not know what they are going to get.”