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Ed Hawkins cannot see much hope for the tourists as they try to get back into the series at Edgbaston with the action beginning on Wednesday.


England

It will be same again for the hosts apart from the one well-documented change with Ravi Bopara replacing the injured Jonathan Trott. Bopara is hardly like-for-like. Trott is obdurate, dependable, old world. Bopara is flashy, risky and thrilling.

He has waited patiently for his chance to come round again. He has not played since being dropped from the 2009 Ashes team. Earlier in the summer he had appeared to go head-to-head with Eoin Morgan for the No 6 slot. "This little window of opportunity for me is to go out and score some runs," he said.


India

It's been a task to keep up with India's injury problems. But in case you've missed them, here goes: Zaheer Khan is out of the series with an ankle problem that requires surgery and he joins Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh on the plane with stomach and finger injuries respectively.

In their place, RP Singh, who has not played Test cricket since 2009, Virat Kohli, the batsman, and Pragyan Ojha, the spinner, have been called up.

Virender Sehwag should open the batting with the fit-again Gautam Gambhir. Sehwag has recovered from shoulder surgery but failed in the warm-up match against Northamptonshire.


Venue and conditions

With a win-loss ratio of 2.87 Edgbaston is England's fortress. They have lost only once in the last eight Tests at the venue.

The average first-innings score in Tests (nine) since 2000 is 315. We are expecting a result. There have been only two draws in that period and in four County Championship matches this term there have been four results.

There were decent runs in those games, too with scores of 602 and 521 first up. Expect the pitch to deteriorate as the match progresses. This is consistent with the square down the years.

Sub-continent sides have really struggled here, too because there can often be pace and bounce. Pakistan were shot out for 72 batting first in 2010, Sri Lanka 141 in 2006 and India 214 in 1996. No rain is forecast for the first four days.


Match odds

It goes from bad to worse for India. Having twice been humiliated by England, who appear certain to take their world No 1 ranking with the ease of a London looter, they are now having to patch up their team as they go.

Ordinarily touring teams struggle at the start of a series in England but they are able to retain a foothold and improve because their players adapt. India are not doing that because too many are injured and they are being replaced by equally naive recruits.

RP Singh, for example, is a fine bowler but he has no game time on this tour. Sehwag also comes in in with only one short innings. It is very difficult to make a case for backing them at 5.40.

Still, no matter. The 2.38 about another England victory is a cracking price and it is surprising to see so little faith in a confident and professional outfit.


Top England runscorer

Poor records to be aware of at this venue include Alastair Cook, who averages only 27 there in four Tests and Ian Bell 30 in three.


Top India runscorer

Sachin Tendulkar looked to have found some form in the second dig at Trent Bridge before inexplicably leaving a straight one. He has a century on his last Test appearance at Edgbaston to boost his confidence, although it was in 1996.

We should look to get against Sehwag, whose long lay off and limited exposure to English conditions make his task very difficult. Check his price to score a 50 and consider a lay.


Best bet: back England @ 2.38


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