Final test between India and England to begin in Dharamsala today

Dharamsala: India will take on England in the fifth and final Test match of the series at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala beginning today.

The match will start at 9.30 am Indian Standard Time. The hosts have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the ongoing five-match series.

The fifth Test though is a dead rubber from the series point of view, there are still World Test Championship points at stake. India's dominance in the series has been commendable, with the team showcasing their prowess both with bat and ball and the Hosts will look forward to extending their lead in the World Test Championships standings. Besides, veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and star England abetter Jonny Bairstow are poised to mark their 100th Test match appearance together when they take on the field



today.

The weather conditions in Dharamshala are set to be cloudy, rainy and chilly. Rain threat looms large over the Test match. The picturesque Stadium in Dharamsala is a pace-friendly surface. . Moreover dipping temperatures and a completely different landscape are set to add a different texture to the fifth Test match. There was plenty of carry and consistent movement seven years ago when the Dharamsala venue staged its only Test as India beat Australia, 18 of 30 wickets from bowlers falling to the spinner. 

The series has so far been played in very comfortable weather conditions, however, the Stadium in Dharamsala is on the highest altitude among all international venues in the country and early March weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh make it even more interesting.