India Vs England, 4th Test: David Lloyd Declares Old Trafford Pitch As 'Very Flat', Ravi Shastri Disagrees

As the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy heads to Old Trafford for its crucial fourth Test starting July 23, the pitch condition has become the central talking point, creating a fascinating contrast between first-hand perceptions and an emerging pattern. With England leading the series 2-1, the outcome of this match could decide the fate of the trophy.

England have already revealed their playing XI, featuring the pace trio of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer. Indian opener Shubman Gill has added to the intrigue, suggesting the pitch might offer "more bounce than any he’s seen on the tour."

However, not everyone agrees with this assessment. In the "Stick To Cricket" podcast, former Indian coach Ravi Shastri acknowledged whispers of a bouncier track: "This pitch will have more bounce than others from what one’s heard. If weather is not that hot…" Yet, when asked, former English international and pundit David "Bumble" Lloyd flipped the script entirely, declaring, "Very, very flat. No pace, no grass."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan echoed Bumble's sentiment, noting, "The pace has gone since Old Trafford… (changed the axis)." This shift in character is attributed to the ground's recent restructuring and axis rotation, though higher summer temperatures might also be a contributing factor.

Bumble elaborated on his observations, highlighting a worrying trend in county games at Old Trafford. "I’m not saying they’re worried… but they understand that pace has gone out of the pitch… it could spin… The footmarks are there." He painted a picture of pitches resembling "batting beauties" that last for days, describing them as "an absolute slab. Rock hard." While not ruling out some early assistance for pacers due to recent thunderstorms and potential moisture, Bumble firmly believes the overall pattern points to a pace-sapped surface, coining the term "corporate pitch" to describe its five-day nature.

The potential for spin has not gone unnoticed. Former England batsman and batting coach Mark Ramprakash, in his Guardian column, strongly advocated for India to play Kuldeep Yadav, citing Old Trafford's traditionally "dry and abrasive" surface that tends to turn as the game progresses. India currently has Ravi Jadeja and Washington Sundar as spinning options, with Gill keeping the final XI under wraps. England's lone specialist spinner in their announced XI is Liam Dawson, making his return after eight years.

Adding to India's challenges, they've been hit with injuries. Nitish Kumar Reddy is out of the series, and Akash Deep will miss the fourth Test. This opens the door for Anshul Kamboj to make his Test debut. There's also speculation about Sai Sudharsan being called back to strengthen the batting, potentially replacing Nitish or Karun Nair.

Despite the prevailing "flat pitch" narrative, the weather forecast adds another layer of complexity. Rain is looming, and potential thunderstorms could favour the pacers, particularly in the early days. Bowling first is considered ideal, with anything over 350 in the first innings deemed a good total. However, the uncertain weather casts doubt on a full five-day game, or even a conclusive result.