England already studying India's win in Australia ahead of Ashes tilt

NICK HOWSON: Coach Chris Silverwood admits that with one Test to go in Asia there is already half an eye on how to reclaim the urn this winter

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England's hierarchy are already forensically analysing how India beat Australia ahead of attempts to reclaim the Ashes, according to coach Chris Silverwood.

An under-strength India without captain Virat Kohli and a number of injured players turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 series win following a remarkable victory in Brisbane earlier this year.

And they're on course to do the same to England following successive wins in Chennai and Ahmedabad.

A series win and a place in the World Test Championship final is beyond Joe Root's side and though one match remains back at the Narendra Modi Stadium, that attention has already shifted to the Ashes is hardly a surprise. Indeed, plans have been afoot ever since Australia regained the urn in 2019.

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Added to that blueprint will be key details from India's success, which according to Silverwood the tourists can take lessons from.

"India are a fine Test side and what we have learned from them winning in Australia is that it can be done," he said. "We can take lessons from that. 

"We're already looking at how they won and we'll take lessons from that. We'll see how what they did fits into our gameplans and can we use that. 

"I'm constantly watching oppositions so we'll take every lesson we can, learn from them and be able to keep getting better."

Wriggling away from India with a 2-2 series draw might not have been the priority before the series, but it would still represent a credible outcome.

Avoiding defeat would be enough for India to book their place alongside New Zealand in the WTC final, though they'll be keen to add to a run of 12 home series wins on the trot.

Having made four changes for both the second and third Tests, more alterations are inevitable from England for the concluding match of the series.

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Dom Bess is fully available after an up and down winter (BCCI)

Reverting to two front-line spinners is among the likely moves which could see a recall for Dom Bess. The offspinner hasn't been seen since being told to "work at his game" by captain Root following a dismal showing in the second innings of the first Test.

Having been replaced by Moeen Ali for the second game in Chennai, Bess was left out of the day-night pink-ball Test, when 28 of the 30 wickets fell to spin - to allow for the selection of three seamers. 

"He is in contention," the head coach confirmed. "He was left out and Mo played in the second Test and he was given a break. He was left out of this one [third Test] because of potential movement we could have got out of the pink ball.

"From Bess' point of view, I wouldn't look too much into that. He's played an important part to help us win games in the past and I am sure he will do in the future.

"We've got a very good group of players here who do get around each other, help each other and keep each other going really. Which you have to do at the moment in bubble life. We're lucky that we've got that sort of environment so he's been great around it."

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