England v India, Test series: TV times, streaming, weather, team news, odds and more

The Cricketer runs down all the details you'll need ahead of the five-Test series between England and India

What is it?

The five-Test series between England and India

When is it? Where is it?

The series begins at Trent Bridge on August 4, with the final Test starting on September 10 in Manchester.

First Test: Trent Bridge, August 4-8 (11am BST)

Second Test: Lord’s, August 12-16 (11am BST)

Third Test: Headingley, August 25-29 (11am BST)

Fourth Test: Kia Oval, September 2-6 (11am BST)

Fifth Test: Emirates Old Trafford, September 10-14 (11am BST)

Who’s involved?

Both teams have been affected by injuries and unavailability in the build-up to the series, with Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes both absent for England.

Archer’s name was missing from the squad for the first two Tests, while Stokes is taking an indefinite break from the game to focus on his mental wellbeing. Chris Woakes is also missing from the first part of the series due to a bruised heel.

Ollie Robinson is back in the fold after being given a suspended ban for his offensive historic Twitter posts.

Jonny Bairstow and Haseeb Hameed are among the notable call-ups, while Jos Buttler and Sam Curran are also back in the Test fold having missed the series defeat against New Zealand in June. Stokes’ replacement in the squad is Somerset’s Craig Overton, who was an unused squad member against Kane Williamson’s men.

^{England know about Rishabh Pant's talents all too well}

India’s preparations have also been complicated by injury concerns. Mayank Agarwal will miss the first Test with concussion after being struck on the helmet during a net session in Nottingham on Monday, while Shubman Gill is already out with a shin injury. It means that KL Rahul, whose last Test appearance came in 2019 against West Indies, is the likeliest candidate to partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the tourists’ order.

Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan have also been ruled out from the initial touring party, with Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav both added to compensate for their departures.

In more positive news for Virat Kohli’s side, Rishabh Pant has recovered after testing positive for Covid-19 and is set to feature, along with Ajinkya Rahane, whose swollen hamstring is said to have healed.

England squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Mark Wood

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav

What are the odds?

Perhaps given the weather outlook, Dafabet has a draw between the two sides as the likeliest outcome (11/8), followed by a win for Joe Root's men at Trent Bridge (13/8), where Stuart Broad once took 8 for 15 against Australia. India are carded at 14/5 to come out on top in the first match of the series.

Unsuprisingly, both Joe Root and Virat Kohli are both at 12/5 as the favourites to top the run-scoring charts for their respective sides in the opening encounter, with Root's importance for the hosts amplified by the absence of Stokes.

Likewise, it is no shock that James Anderson - at 2/1 - is favourite to be England's leading wicket-taker in Nottingham, with Jasprit Bumrah (15/8) an almighty threat for India.

What's the weather looking like?

Conditions have been pretty changeable so far in this English summer - as Indian supporters saw in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl.

Unfortunately, it seems as though there will be interruptions in the first Test at Trent Bridge as well, with rain a distinct possibility from the second morning onwards.

Follow the forecast in Nottingham here

Where can I follow it?

Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will broadcast the series in the United Kingdom, with the content available online via its streaming platform Sky Go.

Test Match Special will provide live ball-by-ball commentary via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website. Daily highlights will be broadcast on BBC2 at 7pm.

Further broadcast information to follow in due course