Tests return with Anderson leading the way

England return to Test Match cricket as they host current world number one side India for a five-match series, starting at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Captain Joe Root will be hoping his Test side can take some momentum and confidence from the recent exploits of England’s ever-impressive One-Day International side as they look to finish the summer on a high.

James Anderson currently leads the England Test Match Most Valuable Player Rankings for the summer with 36 MVP points ahead of former opening bowler Stuart Broad, following England’s drawn series against Pakistan.

Anderson was the recipient of the Test MVP last summer and will be hopeful of retaining his crown after the five-match series against Virat Kohli’s India.

The Lancastrian took nine wickets in the two previous Tests against Pakistan and will be looking to add to his 540 Test scalps over the next six weeks.

Broad sits slightly behind Anderson in the Test MVP Rankings with 29 MVP points gained during the Test series against Pakistan after taking seven wickets.

Despite the England seamers heading the Test MVP it’s Jos Buttler who comfortably leads the way in the England Men’s Overall MVP Rankings with neither Broad or Anderson featuring in England’s white-ball side.

Buttler has picked up both the International IT20 and One-Day International MVP accolades after an excellent summer with both the bat and the gloves against Australia and India.

Having been recalled to England’s Test side this summer, Buttler will be looking to add the Test MVP crown to this summer’s achievements as he currently sits in 4^th place of the Test MVP Rankings with 27 points.

Adil Rashid has been recalled straight back into the team with Root confirming the XI on Tuesday afternoon. With Somerset’s young spinner Dominic Bess missing out in the initial squad in favour of the in-form Moeen Ali, Rashid has got the nod as the sole spinner.

With Rashid demonstrating moments of brilliance with the ball during England’s limited overs campaign this summer, he will be desperate to make an immediate mark in the Test side in what will be his debut Test on English soil.

It will be the Yorkshire spinner’s first Test appearance since England’s visit to India in 2016. However, currently sitting 2^nd in the England Overall MVP Rankings with 143 MVP points, Rashid could have a big say in how the Test series goes.

Last season’s Specsavers County Championship MVP, Jamie Porter was called up to the England squad for the first time. However, the Essex seamer has missed out on final selection as England favoured Surrey’s Sam Curran who impressed on debut at Headingley earlier this summer.

Porter, the NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year has taken 29 County Championship wickets so far this season, with no player taking more in the four-day format since his debut at the start of 2016.

Root ended the ODI series with back-to-back centuries against India and will be hopeful he can finish the summer on a high both individually and collectively as they aim to win their first Test series since last summer’s triumph over the West indies.

To view more information about the MVP Rankings and view the current Overall MVP standings visit the MVP page.

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