There’s absolutely no margin for error for England at this moment. While they are already out of the World Test Championship, they will look to salvage something positive from the fourth and final Test match of their tour of India.

Joe Root’s men were thrashed in the third Test at the newly reconstructed Motera Stadium and were rightly criticised for their team selection, meaning that we could well and truly witness some major changes in the final Test. I reckon the final Test will be nothing like the third, as both the teams will do their homework this time. The unexpected nature of Motera’s pitch did take everyone by surprise, but if what I’m reading of late about the pitch is true, we are in for a delight.

That said, here I give you my four picks who I believe can deliver a Man of the Match performance in the final Test.

Ajinkya Rahane

India’s Test vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane is due a big innings. Since scoring that century against Australia in Melbourne, Rahane has scored just one half-century across nine Test innings, with scores of 22, 4, 37, 24, 1, 0, 67, 10 and 7. His record against England isn’t particularly good, especially at home, where he has scored just 148 runs in six Tests at a lowly average of 14.80. Point being, I’m expecting Rahane to put on a commanding show against the Englishmen in the final Test. While the odds aren’t in his favour, considering his frailties against spin of late, a different nature of Motera’s pitch this time may work in his favour.

Axar Patel

Two Tests, 18 wickets and a bowling average of 9.44 definitely speaks volume about the kind of start Axar Patel has got. The left-arm spinner skimmed through England’s batting unit in both Test matches as if he was playing some local tournament. Root’s team simply had no answers to his round-arm bowling action and I expect him to lay down a similar threat in the final match of the Test series. Patel has bagged three consecutive five-fers against England, and he has proved to be the perfect replacement for the injured Ravindra Jadeja. Axar alongside Ravichandran Ashwin has been a sheer treat to watch. The duo has been simply unplayable in both the games they have played together.

Jack Leach

Jack Leach might not have been as successful as Patel and Ashwin, but he has arguably been England’s best bowler in the ongoing Test series. The left-arm spinner has picked 16 wickets at an average of 26.75 in the three matches and has been a total menace for the Indian top-order. Leach has dismissed Rohit Sharma four times, Cheteshwar Pujara three times and has gotten better of Virat Kohli too. Despite not playing in the subcontinent as frequently, the off-spinner has adapted to the conditions pretty quickly and has also been a consistent performer for the Three Lions.

Joe Root

Following his match-winning double century in the first Test, England captain, Joe Root went on a rather rare blip with the bat, but compensated for the drop in form with a brilliant five-fer in the recently concluded Test at Motera. England will be desperate for a win and with the others around him not contributing as much, the onus will certainly come on Root to provide England another solid foundation for the team’s middle-order to capitalise. Now, his decisions in the last Test attracted heavy criticism, but Root is rightly expected to put on a much-improved performance. I expect him to score big in the fourth Test.

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Indian cricket team will look to bounce back against England in the second Test, which is scheduled to start from February 13 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Virat Kohli-led Team India suffered a massive 227-run defeat against the visitors at the same venue in the first Test of the four-match series.

The hosts have dropped to the fourth spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table and Kohli’s men need to win the upcoming Chennai Test in order to keep their chances alive. If England beat India in any of the remaining three Tests, Team India's chances of qualifying for the WTC final will be over.

Meanwhile, England cricket team captain Joe Root led from the front as his 218-run knock in the first innings laid the foundation of the visitor's well-deserved victory in the first Test. I want to congratulate Root on becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in his 100th Test.

While England dominated India in all three departments in the first Test, I expect Team India to make a strong comeback, just like they did in the Australia-India Test series.

Here are four names who I think can put in a Man of the Match performance in the second Test.

Shubman Gill

India’s young batting prodigy Shubman Gill scored a vital fifty in the second innings of the first Test before he was cleaned up by a peach of a delivery from England pacer James Anderson. The 21-year-old looked at ease playing his shots during both the innings of the first Test. But even after scoring six thirty-plus scores in his eight Test innings, including three brilliant half-centuries, Gill has failed to convert his strong starts. I reckon that a big score is just around the corner for the talented youngster.

Ben Stokes

World’s top-ranked Test all-rounder Ben Stokes showed once again why he is regarded as one of the modern greats. Stokes scored a swashbuckling 82 runs in the first innings of the first Test and had stitched a valuable 124-run stand with captain Root to help his side post a mammoth 578 runs on the board. Later on in the match, the 29-year-old castled India talisman, Kohli, with an unplayable delivery at the Chepauk and crushed India’s hopes of saving the first Test. I expect Stokes to make another significant contribution in the upcoming Test in Chennai.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant continued his rich vein of form in the recently-concluded Test match against England in Chennai. The 23-year-old was one of the standout performers for India in the first Test as he smashed 91 runs off just 88 balls in the first innings. Reeling at 73/4 on Day 3, Pant and Pujara were involved in an incredible 119-run stand for the fifth wicket to revive India’s first innings. Pant is clearly one of the most exciting talents in world cricket at the moment and he can be India’s match-winner for years to come. I am hoping he can continue his scintillating form in the second Test.

Jack Leach

I must first admit that I’m very impressed with the way left-arm spinner Jack Leach bowled in the first Test against the vaunted Indian batting line-up. I read that he is the only member of England’s attack to have featured in each of their record run of six consecutive wins in Asia, that is pretty commendable. During this incredible run, the 29-year-old has picked 34 wickets at an average of 27.08. Interestingly, while bowling in the third and fourth innings, Leach has scalped 36 Test wickets at an impressive average of 20.08. I’m expecting him to play a crucial role for England at Chepauk in the upcoming Test match.

Feature Image Courtesy: Patrick Hamilton / AFP

Jack Leach put his cult hero status down to looking like a "village cricketer" after his key supporting role enabled Ben Stokes to steer England to a staggering victory in the third Ashes Test.

England were 286-9, still needing 73 more runs to reach a victory target of 359 when last man Leach walked out to bat at Headingley on Sunday.

Already something of a crowd favorite, the bespectacled and balding Leach held firm as all-rounder Stokes, who was 61 not out when joined in the middle by the left-arm spinner, blazed his way to an astounding unbeaten 135 that saw England to a one-wicket win that levelled the five-match series at 1-1.

But just as Ian Botham's 149 not out in England's celebrated 1981 Test win over Australia at Headingley after following-on needed the support of Graham Dilley, and Kevin Pietersen's Ashes-clinching 158 at the Oval in 2005 would not have been possible without Ashley Giles at the other end, so too did Stokes need Leach to stay with him during what became a remarkable last-wicket stand of 76.   

Even though Stokes farmed the strike superbly, Leach -- whose career average of 11 matches his position in the batting order -- still had to face 17 balls for an invaluable one not out.

But having made 92 as night watchman in a Test against Ireland at Lord's last month, Leach hung in for an hour.

His only real scare came when, with two needed to win, he nearly ran himself out only for Nathan Lyon to fail to gather a return when Leach was yards short of his ground.

Leach, however, tied the scores before Stokes struck the winning boundary off fast bowler Pat Cummins.

The sight of Leach carefully polishing his glasses as England closed on their record fourth innings winning total also endeared him to the crowd. 

"It's nice to have that, it's probably because I look like a village cricketer out there, in my glasses and with the bald head," said Leach.

'That could be me'

"Maybe people think 'that could be me' because all the others look pretty professional."

Leach, whose tail end resistance has seen him offered free glasses for life by series sponsors Specsavers in a response to a suggestion on Twitter from Stokes, added: "I'm just enjoying playing for England."

The 28-year-old said his careful cleaning routine was simply about removing condensation as he faced up to an Australia attack led by fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

"I just had to make sure they were clean every time I was facing up," said Leach.

"I would really regret it if they had been smudged and I'd got out, then the cameras zoom in on the glasses and they say 'he didn't clean his glasses'. I just had to stay calm and do the job at hand."

When Leach came into bat, it seemed England's chances of a win had evaporated.

But having seen, albeit as a fan watching television, Stokes star in England's World Cup final triumph against New Zealand with 84 not out at Lord's six weeks earlier, Leach had faith even when all seemed lost.  

"I was watching the World Cup final as a fan and that showed that anything is possible," he said. 

"Ben Stokes was at the center of that as well. Maybe Ben Stokes has to be at the center of all things that are possible. He was just unbelievable."

Leach would have likely been watching the Headingley match on television too had not rival spinner Moeen Ali been dropped after a woeful display in the series opener at Edgbaston.

With World Cup-winning leg-spinner Adil Rashid injured, Leach suddenly found himself unexpectedly thrust back into the Test side.

"I probably thought I'd be watching the Ashes at home," he admitted. 

"But I wanted to be ready to play and not presume anything. Now my opportunity has come about so I'm trying to make the most of it."

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Paul Ellis

Jack Leach admitted on Sunday that he has "nothing to lose" after the England spinner was called up for the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's. Leach is in contention to start in the clash on Wednesday after replacing fellow spin bowler Moeen Ali in the squad following his team's first Test thrashing at Edgbaston, and he is ready to play with no fear after his earlier than expected role in the series.

"It feels like I've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain," Leach said on a BBC radio program.

"I just want to go and do my thing."

Leach will be key to the task of containing batting star Steve Smith, who scored a century in both Aussie innings last time out to help his side to a 251-run victory over England. The 28-year-old's last appearance at Lord's earlier this summer saw him score 92 as a nightwatchman as England overcame a dismal first innings to beat Ireland in an Ashes warm-up.

But this week all the focus will be on his bowling as England hope he can be the man to crack Smith.

"There has been a focus on his supposed weakness against left-arm spin," he said.

"I suppose those stats are there, but I've just got to -- if I'm in the 11 -- I've got to do my thing and bowl as well as I can and see what happens.

"It's the same for every batter. I want to get every batter out. Yes, there's Steve Smith but there are 10 other guys as well and I'll be focusing on all of them."

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Ishara S. Kodikara

England have dropped Moeen Ali and recalled fellow spinner Jack Leach into a 12-man squad for the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's starting on Wednesday.

Meanwhile World Cup-winner Jofra Archer could make his Test debut next week after being included in the team.

Moeen was omitted after a miserable first Test at Edgbaston, which England lost by 251 runs on Monday to go 1-0 down in the five-match series.

Read | Stone’s absence adds to England's injury woes

The 32-year-old all-rounder only managed returns of 1-42 and 2-130 with the ball, while scoring just four runs in the match -- including a first-innings duck.

On both occasions, he was dimissed by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who has now claimed Moeen's wicket nine times in 11 innings.

Somerset left-armer Leach played his last Test against Ireland at Lord's a fortnight ago when he made a career-best 92. 

Read | Will Anderson's absence work in favour of England this Ashes?

England already knew they would be without James Anderson, their all-time leading Test wicket-taker, after the Lancashire paceman broke down with a calf injury after bowling just four overs at Edgbaston.

Fast bowler Olly Stone, who was in the squad for the first Test but did not play, has been ruled out with a back injury.

But England do have a potential stand-in for Anderson in Archer, who missed the first Test because of a side injury but has since proved his fitness in a second-team match for county side Sussex.

England also have another seam-bowling option in Surrey left-armer Sam Curran.

England squad:

Rory Burns (Surrey), Jason Roy (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt), Joe Denly (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wkt), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jack Leach (Somerset), Sam Curran (Surrey)

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

England's Jack Leach may be playing his first Test at home but soaring temperatures in Britain meant his father missed out on seeing the nightwatchman make a career-best 92 against Ireland at Lord's on Thursday. 

Few would have expected much in the way of batting heroics from left-arm spinner Leach when he resumed on nought not out after being sent in as an emergency opener for one over late on Wednesday's first day.  

But Leach, belying a first-class record that contained just two prior half-centuries in 108 attempts and an average just under 11, proceeded to bat for over three-and-a-half hours before England reached stumps on 303-9 in their second innings, a lead of 181 runs.

Leach, explaining how his father Simon had missed being among a sweltering crowd at 'the home of cricket,' told reporters: "He was going to come but he saw the weather forecast and said it was too hot.

"I don't think it would have been a good place for him to be today, he could have died! I think it was best he stayed at home in the cool.

"I gave him my house key and he went over so he's literally been at mine watching the whole time. I'll catch up with him later on," the 28-year-old added.

Leach and Test debutant Jason Roy, who made 72, shared a second-wicket partnership of 145.

But neither was able to reach the coveted three-figure mark, with Leach eventually edging veteran seamer Tim Murtagh -- who took 5-13 in England's woeful first-innings 85 all out -- to second slip.

Ireland's pacemen then took seven wickets for 77 runs to leave the four-day match in the balance.  

"I know now that the nervous 90s are definitely a thing," said Leach. "You think 'I'm only two shots away' and I was having some weird thoughts. 

"I was trying to tell myself not to think about it which kind of made me think about it.

"I can't believe it really. I just went out to try and do a job for the team I guess and try and soak up some balls. 

"It probably went a little bit further than I thought it would."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk