ENG vs IND 4th Test: Good news for Virat Kohli's team as this fast bowler may not play in Oval Test

The contest between India and England is just getting interesting as the two sides are now levelled on 1-1 after three matches of the five-match Test series. While the first was washed out due to rain, the second saw India clinch a victory at Lord's but lose dramatically at Leeds.

So now as the teams prepare for the fourth Test at The Oval which will begin from September 2, Team India could get a breather from England's deadly pacer James Anderson. The battle between India skipper Virat Kohli and Anderson has been nothing but entertaining with the bowler taking the captain's wicket on most occasions.

However, the 4th Test may not witness the drama as the veteran England pace bowler could be rested and would return for the fifth Test in Manchester. 

With hardly any days gap between the last three Test matches, it is forcing both the teams to rotate bowlers. While India has already made it clear, the English team could also go that way.

England head coach Chris Silverwood while talking to the media about the workload of his two new-ball bowlers, Anderson and Ollie Robinson said, "What I don't want to do is break them. We’ve got a lot of cricket in front of us. The Tests are coming thick and fast now. Back-to-back, it is difficult".

In the three-Test matches played, the 39-year-old Anderson has already bowled more overs than any of the Indian seamers has bowled. He has bowled 116.3 which is just two balls less than Ollie Robinson (116.5), who has bowled the most in the series.

"These guys are giving everything, every day when we are out on the field and we have got to make sure we are looking after them. But I won't be making any decisions or judgments right now," the coach added.

However, Anderson had made it clear prior to the series that he wants to play every Test match and it was seen as he was part of the squad for the second Test despite having a niggle.

But considering England have a long summer with the Ashes series Down Under and Jofra Archer under an injury cloud, the English side may rest Anderson for one of the next two Tests as part of workload management.

With the last Test being played at Anderson's home ground - Old Trafford in Manchester - it is likely that the England team management will play him there rather than at The Oval. Silverwood has, however, admitted it will be hard to convince Anderson to miss the fourth Test. 

The Three Lions also face a problem as their left-arm pace bowler Sam Curran's form has not been up to the mark and is leaking runs. He may be replaced by Chris Woakes, who has been added to the squad after being declared fit again.

(IANS inputs)