By Admin 
From playing a Test match under the leadership of the Maharaja of Vizianagram, back in 1936, to Sachin Tendulkar scoring his maiden international century — the Old Trafford has seen some of the finest moments of Indian cricket.
However, India’s overall record at the iconic venue has been quite forgettable. The side is winless in its nine Tests at Manchester (four losses and five draws).
After the heartbreak at Lord’s, the Indian team will be hoping to bounce back strong in the series. However, with the surface likely to offer ‘something’ for the fast bowlers, it would be a challenge for the Indian batters to tackle the Jofra Archer-led pace unit.
England, leading the series 2-1, will also take confidence from the fact that it has not lost a Test at Old Trafford since September 2019, when Australia beat it in an Ashes fixture.
Thereafter, Ben Stokes & Co. went on to defeat the West Indies, Pakistan, South Africa and even earned a draw against Australia at the venue.
Joe Root, with 978 runs from 11 matches, remains the highest run-scorer at the venue while maintaining an average of 65.20, with one century and seven fifties.
Among the current crop of cricketers, captain Stokes has 579 runs at an average of 52.63 at the ground. Root, who has seen the journey of Stokes closely, believes that after the nail-biting finish at Lord’s, the southpaw will put his body on the line for England.
Great sign
“It’s a great sign for us moving forward, it really is,” Root said.
“He (Stokes) has got that mentality and that desire to win games, and we’re lucky to have him as our leader,” Root said, hoping to keep the momentum going in England’s happy hunting ground.