Third Test preview, India v England - Dynamic duo ready to strike back

England’s top two Test wicket-takers of all-time have taken to the field together just seven times in the last two years and have alternated in the four matches on the sub-continent in recent weeks, each playing twice.

Anderson admitted he fears his long-term partnership with Broad, which has brought them in excess of 1,100 wickets, is drawing to a close but Root emphatically rejected the suggestion on the eve of the pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad, which starts at 9am.

There are a great many variables to consider ahead of the day-night contest and, with the series deadlocked at 1-1, Root was reluctant to divulge any indications of the make-up of his team at the newly rebuilt Motera Stadium.

However, there is optimism within the touring camp that their seamers will have greater assistance than they have had so far in the series, meaning England might decide to include only one spinner and go with four fast bowlers.

Jofra Archer could feature at the 110,000-capacity stadium, which is expected to be half full, after a cortisone injection to his elbow, and Root has a decision to make on Anderson, 38, and Broad, 34.

“They have got a chance,” said Root. “It’s a great selection headache to have. I think you’d be wrong to write off those two to do anything, with the records they have had.

“The things they have produced, especially in the last couple of years, have been a reason they are up there with the top three bowlers in the world. They are consistently getting better, the older they get.

“They are using their experience to their advantage all the time. I’m sure there will be opportunities where they get to play together in the near future and much further down the line as well.

“You are talking about two of England’s greatest bowlers and the records they set will be very difficult for anyone to surpass. I feel there’s a lot of life left in them both.

“Add in guys like Jofra, (Mark) Wood, (Chris) Woakes, all these skilful bowlers around them, we are building a very good team that they are very much at the front of.

“The fact that the guys are full of confidence and really excited to have potentially a big impact out here in India with ball in hand as a seam group is a really exciting one.”

England are also considering whether to bring back Zak Crawley following his recovery from a wrist injury or Jonny Bairstow, who missed the first two Tests as part of England’s rest-and-rotation policy.

Dan Lawrence would seem the likeliest to make way, although it has been a difficult tour for Ollie Pope, who has a high score of 34 in four innings in this series after his return from a dislocated shoulder.

Root, though, echoed Ben Stokes’s recent assertion that Pope will set new benchmarks for an England batsman.

“I think he’s got a wonderful game, I think he’s a great player,” Root said. “He’s learning in this part of the world, it’s a new experience for him, for sure, but he’s got all the attributes needed to go and be a real performer in Test cricket for many years to come.”

India captain Virat Kohli insisted his side are unfazed by the possibility of extra assistance for England’s seamers.

In Jasprit Bumrah, India have one of the world’s best pacemen while Ishant Sharma, who is set to make his 100th Test appearance, took nine wickets in the only previous day-night contest to be held in the country.

On that occasion in Kolkata in November, 2019 all of India’s wickets against Bangladesh were taken by fast bowlers, but even if the tourists get their wish, Kohli says: “We’re not really bothered about what the strengths and weaknesses of the English team are.

“We have beaten them on their home as well where the ball does way more and bowled them out every time.

“There are many weaknesses in the opposition side as well if you are keen to exploit them. If the seamer-friendly track is for them it’s for us as well.”

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