The five-Test series between India and England has already been decided, with the hosts taking an unassailable 3-1 lead after a titanic battle in the fourth Test in Ranchi.
However, that does not mean there is nothing to fight for in the final match of the series that begins in Dharamsala, at the foot of the Himalayas, from Thursday.
Firstly, a 3-2 series result would look vastly different from 4-1. English – and many Indian – fans believe a 3-2 verdict would be fair final result in a series that has seen some incredible performances from both sides, with youngsters in particular rising to the occasion in the absence of senior players and poor form from the more established names.
Also, both sides need to plan for the long term and test which players can be part of the journey going forward.
For England, the form of Jonny Bairstow is particularly concerning, with the middle-order batsman scoring a measly 170 runs in eight outings. That is only a little better than spinner Tom Hartley has managed. Also, Ollie Pope's bat has gone silent after a stellar 196 in the first Test, returning a pair in Ranchi.
The Indians, meanwhile, will be considering the long-term future of Rajat Patidar, who has looked like a walking wicket the entire series and should consider himself lucky if he gets another chance. But given the continued unavailability of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, the Indian team have limited options in the middle order and might not want to hand out another Test debut in the series.
And if players found the challenges in the first four Tests too much to handle, things are going to get extremely difficult in the finale.
Weather in Dharamsala
The forecast for the next 10 days in the northern Indian city is far from ideal for a Test in the subcontinent. It is still winter time in some parts of north India, especially closer to the hills.
Temperatures in Dharamsala are not expected to go above 15º Celsius at any point, with the minimum likely to be in the low single digits. The Indian meteorological department has forecast rain this week up until the first day of the Test on Thursday.
The BBC's weather prediction is a lot more dire, with the maximum temperature forecast to be in single digits and lowest close to freezing point.
Fast bowlers rejoice
With such weather forecast, fast bowlers should expect near-perfect conditions throughout the Test, at a venue that was anyhow known to help the quicks.
James Anderson and Mark Wood should be raring to go and bowl long spells without worrying about getting tired. India, too, will be happy if the ball moves around, since returning pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj can wreak havoc in such conditions.
Anderson could not have asked for a better stage for what should be a momentous occasion. The veteran seamer, 41, is just two away from joining the 700 Test wickets club. With around 5,000 England supporters expected to turn up at one of the most picturesque venues in cricket, Anderson should back himself to finish the series on a high, provided he recovers in time from a minor quad injury.
India are likely to go with two pacers, while England might consider bolstering their pace attack and having just one frontline slow bowler, as Joe Root has proven to be an excellent off-spinner.
Milestones
Anderson is not the only player looking forward to the fifth Test. Both Bairstow and India spin ace Ravichandran Ashwin are on 99 Tests and at least one is guaranteed to feature in the final match.
Bairstow would also want to play his 100th Test at the scenic venue that is likely to be where Anderson creates history by becoming only the third bowler, and first pacer, to 700 scalps.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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