Cricket fans can expect fireworks as the highly anticipated England vs India Test series kicks off on June 20 at Headingley. With England continuing their aggressive “Bazball” approach under head coach Brendon McCullum, conditions in England have become extremely result-oriented—mirroring the intensity of the recently concluded 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s, which wrapped up in under three days.
Dale Steyn Predicts No Draws in the England-India Series
Former South African pacer Dale Steyn, who followed the WTC final closely, believes that the upcoming five-match series between England and India will produce a result in every game. Speaking to JioHotstar, Steyn made a bold prediction: “All games will be close. But all will have a result. I think it will be 3-2 in favour of England. There will be no runaway win for any team, all five games will be very close.”
This statement aligns with the growing trend in English conditions, where pitches have been prepared to ensure fast-paced, result-driven cricket—a hallmark of the McCullum-Stokes era. Since taking over, the duo has led England to 15 wins out of 20 Tests with a result, losing only four matches.
South Africa’s Dominance in the WTC Cycle
Steyn also spoke about South Africa’s performance in the WTC cycle, praising their consistency and determination. “From the start of this World Test Championship cycle, South Africa knew they had to win a certain number of games to make it to the final — and they did that, winning seven in a row, regardless of the opposition,” Steyn said.
Despite questions being raised about the strength of their schedule—especially after wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka—South Africa put those doubts to rest with a commanding victory over Australia in the final. Led by Temba Bavuma, the Proteas displayed resilience and strategic brilliance to overcome one of the most respected sides in world cricket.
“These are two massive teams. They’ve been fierce rivals for years. Australia commands a lot of respect from every South African cricketer for all that they’ve achieved, especially their world titles,” Steyn added. “So South Africa knew this was going to be one of their toughest tests.”
As the cricketing world turns its attention to Headingley and the series ahead, fans can expect thrilling encounters, tight finishes, and a battle of tactical minds between two cricketing powerhouses.
