England and India’s final match of their five-Test series is heading towards an all-or-nothing showdown at Old Trafford, Manchester on Friday, September 10, 2021. Some fans may find it difficult to watch their normal stream if they’re abroad, though, as streaming platforms often use geo-fencing.
A good VPN will let you bypass these geo-restrictions by changing your IP address and rerouting your internet activity to a server in a country that allows you to access the stream. Want to watch the fifth and final match of India vs. England? Just follow the steps below:
- Sign up for a VPN. ExpressVPN is our recommendation for sports streaming. It provides top speeds for live sports, has a vast network of servers, and comes with a 30-day free trial.
- Download and install the VPN app or software.
- Log in to your account using the username and password you created.
- Connect to a server located in your home country or the country where the stream is based. If you need one, Willow TV has been providing total coverage for the United States and Canada.
- Leave the VPN on and connect to your stream.
- Live stream the final test of India vs. England cricket!
Want to learn more about sports streaming and unblocking international content? Check out our full article below.
The final game of the five-Test cricket series between England and India kicks off on Friday, Sept. 10 at Old Trafford in Manchester. Due to a disappointing rain delay on the first Test, both teams were forced to abandon play which leaves the series 2-1 with India in the lead.
Though India can’t lose the series, England could upset their first win since the matchup’s inaugural run in 2007 with a draw. Virat Kohli’s India bowled out Joe Root’s England 210, taking the lead by 147 runs during the series’ fourth Test and brings in a burst of momentum going into the fifth Test of play.
Cricket fans who are traveling abroad could run into issues trying to access cricket streams due to geo-restrictions. If you’re having trouble streaming the climactic game, don’t worry. By using a virtual private network (VPN) you can bypass these restrictions and watch the fifth and final India vs. England cricket Test series match no matter where you are.
How to Use a VPN to Live Stream the 2021 England vs. India Fifth Test
Due to international licensing agreements, streaming platforms often use geo-blocking restrictions, which prevent access to live sports streams to fans while they’re abroad.
Willow TV, for example — which has been covering the entire England vs. India Test series in North America — can’t be viewed from any place outside the continent, even if you have a subscription to the provider.
Websites and streaming platforms determine your physical location by tracking your IP address when you access the site. An IP address is really no different than your physical home address when determining your location online. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns you one when you set up your account.
This is where a VPN comes in handy. A VPN can assign you an IP address from whatever country you want. Premium VPNs have thousands of servers spread across the globe, which will let you access whatever content you like. So if you’re in Bangkok, but want to access Willow TV to watch the match, a VPN can make the site think you’re logging in from Los Angeles.
Want to watch India vs. England Test wrap up the series no matter where you are? Follow the simple step-by-step guide below.
Step-by-step guide on how to set up a VPN to watch the fifth England vs. India test
- Set up an account with a reliable VPN provider. We recommend ExpressVPN for streaming live sports as it offers blazing fast speeds and has servers spread across the globe. Just click the button below.
- Download the app that you want to stream the final Test of the series on. ExpressVPN works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and even Smart TVs.
- Start the app and enter the credentials you created at login.
- Now connect to a server in the country where your stream is based. If you want to access Willow TV, choose a server in the United States or Canada. If you’re trying to access Sky Sports, you’d connect to a UK server.
- Keep the VPN on. Once you’re connected to a server in the country that carries your stream, just visit the website! (We’ve provided a roundup of streams later in the article)
- Enjoy the match!
Using a Free VPN to Live Stream Cricket
While better free VPNs can be good for browsing the internet and accessing geo-blocked sites, they’re not really recommended for streaming. For live sports streaming — or streaming any content for that matter — you’re better off going for a premium VPN service.
This comes down to a few different reasons:
- Monthly, weekly or daily data limits: If a free VPN service has daily data caps, you’d likely get through an hour of the fifth Test of India vs. England before a notification pops up saying that you’ve run out of your allotted data. At this point, you’d either have to purchase more, buy a full subscription or find another free VPN provider.
- Slow speeds: Buffering and poor streaming can be caused by overloaded servers and speed caps and limits. Free VPNs can sometimes jam their networks with too many users and limit their bandwidth usage. If you want to improve your speeds, you’ll have to pay for more, or sign up for a premium subscription. You might end up paying for a subpar VPN that’s more expensive than ExpressVPN anyways.
- Limited servers: Let’s say you’re trying to access an Indian stream of cricket matches. There’s no guarantee that a free VPN will have servers there, while premium VPNs a huge range of different countries.
We always recommend premium VPNs like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, definitely check out Surfshark or our other top recommendations. These are excellent services.
Watch India’s Tour of England Worldwide
Once you’ve registered and set up an account for a sports streaming service that covers cricket, accessing it abroad is pretty straightforward with a VPN. But when trying to set up a new account for one of these providers, you might be prompted to give a phone number or zip code to register.
If you don’t happen to have one of these for any reason, we’ve compiled a list of some streaming services that don’t require proof of residence to create accounts.
| Service Provider | Comments |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports(UK) | Sky Sports is the UK’s top sports provider. If you’re looking to unblock sports streaming, they cover pretty much every major sport — including cricket. You’ll have access to the India vs. England Test series, the Hundred tournament, and the rest of their content. For a contract-free option, Sky Sports offers the NOW TV pass — which costs £34 per month (about $47). They also have a day pass option at £10 per day (about $14). To access Sky Sports, you’ll just need to be connected to a UK server. |
| SlingTV(USA) | Sling TV accepts PayPal, which is accepted internationally. This service works as an intermediary for other content providers. SlingTV can unlock access to Indian content through SonyLiv for $6 per month. SonyLiv has carried the India vs. England Test series in its entirety. For $16 a month, they provide access to Willow TV. Just connect to US-based servers to access to sign up and access their content. |
| Kayo Sports(Australia) | Australia’s Kayo Sports provides complete coverage of India vs. England Test series cricket. We found that they accepted credit card numbers that were based in the USA when we ran tests, so you shouldn’t need an Australian credit card to register. Kayo Sports also has a fourteen-day free trial, which will let you watch Test five completely free. You’ll need to select an Australian server on your VPN. |
| Fox Sports(Worldwide) | Fox Sports doesn’t cover cricket in the US or South America, but it does broadcast cricket in Australia. If you’ve got a Fox Sports subscription, just configure your VPN to an Australian server and you’ll be streaming India vs. England cricket! As Fox Sports has a presence in many different regions, combining the service with a VPN really steps up its value. Check out our full article on using Fox Sports with a VPN. |
England and India Test Series Roundup
India’s Tour of England Test Series wraps with the fifth and final Test, starting September 10. Here’s a quick recap of the schedule.
| Test | Date | Time (EST) | Time (BST) | Venue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | |||||
| India (W) 1-0 | |||||
| England (W) 1-1 | |||||
| India (W) 2-1 | |||||
| 5th Test | Sept. 10-14 | 6:00 am | 11:00 am | Old Trafford, Manchester | N/A |
England vs. India Test Match Final: Can England Salvage a Draw?
With India’s fantastic performance in Test four, they put themselves in a position where they can’t lose. England must win the fifth and final test if they hope to avoid two home series losses this year. England captain Joe Root has confirmed that Jos Buttler — who sat out the last Test awaiting the birth of his second child — will be back at Old Trafford as wicketkeeper.
It’s looking like Mark Wood will replace Ollie Robinson for England, who is clocking 166.2 overs throughout the series. A final decision will be made by Friday, depending on Robinson’s recovery and training.
For India, calls to bring back Ravi Ashwin, the number one spinner in the world who has been the thorn in the side of England, are deafening. Seamer Mohammed Shami — India’s top pick for bowlers for the third Test at Headingley — is expected to return.
