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Was there ever any doubt that England would settle for anything less than a win? Ben Stokes has always been vocal about not playing for draws, and his team has once again backed up his words with action. All in all, it was Test cricket at its finest, a seesaw battle from start to finish, with the final session on Day 5 needed to separate the two sides. This loss will sting for India, but thankfully for them, there's a bit of a break before the next Test, which begins on Wednesday, July 2. The caravan now moves to Birmingham for the second Test of this five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with Edgbaston playing host. The first ball will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT), but as always, we will be here early with the build-up. Until then, there's plenty of cricket to look forward to. The second Test of Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka and Australia’s Test series in the Caribbean both get underway on June 25, while South Africa’s Test series in Zimbabwe begins later in the week. Cheers!
The victorious captain of England, Ben Stokes, starts by reflecting on the good memories they hold in Headingley and says that this win is another one to add to it. Says it was awesome to chase a big target on the last day. Reflects that they bowled well in the first session, but India batted equally well on that first day. On his decision to bowl after winning the toss, Stokes says that he doesn't think he should have made a different decision. Points out that they saw a bit of grass and moisture on the surface and thought that would do them good. On Duckett's batting, he mentions that he is an unbelievable batter and points out that his partnership with Zak Crawley set the tone for the chase brilliantly. Also assesses that the way Crawley was able to stay composed and to get 65 was important as well. Calls it a great start to the series and also tells that there's a huge skill contributing to the win. Adds that they were in the field for long periods of time but they turned up each session with an attitude of blowing the game wide open. Further tells that Josh Tongue's spells were crucial and game-changing. On being asked whether England's bowling looked ineffective, he denies it and says that the last day showed it was a good wicket. Mentions about having a good attitude and they did show that. Adds that the hard work and toil they put in the field paid off really well as Josh Tongue wiped off the Indian tail. Ends by saying that it's great to start the series with a win and they look forward to the next one.
The skipper of India, Shubman Gill, says that it was a brilliant Test match, and they had their chances in the match but they dropped catches and the lower order did not contribute as much as they would have liked. Adds that they were thinking about getting to 430 and then declaring but they lost the last few wickets rather quickly. Mentions that they had talked about the first innings collapse and they will look to rectify that in the upcoming games. States that the chances don't come easily, especially on this kind of pitch but they have a young team who will learn going forward. Says that they bowled quite well and didn't give away many runs in the first session but once the ball got old, it was hard to stop the runs. Highlights that you have to take wickets when the ball gets soft. Adds that Jadeja bowled brilliantly as he produced some chances. On which games Jasprit Bumrah will play in this series, he replies that they will decide game by game and that they have a good break after this game, so they will look when the next game comes close.
Ben Duckett is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning knock of 149 runs from 170 balls, adding to his first-innings contribution of 62 off 94. Ben says it was an incredible game of cricket. Adds India were superb and to go into Day 5, the way they (England) finished was just incredible and he feels proud to be a part of this game. Highlights that they wanted to get through the last evening (Day 4) without losing any wickets. On the final day, highlights that they were pretty clear with their plans that was to bat through. Says that they displayed a great level of maturity throughout the day and showed how much it means to win the game. Admits that they were behind at many stages in the game but credits the bowlers who got the Indian tail out cheaply, or else India could have easily added 50-60 runs to this total. Appreciates Zak Crawley and points out that they saw him doing well against Zimbabwe as well, where he respected the good balls and put the bad ones away. On facing Jasprit Bumrah, Duckett says that he is a world-class bowler and was superb in the first innings. Shares that their plan was to limit his impact come the second innings and also highlights that they played him with caution. On being asked to reflect on his reverse sweeps against Jadeja, he says it was tough to play him with a straight bat and hence the reverse sweep was the shot he went with and turned out to be productive. At last, he appreciates the way Root batted and also says that Smith taking them home at the end was amazing.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
India ended Day 3 with a lead of 96, having lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, setting up a challenging first session on Day 4. England made an early breakthrough on Day 4 as Brydon Carse removed Shubman Gill in just the second over of the morning. Rishabh Pant began in a typically adventurous fashion before adjusting to the situation, combining with KL Rahul for a crucial stand that saw India through to Lunch without further damage. The afternoon belonged to the visitors, as both Rahul and Pant brought up brilliant centuries. Pant, in the process, became the first Indian to score hundreds in both innings of a Test in England. However, just as the visitors looked to press on, England fought back with the second new ball. The final session saw another lower-order collapse as India lost 6 for 31 and were bowled out for 364, leaving England 371 to chase.
England’s reply began on a scratchy note with Zak Crawley falling to Bumrah early, but Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope quickly took control firmly. India’s fielding woes proved a bit too costly as they dropped Pope, allowing him to march to a brilliant century. England closed day two strongly on 209/3, having wrestled back momentum after India’s spectacular collapse and their own composed batting display. India's fielding woes continued on Day 3. Brook, caught off a no-ball on 0 late on Day 2, was dropped on 46 and 82 before falling for 99. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse then guided England close to parity, reducing what could have been a big deficit to just 6 runs.
The Headingley Test started with England’s bold decision to bowl first on a batter's paradise. India’s openers provided a solid 91-run foundation before a mini-collapse to 92/2, but Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill steadied things with a brilliant 129-run stand. Both reached their centuries before Jaiswal departed. Rishabh Pant strode out with his typical adventurous flair, taking India to 359/3 on day one. Day two saw Pant complete his century in a dominant partnership with Gill, with India cruising at 430/3. Then came the collapse of all sorts as once Gill fell, India imploded from comfort to 471 all out. Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue claimed four wickets each as the last 7 wickets tumbled for just 41 runs.
Ben Stokes and Joe Root joined forces at a crucial juncture in the game, with England still needing 118 runs. Stokes repeatedly employed the reverse sweep to counter Ravindra Jadeja, emulating Ben Duckett, who had found great success with the shot. But as the saying goes, you live by the sword and die by it and in Stokes’s case, it brought about his downfall. Root, however, stood firm under pressure and found solid support from Jamie Smith. The pair ensured there were no further hiccups in the chase.
After safely negotiating a tricky passage late on Day 4, England began the final day needing 350 runs with all ten wickets in hand. Under overcast skies, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley faced a disciplined Indian attack, but both openers grew in confidence as the session progressed, with runs starting to flow at a healthy rate. Their 188-run opening stand laid the perfect platform for the chase. Duckett, having been dropped on 97, went on to register his sixth Test century. Even after the loss of two quick wickets, he continued to find the boundaries and denied India any chance to build pressure. Just when the game seemed to be slipping away, a double strike from Shardul Thakur briefly reignited Indian hopes.
A famous win for England, and one that will be remembered for a very long time. Another memorable chapter has been added to Ben Stokes and his men’s legacy at Headingley, as they pulled off what now stands as England’s second-highest successful Test chase and their highest at this iconic venue. What makes this win truly special is not just the size of the target, but the manner in which England kept finding ways to claw their way back into the contest after being on the back foot multiple times throughout the Test. A tough pill to swallow for this new-look Indian side. In both innings with the bat, they had chances to tighten their grip on the game but repeatedly left the door ajar for the hosts. In the field as well, dropped catches proved costly and ultimately came back to haunt them.
DRINKS BREAK! England are almost there. Joe Root has been solid under pressure, while Jamie Smith has shown great composure at the other end. The second new ball is India’s last roll of the dice, but they simply do not have enough runs to work with. Despite the many twists and turns we have witnessed in this see-saw battle, another twist looks unlikely from here. Umpire Chris Gaffaney taps at his watch to signal the final hour of play. Ravindra Jadeja to continue after the break.
The second new ball is now available for India and they take it straightaway. The final throw of the dice for the visitors. With England needing 22 runs to win, it's not Jasprit Bumrah, but Siraj to bowl.
Mohammed Siraj has grazed his right knee on the ground and looks in some discomfort. Rubs on that bruised area. Not quite serious enough for medical attention and is back on his feet.
Shardul Thakur (7-0-32-2) returns to the attack, replacing Prasidh Krishna.
Jamie Smith is the new batter in at 7.
Prasidh Krishna is back on. 11-0-69-2 so far. He replaces Jasprit Bumrah. Also, it has started to drizzle a bit, again.
Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack. In an unfamiliar territory with figures of 16-2-55-0. He replaces Shardul Thakur.
Ravindra Jadeja to operate from the far end. 12-0-54-0 so far.
Welcome back for the final session of Day 5. The players are out in the middle as the Indians spread out to the field. Ben Stokes and Joe Root walk out to resume their batting. And Shardul Thakur has the ball who will complete his over. Here we go...
... DAY 5, SESSION 3 ...
UPDATE - 9.18 pm IST (3.48 pm GMT) - Good news! It has gotten nice and bright. The drizzle has stopped and the sun is out as well. However, there are still some patches of dark clouds in the sky, but it is not raining at all. The hover cover has also come off now and the stumps have been erected at both ends. We soon might have an official word about the resumption time as well. Stay tuned for further updates.
UPDATE - 9.16 pm IST (3.46 pm GMT) - Well, it is still raining, but the intensity surely has gone down.
We mentioned that England is still having an edge. It's because they still have got a fair bit of batting to come as they bat deep till number 7 or 8. And with 102 runs required in 37.3 minimum overs to be bowled, they will still believe it is their match to lose. India will have to start afresh again, and so will the Englishmen. Right then, just one session remains in this first Test, but still, all four results are up on the table. Back in a bit for the final session of Day 5.
Once the rain passed, Prasidh Krishna came back breathing fire. He struck gold almost instantly, dismissing Crawley and Pope in successive overs, and suddenly England’s cruise at 188/0 turned into 206/2. But if India sensed an opening, Ben Duckett wasn’t giving in. He kept threading the field, keeping the runs flowing and the pressure firmly on. Krishna kept hurling unplayable deliveries, but Duckett danced around the danger with assurance. Just when it seemed like India had run out of options, up stepped Shardul Thakur. Quiet all Test, barely in the frame, suddenly made things tighter with that godly double strike.
Words of appreciation for both Duckett and Crawley. They played against Bumrah with utmost patience and guile. They just followed simple cricket against him, to see the ball and hit the ball, without trying anything risky. What this did was it pressurised India's second line of attack massively. Did the pitch get flat suddenly? It might be because of the overcast conditions throughout the day, those cracks didn't get enough sunlight to open up wide. But nothing to take away from the way the openers batted. Jadeja was called upon to produce a golden spell, and work with some rough patches, but Duckett treated him with those productive sweeps and reverse sweeps. A Day 5 pitch, chasing a mountainous 371, they just didn't give India an inch while batting.
Got to feel for Mohammed Siraj here. He looked much improved from the first inning and just about produced a wicket, but wasn't supported by his fielder. And got to feel even more for Yashasvi Jaiswal as the ball has just kept following him, first in the slips and then in the deep. Unfortunately, he just couldn't convert a single chance that should have been, as per the international standards. Had the Indians converted any one of those, the situation could have been much, much better for the tourists.
The scorecard kept moving and once settled again, both Crawley and Duckett got on the offensive and after that, even those Bumrah overs were yielding five or six runs for England. Pressure kept mounting, and just when India thought that things wouldn't get worse, Ben Duckett was dropped on 98 by Yashasvi Jaiswal, which just summed up the day for the tourists.
After a wicketless first session, India desperately needed someone to step up and provide that crucial breakthrough, but the wickets just remained elusive. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley restarted cautiously and bided their time against the opening spells from Bumrah and Siraj. Boundaries didn't come as fast in the first half hour or so, but the good thing both the English openers did was to pinch in quick singles and doubles at regular intervals by tapping the ball in the gap, which made the Indian bowlers grind harder.
Uh, oh! The drizzle has picked up in intensity and we are off! And with that, it will be TEA on Day 5. There hasn’t been a blink-and-you-miss-it moment in this rollercoaster of a Test. India lands a blow, England hits back harder, and then India returns the favor with gusto. It’s been a toe-to-toe tussle, but if you look at the scores, it is still advantage England.
Game stopped due to : Wet Ground Condition
Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage
The English skipper, Ben Stokes, walks in at number 6. He will face Shardul Thakur who is on a Hat Trick. Also, Ian Ward on air mentioned that Tea will be taken at 4.30 pm local time (3.30 pm GMT), which is around 25 minutes from now. But how wildly this game has seen-sawed! India can just start to believe again that they have got a sniff at it. However, it's still a bit too far from reach.
Out walks Duckett, and in walks Harry Brook at number 5 for England, with the hosts needing 118 runs to win.
Paul Reiffel walks up to Chris Gaffaney with the ball in his hand. Both have a close look at the ball's shape and DRINKS has been called upon as well. Not a single dull moment in this Test so far. England started off the session, without a loss, and just took the sting out of India's bowling attack, to be very fair. But after that short rain break, India have just minimally clawed their way back. Ben Duckett has batted with his characteristic aggression and has looked unfazed by what happened at the other end. England will go for the kill definitely, but for India, they need a miracle of a spell from someone here. Prasidh Krishna has looked sharp and accurate since that break, picking up both wickets. However, runs have just kept flowing from Duckett's bat. But, India keep fighting on hard. Here's Shardul Thakur, who is brought back into the attack now.
Ravindra Jadeja (8-0-35-0) returns for another spell. He replaces Jasprit Bumrah.
Live visuals show that the drizzle is back in Leeds. But contrastingly, it's sunny as well. But we continue to play for now, as the umpires think it is still not worrisome enough to get the players off the field. The Indians were desperate to catch a break in the previous stoppage, but would want to stay out to just sneak in another wicket before Tea, which is just minutes away. 'Skiddy' to continue for now.
Root just bails out when Prasidh Krishna was about to deliver. Taps a few times on the pitch and is good to continue now.
This is going to be the most crucial spell from India's perspective. Their main man, Jasprit Bumrah, is back on and he replaces Ravindra Jadeja.
England's premier batter, Joe Root, now makes his way out to the crease. A warm reception for Yorkshire's local man. In the meantime, the Indians form a brief huddle with KL Rahul giving some pep talk to pump up the players.
Ollie Pope is in at 3 for England. Also, it has gotten fairly bright out there now.
Prasidh Krishna (6-0-38-0) is brought back into the attack now. He replaces Mohammed Siraj.
The Indians are making their way back onto the field, and despite how the day has unfolded so far, they all appear to be in good spirits. Shubman Gill gathers his men for a huddle. They are followed by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Mohammed Siraj will finish his over. 55.1 overs are left in the day. Here we go!
UPDATE - 7.19 pm IST (1.49 pm GMT) - Great news! The drizzle has subsided and the hover cover is coming off. The stumps have been erected and it should not be long before the play resumes.
UPDATE - 7.16 pm IST (1.46 pm GMT) - It’s still drizzling, but the ground staff are waiting near the hover cover. The skies have brightened up a bit, which is a positive sign.
The umpires have had enough! The rain has picked up considerably, and they have called for the hover cover to be brought on. India won't mind this break at all. It had been all England in the session so far, with the two openers firmly in control and dominating the proceedings. Stuart Broad reckons the cloud cover isn’t too heavy, suggesting this could just be a passing shower.
Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage
What’s been most impressive about this partnership is not just the boundaries, but also the smart rotation of strike and the constant flow of singles.
The umpires do look a bit concerned now about the rain but we stay on.
Time for spin as Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-9-0) comes into the attack. A slip and a short leg in place.
Rishabh Pant jogs to mid-wicket in an attempt to shake off the pain. He looks okay to continue and doesn’t require any medical attention for now.
The drizzle has picked up but not concerning just yet.
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Mohammed Siraj (8-1-23-0).
The hover cover is being rolled off the park and we should be getting a prompt start. There you go, the two umpires are heading out to the centre. They are followed by Shubman Gill and his men, who disperse from the huddle. Out come the two English openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, to a warm cheer from the Headingley crowd. The floodlights are on and there is a bit of rain in the air but we are good to go. Jasprit Bumrah to kickstart proceedings. Let's play....
UPDATE - 6.07 pm IST (12.37 pm GMT) - Uh oh! The hover cover is coming on. It isn’t raining at the moment, but this move appears to be a precautionary one, possibly in anticipation of a passing shower.
... DAY 5, SESSION 2 ...
For a Day 5 surface, it has continued to play true, and even the ball change 15 minutes before the break didn’t make much of a difference. India didn’t bowl poorly, but things just didn’t quite go their way in the first two hours, despite multiple plays and misses. They will be hoping for a moment of inspiration when they return after the break. For Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, it will be about starting afresh and looking to capitalise in the afternoon session, where we have seen run-scoring become easier. The hosts need 254 runs in a minimum of 66 overs, which sets the required run rate at just under four runs an over. Do join us back at 6.10 pm IST (12.40 pm GMT) for the start of the second session.
The two English openers knew they could capitalise once the change bowlers came on, and they did just that. Prasidh Krishna bowled better than his figures suggest, but it was Shardul Thakur who lacked discipline, and both Crawley and Duckett targeted him, with the left-hander going on to bring up his fifty. The first hour yielded 42 runs from 13 overs, but England upped the tempo in the second hour, scoring 54 runs in the next 11 overs to finish the session strongly.
SESSION SUMMARY - 96 runs in 24 overs. An ideal session for England. With 350 runs to chase in the day, a wicketless morning session under overcast skies would have been high on the hosts' agenda and it played out just the way they would have hoped. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley began in watchful fashion, which is uncharacteristic of them, but the situation demanded it, as did the disciplined bowling. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj consistently hit the right areas to keep the batters quiet, which eventually led to a couple of audacious shots in an attempt to break free.
Mohammed Siraj sprints back to his mark to squeeze in one more over, but just as he is about to deliver, Zak Crawley backs away and points out some movement behind the bowler's arm. Siraj is not amused, and neither is Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. With this delay, this should be the last over of the session.
After several requests, India have finally got their wish. The ball has failed to pass through the hoops during the check and will now be changed. We have seen on numerous occasions that a change of ball can bring a shift in momentum for the bowling side, with the replacement being harder than the previous one. Ravindra Jadeja was seen having a bit of fun, cheekily celebrating the ball change while standing in front of umpire Chris Gaffaney.
With under 20 minutes to go for Lunch, Jasprit Bumrah (7-2-17-0) returns to the attack, much to the delight of the Indians in the crowd.
First look at spin. Here's Ravindra Jadeja.
It's Shardul Thakur's turn now to request a change of ball. The ball passes the check and the umpire asks Thakur to get on with it.
Shubman Gill takes the ball to umpire Chris Gaffaney for a check. The ball gauge is out and the ball passes through it easily.
DRINKS BREAK. England's hour through and through. So far, so good from the hosts, under dark grey skies with the lights on. And with the wickets column still reading zero, the hosts will be quite pleased to see off one Bumrah spell. The two openers were very cautious and watchful in the first half hour or so, and once Bumrah was off the attack, runs did start to come easily. A few plays and misses were induced but Crawley and Duckett still stand unbeaten. If England go to Lunch without any loss, that will ring the alarm bells in the Indian camp. They need wickets, and need them now. Prasidh Krishna to continue after the hydration break.
Shardul Thakur has been introduced into the attack now. He replaces Mohammed Siraj.
A review for LBW! Shubman Gill, with just a couple of seconds left on the timer, signals the 'T' and sends it upstairs! The UltraEdge shows no bat involved and the Ball Tracking shows the ball to be sliding way down the leg stump line.
The first bowling change of the morning for India. Prasidh Krishna replaces Jasprit Bumrah. A sort of small psychological win for England to have seen off Bumrah's first spell without any loss.
The Indians seem not to be happy with the shape of the ball and the umpire Chris Gaffaney brings out the ball gauge. It easily passes through and the ball is tossed back to Siraj. Good to continue.
It has gotten dark again. The lights have come on, which might make batting a bit trickier. However, the English openers have done really well so far by being watchful rather than taking any unnecessary risk, especially against Bumrah.
Siraj loses his run up. Just when he was about to release the ball, he lost his footing and bailed out from bowling.
Ravi Shastri on air mentions that Ravindra Jadeja will have a huge role to play with the ball, especially at the end from which Siraj is bowling, up the hill. The rough patches created by the seamers could be key to gripping the ball from that end.
Michael Atherton on air mentioned that the rain on the radar has passed, and the conditions are expected to brighten up from now.
Mohammed Siraj (2-1-9-0) to operate from the far end.
Right. The huddle is formed by the Indian team before they spread out to the field. Out walk the overnight English openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Jasprit Bumrah has removed his jumper, which means he will be opening the Indian bowling attack. It is very overcast, with dark grey skies, but there's no rain, which is a good thing. Bumrah with the first ball, and Duckett to face. Off we go...
Before we get to the start of Day 5, the umpires and players walk in a sequence to pay tributes to mark the passing away of Dilip Doshi. A minute of silence is observed for the former left-arm spinner of India. He featured in 33 Tests, between 1979 and 1983, picking up 114 wickets, and also played 15 ODIs for India, where he picked 22 wickets.
PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta takes a look at the conditions and shares his thoughts. He reckons the first session could be a touch overcast, which might offer some assistance to the seamers. Deep points out that from one end, the ball has behaved a bit unpredictably, especially around the 6 to 8 metre mark, where cracks are not just opening, but the edges of the cracks are beginning to break. At the other end, he notes there’s plenty of rough for Ravindra Jadeja to work with, particularly when bowling to the left-handers around that fourth stump line. For the right-handers, there is some rough as well, though not as much to exploit. Overall, Deep feels it is still a good pitch to bat on, but given the conditions, he believes that taking 10 wickets is a slightly more achievable task than chasing down 350 runs.
Morne Morkel, the Indian bowling coach is in for a chat. He begins by saying that it’s an exciting day and adds that he cannot quite remember when the last occasion was that a Test match went into the fifth day. Reckons that with 350 runs needed, England is going to come out and try to get those runs. Stresses that it is all about doing the basics right. On the bowler’s mindset on Day 5, he mentions it is crucial to take one session at a time and it is all about execution, and points that if you don’t execute, the runs can leak. The message is to make every ball count and bowl in partnerships to get the results. On his journey so far as the bowling coach, he says everyone has a unique set of skills and his job is to manage how to get the best out of all and provide that space for everyone.
UPDATE - 2.59 pm IST (9.29 am GMT) - The hover cover, which was on more as a precautionary measure, is now being rolled off the ground. That suggests the ground staff are not expecting a shower any time soon. It remains quite windy out there, though.
UPDATE - 2.49 pm IST (9.19 am GMT) - The warm-ups are underway for India under gloomy skies, but more importantly, it's dry. The radar suggests we could get lucky with the weather. If any rain does arrive, it is expected early in the day and should clear up quickly.
Weather permitting? Ugh, those dreaded words. The forecast threatens to gatecrash this party, with rain clouds lurking ominously over the morning and afternoon sessions of Day 5. After four days of edge-of-the-seat cricket, the last thing anyone wants is a soggy anticlimax. Mother Nature holds all the cards now, but we're sending every prayer skyward for clear skies. So, folks, sit back and relax, as a potentially nerve-wracking Day 5 is on the cards.
All four results remain tantalizingly alive, as the match is poised on a knife's edge. Twelve pulsating sessions across four days have delivered a lot of drama, with the momentum zigzagging back and forth. The spoils so far have been shared evenly as India claimed four sessions. England matched that tally, and four ended in a stalemate. It's been a classic Test cricket, and we're in for a gripping climax, weather permitting.
We talked about bowling and batting, but what has been a matter of concern for both sides is their sloppiness in the field. The Indians shelled many catches. Two of which were of Brook in his 99-run inning. One of Pope as well, who then made the most out of those reprieves to score a century. While England too had an off outing as they dropped Rahul on 58, from where he went to stretch his innings to 137 runs.
However, be it the home side or the touring party, a target of this magnitude is always an uphill battle, almost like climbing the Everest. But, having watched England’s batting approach in this Brendon McCullum era, the Bazballers are not going down without a fight. India's blueprint is crystal clear. To strike early, strike often, and let Bumrah weave his magic. The supporting cast of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and company must rise to the occasion because India's path to victory runs through all ten English wickets.
Six years down the line, in 2025, why does that match matter now? England face another monster chase of 371 runs for victory. This time, though, all ten wickets are intact, and they have also survived Jasprit Bumrah's early burst in those nervous final thirty minutes of Day 4. At 21 without loss, they need exactly 350 more across three sessions. Pull this off, and it'll eclipse even that 2019 classic as the second-highest successful chase at Leeds.
The day was August 25th, a bright, sunny evening in Leeds, and the occasion was the Ashes 2019, with a houseful and lively Headingley crowd on Day 4, which was about to witness something truly extraordinary. England were 9 down chasing 359, with Australia sniffing victory in this crucial 3rd Test. Ben Stokes stood alone, keeping the flame of the chase ignited while shielding the tail. Jack Leach walked out as the last man with England still in need of 73 runs. They formed a strong last-wicket stand, and the equation shrank down to just 1 run. Pat Cummins ran in full tilt, Stokes was on strike, and smashed that length ball through covers before wheeling away in pure joy, arching back, with arms stretched wide open. That Ashes ended in a draw, though, with the coveted urn staying with Australia, but this was Test cricket for the ages.
... DAY 5, FIRST SESSION ...
Right. This brings us to the close of an immersive day of Test cricket. England have an Everest to climb come Day 5, as they need 350 runs to win this series opener. England will be pleased to have navigated the final half hour without losing a wicket, a small but vital boost heading into the final day. However, fresh challenges await, with rain looming on the forecast, especially around the morning and afternoon sessions, which could disrupt play. Fingers crossed that the weather holds, because this first Test is perfectly poised with all four results still on the table. Do join us for the decisive day as the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). Till then, take care, cheers.
KL Rahul is in for a chat with Deep Dasgupta. He shares that switching between formats in a short time is never easy. That is why he arrived early and took part in the India A game, which he says was better preparation for him. Mentions that getting used to the red ball coming at him was important, and having played in England before, he knew what to expect. Shares that for him, it was about switching on mentally and focusing on doing the simple things right. States that the conditions required him to play tighter and focus on getting through the first session on Day 4. Feels that Rishabh is a very different kind of player who does the job for the team, and because of that, it is best to just let him be. He also says that cracks seem to be opening up and it has the look of a sub-continent wicket. Reckons that batting on Day 5 will not be as easy, and knowing England, they will come hard. He believes it will be all about bowling as straight as possible and making England earn their runs.
England stepped in for the chase with roughly 30 minutes left on the clock, and they’ll be relieved to have navigated that tricky late phase unscathed, especially successfully seeing off one Jasprit Bumrah spell under fading light. Mohammed Siraj again looked a bit scratchy with the ball and that's where India will need to focus as they come out to bowl on Day 5. Jasprit Bumrah has been spot on, but he lacked support from the other end in the first inning, and he would expect his fellow bowlers to pull their socks up this time around.
But the comfort didn't last. Once KL Rahul, after a marathon 137, finally departed, the familiar frailties of India's lower order surfaced again. From a commanding 333 for 4, the innings unravelled spectacularly. Josh Tongue, toiling hard for wickets, ripped through the tail with three wickets in four balls, and dragged England right back into the fight as India's innings wrapped up with a 370-run lead at their helm. The visitors could only add 29 runs for the last 5 wickets, similar to losing the last 7 wickets for 41 runs in the first innings.
As the sun peeked through and the Dukes ball softened, batting became a touch easier, but the pitch still had mischief in it. The odd one reared up unexpectedly from dry patches, keeping the batters on alert. Pant eventually fell on 118 to Bashir, but the damage had been done. Karun Nair, who started with a duck in the first innings, offered decent support, and he and Rahul stitched together a handy 46-run stand that kept India ticking along with the lead.
The mood shifted drastically post-Lunch. After a watchful start, Pant punched the tempo into overdrive the moment he reached fifty. While Rahul remained unflappable and methodical, Pant lit up the afternoon with a flurry of strokes that rattled England's radar, especially taking on Shoaib Bashir, who took the most brunt of the assault. The contrast at the crease was striking. One building brick by brick, the other tearing down the walls. The duo of Pant and KL Rahul added a mammoth 195 runs together, turning the momentum towards India.
England opened Day 4 with purpose, slicing nicely through the morning hour at Headingley. Brydon Carse struck almost immediately, removing Shubman Gill and injecting early energy into the session. With the pitch showing fresh signs of wear and the ball zipping around under cloudy skies, Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes found bounce, seam, and rhythm, but the breakthroughs remained elusive. KL Rahul, cool as you like, brought up a composed half-century, while Rishabh Pant flirted with chaos and creativity in equal measure. Despite the probing spells, England came away with just the one wicket, leaving the game delicately balanced at Lunch.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started to walk off the field as soon as the over finished, but the Indians were keen to squeeze one Bumrah over in. But the onfield umpires, too, thought that it is enough for the day, as the clock has ticked past 6.30 pm local time (5.30 pm GMT). What a day it’s been. A classic Test cricket at its absorbing best. Momentum swung like a pendulum, nerves were tested, and both sides traded blows without flinching. After 12 sessions in this opening Test, there’s barely a sheet of paper between the two teams. It’s all square on the session scorecard too, four apiece to India and England, and four hanging right in the balance. The match is beautifully set up heading into the business end.
Ravindra Jadeja to roll his arm now. Possibly the final over of the day. He replaces Mohammed Siraj.
What happened there? Just as when Jasprit Bumrah was about to deliver the ball, Ben Duckett bailed out, gesturing that something disturbed him off the sightscreen. The camera pans there and shows that there was some movement indeed that might have broken Duckett's concentration. Bumrah is not happy and shows his frustration as he walks back to the bowling mark.
A slight halt as Ben Duckett is in a bit of pain. He takes his time off and is down on his knees and stretching to get comfortable. That must have stung him real hard and it will take a couple of minutes to get back. Gets up on his feet eventually and is good to go.
Mohammed Siraj to operate from the far end.