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Another Test match, another one lasting nearly 15 sessions. What's with the Eng-Ind series? But is anyone complaining? That's why 5-day cricket is important. You could have a bad day but then, can bounce back the next. And you could be on top for a long time, but unless you finish the job, the match is not yours. Also, the game could change in a span of minutes. Leave aside that sour note between the England team taking out their frustration on Ravindra Jadeja, this has been another fascinating Test. Although, the bowlers will feel that the curator needs to think about them as well. Both sides are struggling to pick up 20 wickets consistently and eventually, that's what's going to decide who wins the final Test. Will Jasprit Bumrah play? Should Siraj be rested? Will Kuldeep Yadav get a chance? For England, will Ben Stokes recover to bowl? Do they hunt for another seamer to replace Carse or dig deep to find another spinner? A wicket-taking one? Just around 3 days to decide all this as the caravan heads back to London for the final stage. The fifth and final Test will be played on Thursday, 31st July, 2025, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (1000 GMT) at The Oval. Our buildup will begin much earlier, so do tune in early. In the meanwhile, you can catch all the action from the West Indies-Australia T20I series and New Zealand's Test tour of Zimbabwe. Enjoy. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
The captain of England, BEN STOKES, is also ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his 5-wicket haul in the first innings and a century with the bat. He reflects on the game with a touch of pride and a bit of disappointment. Says that as an all-rounder, he weighs on individual performance only by the result, and he would’ve absolutely loved it if they had ended up on the winning side. Still, he is happy that his contributions, both with the bat and the ball, stood out across the five days. Speaking about the physical and mental toll of the series, Stokes acknowledges that it’s been a big five to six weeks for him personally. But says that he told the boys, they’ve got one more Test, so let’s give it everything. Further adds that they will run through a brick wall if they have to. Mentions that his leadership mantra is to lead by example, and it’s tough work, but he’ll keep doing it. That’s just who he is. On his shoulder injury, Stokes explains it’s more about workload than anything serious, as he bowled quite a few overs. Explains that naturally, his body starts to feel it after a while. But he keeps reminding his bowlers to push more. He then analyzes how the pitch evolved, saying it got easier to bat on as the match went deeper. Adds that there was variable bounce, particularly tough for right-handers, as they saw this morning. But surprisingly, not much for the left-handers. Credits Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, calling the way they applied themselves and batted as really impressive. Details that they held firm when it mattered. Finally, he points to the positives for England, as he thinks their opening partnership really gave them the upper hand. Details that Crawley and Duckett set the tone beautifully, scoring at a good rate, which allowed them to aim to bat once and put pressure on India. Feels unfortunate that they just couldn’t get over the line in the end. Ends by saying that this series has been incredible so far with all Tests going into the fifth day.
The skipper of India, SHUBMAN GILL, reflects on the hard-fought draw with a sense of pride. Says it felt more like a win, considering the situation his side was in. Explains that losing two early wickets made things tricky, but he’s pleased with how the team responded and showed fight through the day. He shares that the talk in the dressing room was all about playing ball by ball, especially on a Day 5 pitch where anything can happen, variable bounce, turn, or even seam movement. Adds that they wanted to take the pitch out of the equation sometimes and just trust their technique. On the drama before the handshake, Gill first applauds the efforts of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, both of whom were in the 90s and played with immense grit and composure. Feels that it was actually the call of the batters as to continue the game or not but they fully deserved their centuries, and that's why there was no urgency in shaking hands early. Mentions that every match in this series has gone down to the final session, and Gill feels that’s been a huge learning experience for the whole group. Now, he says that they want to head into the fifth match with the aim of drawing the series. That’s their focus. On his own form, Gill says that the number of runs doesn’t matter much to him. Says that he just wants to contribute to the team's success and enjoy his batting. Emphasizes the importance of batting deep, especially on such wickets, something they couldn’t do in the first innings but managed to correct in the second, and says that someone has to anchor the innings, and he’s glad that they did that this time. On Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the final Test, Gill says they'll wait and see on the eve of the final Test. As for the toss in this match, he shrugs it off, saying that it doesn’t really matter, and as long as they’re winning games or saving them like this, he’s happy.
... THE PRESENTATION ...
India will be happy with their batting. More than happy. They could have been bowled out for under 250 while batting first, while they could have suffered an innings defeat in the second innings. But they did what they love to do - bat and bat and bat and drew this match on merit, rather than via nature. But there will be question marks over their bowling. Barring Bumrah, everyone struggled on the flat deck and even though Ravindra Jadeja picked up 4 wickets, they were more because England were going for quick runs. As far as Bumrah is concerned, he was picked for this match to try and help India level the series here but could not strike with the new ball. As a result, ended up with just 2 wickets. Also, the policy of picking Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar but not giving them enough overs did raise some questions over Gill's captaincy, and it might have come off in this game. But come The Oval, where one can expect another flat deck, what combination will India pick? And what about Bumrah? Originally scheduled to play only three Tests, do the visitors take the gamble? Please stay tuned for the presentation.
Coming to the match overall, England won the toss on an overcast morning but India called it a good toss to lose. They batted and battled the difficult conditions and through a series of starts, managed to put 358 on the board. Stokes bowled his heart out, taking a 5-wicket haul while Archer picked up 3. With the bat, England showed why they decided to bowl first because they replied with a mammoth 669. The top 3 got off to a rollicking start and Stokes stood up with the bat too, with a magnificent 141 while Root being Root, scored yet another 150. He broke so many records that almost every second ball was an event. That enabled the hosts to get a lead of 311, which should have been enough in a normal scenario but the curse of Manchester is riding heavily on Stokes. This is just the second draw in his Test career as a captain, both at Old Trafford and from the inception of Test cricket at this ground, no team has still won a Test match after electing to bowl! Guess some things are just not destined to change.
England will look at those dropped catches but cannot say that they bowled well. They struggled on Day 4 but got things together in the morning session on Day 5. However, post Lunch, they just lost their lines and lengths and just could not control the scoring rate. Liam Dawson was the most disappointing name, given that the conditions were perfect for him, with plenty of rough outside the off stump against the left handers. But he just could not hit those areas and it caused so much frustration for his skipper that even the usually calm Ben Stokes took his bowler aside and was actually giving him lessons on where to land the ball! After the early burst by Woakes, only Stokes and Archer could bowl well. The rest simply could not stand up. Also, the absence of Stokes on Day 4 hurt England badly as they could not pick wickets for 2 sessions in a row. Paints a poor picture for the final Test, should Stokes be not available to bowl.
When the new ball swung in the first over, India were pegged on the back foot pretty quickly. But after that, the ball just stopped swinging as Shubman Gill started to score a few boundaries. And then, England did not have a backup plan. They tried to use the inconsistent bounce and managed to get Rahul's wicket as well on Day 5 morning, but just could not hit the same area consistently enough. Add to it, three mistakes cost them very big - first, Gill's drop on 48 by Liam Dawson on Saturday, then on 81 by Ollie Pope and Ravindra Jadeja put down first ball by Joe Root. The problem for the bowlers was such chances came very rarely and if they missed it, there was no second chance. But no complaints against the batters who just bed in. Washington Sundar was sent in at number 5, either to help Gill save the Test, considering that Jadeja is an attacking batter, or simply to keep Jadeja at 6, given his form. It worked big time for the tourists as the absence of Pant was rarely felt. Sundar started off very cautiously, before opening up post Lunch on Day 5.
The talk of defense started with playing for a day. Could India take this game to Day 5? There is plenty of rain on the final day. Can the visitors bat out 2 sessions and somehow take this to Day 5, and hope rain helps them to a draw? This was the thought on the outside. But not on the inside. Captain Gill and coach Gambhir are not ones who rely on weather and purely looked at the numbers. 5 sessions to bat, let's bat those out. Whether rain comes or not, we cannot give our wickets away. And so, it happened. Rain did not come at all but the Indians were not bothered. Because they never played for the weather. They only had one aim - play each and every ball on merit and give it the best shot.
0/2 in the first 5 balls of the innings. 4 full sessions and a half session played after that pre-Lunch session on Day 4. And that saw three wicketless sessions. The pitch might be a road, a highway, a bed - call it what you like, but this has been one of the greatest batting displays by an Indian unit, that too, by a young one. They lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan in the first over, but then, KL Rahul, skipper Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja - all batted with grit and determination, with Rahul being the unlucky one to miss out on a century. England threw everything at them, and the Indians got difficult batting conditions as well, but they just showed great resolve to avert a defeat.
The English players patiently wait for Sundar to finish his celebration and finally, the Indian batters shake hands with the hosts, relieving them of their misery. After 143 overs of toil, despite taking 2 wickets in the first 5 balls, England could manage only 2 more in the next 853 legal balls. A bit of a bad mood towards the end but the players shake hands as India emerge as the moral victors in this fourth Test. The series still stands 2-1 in favour of England and India cannot win the series, but because of this draw, earned due to hard work and not because of weather, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is still alive.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ben Stokes walks over to umpire Ahsan Raza and says that England are done. But the umpire says that BOTH sides have to agree for the handshake! And INDIA SAY NO! Can't blame them, because one batter is on 89, the other is on 80 and on a pitch as flat as a pancake, who would like to leave? Ben Stokes is not happy at all. He wants to go off but cannot as Jadeja is not going to go anywhere. Now, the English team is at Jadeja, literally going hard at him, but he is pretty calm and smiling. Zak Crawley can be heard saying, 'WHY DON'T YOU SHAKE HANDS?' The umpires don't intervene and now, Rod Tucker signals the final hour. It is purely the frustration that is driving England to this point. They have nothing to gain and actually should not bother with Jadeja wanting to get to a century. Time for the part timers. Here's Harry Brook.
Last over then. After this over, the umpires will signal for a Drinks break and signal the mandatory hour post that. Given the state of the match, a question will be asked to Ben Stokes whether he wants to continue or shake hands and call this match off. There is nothing left in this Test except for the upcoming centuries of Jadeja and Sundar. Will Stokes show sportsmanship and allow the batters the opportunity to get there by bowling a few extra overs?
With nothing much happening, Stokes has called in Joe Root again for a brief spell, maybe.
Change, as the skipper, Ben Stokes, has called in Jofra Archer for the first time in this session.
Booo! That's not me, but the crowd. Umpire Ahsan Raza has had a word with Zak Crawley and the English skipper. Not sure regarding what. Maybe, it was regarding Crawley deliberately throwing the ball on the bounce to the keeper to scruff up the ball.
Just before Tea was called, Stokes and Dawson were discussing for around 5 minutes before heading off, regarding the landing of the ball on the rough areas. Last throw of the dice? Ben or Jofra? Neither. Liam Dawson to continue, with a change of ends. 39-10-70-0 so far.
The players slowly come out to the middle. England seem to have accepted their fate and are not that keen to take the field. India are not too perturbed, they would be happy to shake hands right now. 35 overs left in the game and a minimum of 20 need to be bowled, before the match can be called off as a draw. Chris Woakes to start things off post Tea. 19-4-57-2 so far. The keeper is upto the stumps.
... DAY 5, FINAL SESSION ...
Heading into the final session of the last day, all eyes will be on how England respond. They still need just six wickets to bowl India out, but they’re running out of time and energy. The pitch is offering variable bounce and some turn, but the batters are well set, and the ball is losing its sting. For India, this has been an outstanding comeback, from a fragile position in the morning to now leading the match towards a draw. Another solid hour from here could push the game in that direction only. It’s all set up for a thrilling final session, which would start at 8.30 pm IST (3 pm GMT).
England’s bowling in this session lacked the sharpness and bite they displayed earlier in the morning. Jofra Archer, who had earlier dismissed Shubman Gill, has looked a touch off rhythm and tired in his new spell after Lunch. He strayed onto the pads far too often and was punished for it. Brydon Carse did continue with his short-ball strategy, which briefly troubled the batters, but the consistency wasn't there to reap rewards. Liam Dawson again bowled a long spell from one end, finding some purchase from the footmarks, but was once again wicketless despite creating a few half chances. Ben Stokes himself tried to inject some energy late in the session, but the frustration was evident, and his body language showed it, as did the field placements, which began to scatter. Their dropped chance of Jadeja before Lunch already looms large.
The fifth-wicket stand between Jadeja and Sundar has been everything India could have asked for, from being calm to calculated, and counter-attacking when required. Jadeja, who was dropped on the first ball he faced before Lunch, has made sure to capitalise on that lucky escape. He has batted with his usual grit, picked gaps smartly, and brought up yet another valuable half-century in England. Sundar, on the other hand, has looked composed just like KL Rahul batted earlier. His compact defence, awareness of the off stump, and readiness to pounce on anything loose made his knock equally impactful. The duo didn’t just block and survive, as they kept the scoreboard ticking with regular boundaries and confident singles. Both players reached their fifties, and by the time Tea was called, India have not only erased the deficit but they are now leading by 11 runs.
India will cherish this session, and England would rather forget. That's the third wicketless session in the last four! In the two hours after Lunch, India piled on 99 runs without losing a single wicket, playing with poise and purpose. The pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar have remained unbeaten and stitched a century partnership that has pulled India out of trouble. With each passing over, the visitors looked more confident and composed, frustrating England, who had hoped to run through the lower-middle order. From being 222/4 at the stroke of Lunch to now, India have turned the tide in their favour to make it a draw. England, who were firmly on top earlier in the day, suddenly find themselves searching for answers. The ball has gone soft, and the set batters are showing no signs of giving away their wickets.
Time for one more over before Tea. A rare scenario where both teams want this session to end. One, to celebrate its moral victory, while the other, desperate for a break.
Entertaining stuff. 22 runs have come in the last 5 overs. 3 fours and 1 six. 38 overs left in the game. A minimum of 23 to be bowled from those, before a handshake.
Has Stokes thrown in the towel? He goes off the attack and it might be the final time that we see him bowl before the Ashes. Or even play before the Ashes. Here's Joe Root. 9-1-28-0 so far.
Another 5 overs played off. 15 runs have come in those 5 overs. No significant threat from the pitch as yet. Or, from the bowling either. Another 43 overs left in the game, a minimum of 28 to be bowled from those, for a shake of hands.
Nothing for Stokes in that over. He was looking very frustrated. This is what a match situation can do. In a normal scenario, you don't look at the scoreboard and just focus on bowling consistent lines and lengths. But post Lunch, England have been only looking at the scoreboard, desperate for an innings win and with nothing going their way, tea pots are boiling.
Ben Stokes is warming up now. Must be so frustrating for him. Bowls his heart out, brings his team back into the game, only to see the others dish out Christmas gifts. And here he comes again. 8-2-12-1 so far.
DRINKS BREAK. A wonderful hour for India. They have not lost a single wicket and also scored 55 runs in just 15 overs, throwing innings defeat out of the equation. England have not had any control at all, not even for a complete over. Misfields, loose bowling and inconsistency have left Stokes all the more frustrated. With the deficit now trimmed down to 33 and rain on its way as per Nasser Hussain on air, the hosts are running out of patience. Add to it, that dropped catch of Jadeja on the very first ball he faced is hurting the home side. He has scored 32 in just 53 balls and is looking to counter punch. 49 overs left in the day - 34 of which will have to be bowled, before the captains can shake hands.
Can't help but remember a Test match in 2002. It was Parthiv Patel's debut Test, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham with the scoreline pretty similar. Having conceded a lead of 260 in the first innings, India needed another 161 runs to make England bat again on Day 5. But the middle order batted brilliantly - Rahul Dravid (115), Sachin Tendulkar (92) and Sourav Ganguly (99) - to get ahead of England's lead and then a gritty lower order ensured that India did not get bowled out at all. They ended the Test at 424/8, finishing 164 runs ahead, but with still 2 wickets in hand, before the captains shook hands and Parthiv received a massive pat on his helmet from the keeper, Alec Stewart. This match seems to be following the same track, only that don't expect Jamie Smith to pat anyone.
100 overs have now been bowled in this innings. This would be one of the talking points as well, with the next Test in mind. Especially, if England bowl first there as well. They have been on the field roughly from Lunch on Day 4 and if the rain does not arrive, this could go right till the final hour of the final session. That's another 38 overs at least. If the final hour is taken, add another 15 overs. A bit of distraction for Jadeja as someone is wearing a coloured cap in the crowd. Jadeja requests the gentleman to remove it and the latter obliges. No change of ends for Dawson, so Root's re-entry was just to try something different from Stokes. He definitely needs wickets but would want some control over the run flow first.
Gamble from Stokes. Or maybe, a change of ends for Dawson. Joe Root is brought on. 5-1-17-0 so far.
First change of the session. Brydon Carse to bowl for the first time today. 10-2-29-0 so far.
As expected, the hosts are feeling the pressure now. They are way ahead in this game, but just the fact that their lead has been dwindled down to 61 and there is some fresh news of rain in the neighbourhood, is making them be desperate for wickets and they are veering away from their plans. Someone just needs to calm them down. India will not mind this at all.
Jofra Archer was ticking in that last over. Not with pace but with his temper. There seems to be a massive misunderstanding between him and his skipper. Archer was desperate to have a mid on but Stokes refused, indicating him to bowl outside off instead. Just like a child looks towards its mother to convince its father, Archer requests Woakes to convince Stokes but we all know who is the boss.
Will Archer get one more from this end? Yes, he does. Stokes trusts his bowler more than us.
Time for a change of ends for Archer? He has bowled 2 overs since the break and gone for 10 runs, but more importantly, has just not found his rhythm, which he had generated before Lunch.
That was a very off-radar Jofra over. Two down the leg side and 4 wide outside off. The batter barely had to do much. That's 6 balls negotiated with good help from the bowler. Who will it be from this end? Liam Dawson continues. 32-10-49-0 so far.
Well, after having been predicted a wet morning session, we have managed to get an uninterrupted first session on the final day. Will that be the case for the rest of the day as well? 64 overs are left in the day and if there is no interruption, the mandatory final hour starts with 15 overs pending. Of course, it will be interesting to see whether we get a handshake moment in this Test, especially if the visitors bat confidently and keep scoring runs. The conditions continue to stay overcast but will rain stay away as well? The players slowly come back out onto the field. Jofra Archer will start the post-Lunch session. 15-2-55-1 so far. The second new ball is just 9 overs new, so India will be looking at these first 30 minutes. If they see these off, batting should be significantly easier.
... DAY 5, SESSION 2 ...
There will be some discussion in the Indian camp about how to bat in this session. Without a doubt, the priority in the morning session would have been to just survive and keep wickets in hand, and hence, even though scoring just 49 runs in 2 hours was purely attritional, the visitors would not have minded it too much, if they had been wicketless or lost just the solitary wicket. But now, with the set batters dismissed and the deficit 88 runs away, the coaching staff might just ask the batters to have a watch out on the runs as well. Understandably, these runs are not for winning the Test match but as long as the tourists are on the trail, England will keep believing that they are just 6 wicket balls away from winning the Test and series. However, if India manage to play normal cricket till Tea and get the runs, in addition to not losing wickets, it means that the trail would be wiped out and then, the hosts will have to come out to bat again to score the runs. The target is not the problem. It is at that point in time, when England might get desperate for wickets, lose their rhythm and start thinking about the weather, light etccc... Cricket is played on the field, but won mostly, in the mind.
As the second session looms, England will look to capitalise on this momentum. They’ve got the set batters out and now face India’s lower-middle order, with the pitch misbehaving. For India, the target is to fight through this afternoon with partnerships and patience. If Sundar and Jadeja can stitch something together, they can still push this match toward the final session or make it a draw. But the next hour after Lunch could decide how quickly or slowly this Test wraps up. England sense victory, and India know they’re one or two wickets away from being exposed. It's going to be an intense post-Lunch session, which is scheduled to begin around 6.10 pm IST (1240 GMT).
The English bowlers stuck to their plans of short-pitched deliveries. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer bowled probing lines, and while they didn't find wickets immediately with the second new ball, they consistently tested the outside edges. Earlier, Ben Stokes, despite struggling with his shoulder and back niggles, came in and made a difference almost instantly, removing Rahul and giving England the breakthrough they were desperately searching for. Dawson bowled a long spell from one end, using the rough and footmarks effectively against the left-handers, but without any success yet. Their only concern would be the fielding, as they dropped two chances, Ollie Pope put down Gill on 81, and Joe Root shelled one off Jadeja just before Lunch on his first ball.
Washington Sundar came in ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, likely a tactical move. Sundar looked calm and settled, playing with a straight bat and showing great composure and gave Gill good support at the other end. Together, they stitched a small but important stand that helped India regroup after Rahul’s dismissal. Once Gill departed, Jadeja walked in and was dropped on the very first ball, a big let off that could hurt England later. India added 49 runs but lost two key wickets in this first session, and now, as it stands, Sundar and Jadeja will need to build another long partnership to save this match for their side.
India began the day with calm and composure, as Gill and Rahul continued from where they left off last evening. The duo showed great patience and understanding of the conditions, rotating strike and blunting out the bowlers effectively. Unfortunately, Rahul fell short of the milestone, trapped LBW by skipper Ben Stokes, who looked the best out of the lot. Of course, the pitch had its say on that dismissal as the ball just shot unplayably low. Gill, meanwhile, took blows on his thumb, survived a dropped catch when he was on 81, and yet never looked rattled. He played like a leader, mixing caution with fluent drives, and brought up a fighting hundred under pressure. His knock held the innings together until he was undone by Jofra Archer just before the break, which changed the tone of the session dramatically.
Despite all the hard work put in by India this morning, lunch will taste very bitter. They did all the hard work, absorbed all the pressure but just when it was time to eat the pie, they dropped the entire cake. It was England’s session to take, and they did so with intent. They managed to break the backbone of India's resistance just before Lunch, dismissing centurion Shubman Gill on the stroke of the interval. Earlier, they also got rid of KL Rahul, who looked rock solid and seemed headed for a century before falling to a familiar Stokes trap like he did at Lord's. With both set overnight batters back in the hut, England will head into the dressing room satisfied and in control. The hosts still need six more wickets, but with the pitch showing uneven bounce and signs of wear, now they’ll believe it's only a matter of time.
Ravindra Jadeja walks in next, at number 6, replacing his skipper, Shubman Gill.
Another 5 overs negated by India. The visitors would be telling themselves, another 10 overs with this new ball and things will get a lot easier. Also, the second new ball has not moved as much as the first one did. 68 overs left in this match now, weather and light permitting.
Another first for Gill. Shubman Gill becomes the first skipper to score 4 centuries in a bilateral Test series away from home. And overall, he becomes the third Indian player to score 4 centuries in a bilateral Test series, after Sunil Gavaskar in the West Indies in 1970-71 and Virat Kohli in Australia, in 2014-15.
All about bowling so far! Let's talk about batting for a change. Escaping the eyes of many, Gill has quietly moved onto 97. While the century would be on his mind, there is something else as well. He has now scored 716 runs in this series, which is ranked number 3 in terms of the most runs scored by an Indian in a bilateral Test series. Sunil Gavaskar's 732 in India against the West Indies, in 1978-79 and 774 in the West Indies in 1970-71 are the next ones in the list.
Should be Jofra Archer from the other end. He was warming up a couple of overs ago. Indeed. 11-2-40-0 so far.
The second new ball is available now. Will England take it? Will Stokes bowl at least 1 over with the new cherry? Yes to the first question. ENGLAND HAVE TAKEN THE SECOND NEW BALL IMMEDIATELY. No to the second query. Stokes is done for the session. Chris Woakes will make the first use of the second new ball. 15-3-48-2 so far.
Can someone please take the ball away from him? For the past couple of overs now, Ben Stokes has signalled to Brydon Carse to come over. Carse comes, marks his runup, only for Stokes to send him back! Clearly, Stokes does not want to break his rhythm and give it his all. Try and get Shubman Gill. The gamble that he is taking is - if he can break the game open through a marathon spell and help England win the game and series, he will not mind to take a sabbatical till November. He has put on his sweater and that might be a signal that it is the end of that marathon spell. 8-2-12-1. Superb. Would be a real shame if the other bowlers don't support him.
For all those wondering - where is Rishabh Pant? Didn't the batting coach confirm that he will bat? Of course, he confirmed. But is there any need for him right now? India can hang on till Jadeja, so if the 5th wicket falls, and there is a chance of a result, only then could we see him come out.
DRINKS BREAK. Slightly challenging conditions for India this morning. They have done extremely well to lose just the sole wicket of Rahul in 13 overs and the 19 runs knocked off mean that they trail by 118 runs now. It is not the ball which is talking, but the pitch. The inconsistent bounce has become more pronounced, accounting for Rahul's wicket and Gill's thumb. The skipper is fighting hard from the front and seems like luck is on his side as well. He was dropped by Pope, when on 81, a pretty tough chance at cover, after Dawson had spilled a pretty simple one on Day 4 before Tea, with the skipper on 48. But the question is still the same - is it actually difficult or are these things happening because Stokes is bowling? Will the other bowlers be able to back up once he goes off the attack and the second new cherry is taken?
That was Stokes' 6th over in this spell. Ricky Ponting on air opines that he should take a rest now and come back on when the second new ball is taken. Punter feels that if Stokes is getting so much movement with the old ball, he could cause chaos with the new cherry. On his injuries, Ricky feels that Stokes is totally fine. Whatever he is doing with his shoulder and back are probably because of what happened in the warmup. Might have jerked something, that's all.
Another warning for England. The first official one in this innings for slow overrate. So Stokes has to deal with hamstring, shoulder, back, bowling, captaincy, match result and even overrate issues! Who wants to be a captain?
Shubman Gill is taking some time out here. The ball has hit him below the helmet but the pain is because of the ball hitting him on the right arm. The physio is out there, tending to the Indian skipper. Seems like the index finger. Or, the thumb, in fact. The helmet is being changed as well. The crowd applauds as Gill gets ready to brave the pain and play on. Will Stokes bang it in again or go for the double bluff and bowl it full?
There is some rough outside the off stump to a left hander. That becomes outside the leg stump for the right hander. So to a right hander, the spinners will not get that much of a purchase, but there is plenty against the southpaws.
Interesting thought process from the Indian think tank. Actually, Ravindra Jadeja was slotted at 5, but Sundar has been sent instead. Perhaps, the management feels that since this is a day of survival, Sundar could do a better job than Jadeja.
Washington Sundar walks in next, at number 5, replacing KL Rahul.
90 percent. That is the efficiency of umpiring in this Test match. There have been 10 reviews made over the 5 days, with only 1 overturned. Have to don your hat to the two umpires who rarely get any mention.
Just get the feeling that it is all about this opening hour for both sides. Clearly, Ben Stokes is not comfortable at all, while bowling, holding his right shoulder every now and then and as far as India are concerned, it could be just about seeing this spell off. He is the only bowler who has made things happen and if he is seen off in this spell, may not return to bowl again. Additionally, if his shoulder and back are hurting, maybe Stokes may go off the field as well and in that case, England will lose a master captain as well.
It is not just the hamstring which is worrying Stokes. He was testing his right shoulder before the start of play and after his previous over, he was stretching his back as well. Highly unlikely that he could feature in the final Test at this rate.
Interesting discussion between Ravi Shastri and Stuart Broad on air. Shastri observes that both, Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah dropped their pace in this match, coming over from Lord's. Not quite able to fathom the reason, he asks Broad about it. Broad is also surprised but opines that because of all the rain here, the landing area is just a bit spongy at this venue. Hence, perhaps, the bowlers are a touch extra careful while running in.
It is chillier today as compared to Days 3 and 4. Additionally, due to the early morning rain, the area near the pitch is a bit dodgy and the fielders will have their work cut out, with the chill and the outfield. It will definitely be slippery and with one more Test slated after this, we might not see any extravagant fielding efforts. And here comes the Daily Mail headline - BEN STOKES IS ABOUT TO BOWL. He was warming up before the start of play and was testing his shoulder too.
The players are making their way out to the middle. As of now, 90 overs are scheduled for the day, with a minimum of 75 needed to be bowled out, for a proper legitimate handshake. With intermittent showers forecast, it might come down to the phase where the last hour is started, around which, the players can shake hands. It will be spin to start things off. Liam Dawson will start off, to Shubman Gill.
PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta is pitchside and shares his thoughts on the surface. He says the pitch still looks good for batting, and there aren’t any visible demons in it just yet. At the Jimmy Anderson End, there isn’t much wear and tear, but there’s a bit of extra grass, which has led to some deliveries bouncing a touch more than expected from that side. While some cracks are beginning to appear, they haven’t quite opened up yet. As Deep moves towards the Brian Statham End, he points out that the nature of the surface begins to shift, where the grass starts to thin out and the cracks become more pronounced. There are also some clear footmarks at that end, which Ravindra Jadeja exploited cleverly yesterday against Ben Stokes. Interestingly, he notes that Liam Dawson hasn’t quite been able to extract the same purchase from those areas, especially against the Indian left-handers. Concludes by saying that there’s a bit in the pitch for everyone, some assistance for seamers with the new ball and patches for spinners, but it’s far from unplayable. If the batters are willing to apply themselves, dig in, and play with discipline, they can survive on this surface.
Now, let’s talk about the weather, the ultimate wildcard today. There was rain through the morning, but it isn't there for now, where only the clouds are hovering over the ground. But even after that, intermittent showers and heavy cloud cover could play hide and seek with the match. Also, it’s a Sunday, and the crowd is expected to come in good numbers, hoping for a grandstand finish. If there is enough play, England could engineer a collapse, as it would be difficult for the batters to survive those short periods. It’s all beautifully poised. Stay tuned for more!
England, meanwhile, will feel they should have sealed this game by now. Their batting was outstanding as they batted for around 2 full days. But the absence of Stokes, the bowler, has hurt them badly, especially on a surface that could’ve used his magic deliveries to break the partnership. Chris Woakes was the pick of the pacers with his two wickets, but the others looked listless on Day 4. England have eight wickets to get today. They will need early breakthroughs or risk letting the match meander to a draw. Stokes' aggressive captaincy has worked wonders before, but can he repeat his magic here?
This pitch has kept everyone guessing. Early signs of variable bounce suggested this could quickly become a crumbling fifth-day surface, but it didn't. India, after being pushed onto the back foot by a brutal English onslaught, have clawed their way back through the unflinching resistance of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. It’s been a defining moment for Gill, and his leadership, especially after being 0/2, has stood tall. Rahul has been India's monk under pressure, letting the ball come, defending with soft hands, and waiting for the loose one. With Pant still in doubt to bat today, India will feel they can bat long enough to draw this one out, and they rely heavily on this partnership to start well this morning.
This Test has had four wildly different days. India began Day 1 brightly, reaching 264/4 at stumps on the back of resilient half-centuries from Jaiswal and Sudharsan. England’s reply on Day 2 was pure fire, 225/2 by stumps, before Day 3 became a Stokes-Root show. That mountain of runs handed them a lead of 311. India then suffered a catastrophic collapse at the start of their second innings, losing both openers for ducks in a mini session before Lunch on Day 4. Yet what followed was nothing short of stoic brilliance. Gill and Rahul stood tall against the tide, stringing together a 174-run unbeaten partnership that spanned two full sessions and swung the narrative in India’s favour to fight.
Hello and welcome to what promises to be a thrilling, tense, and potentially twist-filled fifth and final day of the 4th Test between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester. We've had drama, dominance, and defiance over the past four days, but it all comes down to this Sunday. And while cricket is centre stage, the weather may yet decide to be the villain, as there has been some rain in the morning, and intermittent showers could interrupt play through the day. But despite that looming uncertainty, we’re set for a thrilling finale, with India still trailing by 137 runs and two set batters at the crease, and England hunting for eight wickets.
... DAY 5, SESSION 1 ...
Yet another Day 5 of this Test series! And that brings along a bit of mystery as well. The forecast is not that great, with a wet morning predicted, intermittent showers through the day, and the conditions to remain overcast. Does that mean that the bowlers will get much more assistance, or does it mean that the result goes out of the equation? In 36 Tests as skipper, Stokes has won 22 matches and lost 13. The only match that has been drawn under his leadership was at this very venue, in the 2023 Ashes. Additionally, whenever a team has won the toss and elected to field in a Test match at Old Trafford, it has never won in 11 previous attempts! History and weather both point towards a draw. Will Midas Stokes be able to change the script and seal the series? Or will India continue their batting might and grind England for a psychological advantage ahead of the fifth Test? The first ball on Day 5, Sunday, 27th July, 2025, is scheduled to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (1000 GMT), weather and light permitting, but our buildup will begin well in advance. So do tune in early. Until then, you can catch all the action from the T20I series between West Indies and Australia. Enjoy. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
What is the mystery of this Old Trafford pitch? Puffs of dust are emanating, the ball is staying up and down, but still, the pitch is looking good for batting. That is because the inconsistency in bounce is not that consistent either. England started really well with the new ball and when the wickets weren't coming, they didn't lose control either. But with the pitch as flat as a pancake, the bowlers just could not exert much. Ben Stokes took a calculated risk of not bowling and the scorecard shows how badly England missed him in the bowling ranks.
At the other end, it was a monk. KL Rahul. As cool as a cucumber, unfazed by everything going around him and soaking up all the pressure. He registered his 4th 50-plus score of the series and while Gill was attacking the new ball, he was content in just seeing it off. He is unbeaten on 87 and faced 210 balls - that's 35 overs alone - showing his dodgyness. He got a couple of close calls, with the inside edge not going onto the stumps, but that is something which every batter hopes for, while playing a big knock.
Stokes and England's lower order piled on the agony on the Indian bowlers in the morning, as they added another 125 runs to their overnight score, with skipper Stokes going on to get his first Test ton in 2 years. And then, before you could blink, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan on successive deliveries and at that stage, it seemed like there won't be a Day 5. But along came skipper Gill and despite a hattrick of poor innings before this, he batted with grit and determination. Gill started off on a flurry, attacking the new ball and scoring quickly and slowly settled down into a rhythm. He got a life on 48, when Liam Dawson spilled a fairly simple chance and post that, the captain has been really watchful. He was on 48 (69) before that drop. It was a loose shot and it could have been catastrophic for India had that catch been taken. In the next 98 balls, he put his head down and scored just 30 runs, but did not repeat that mistake. Gill has now reached 697 runs in this series and is on the cusp of becoming only the third Indian to score 700 runs in a bilateral series and should he get the chance to bat deep, register the record of the most runs by an Indian in a bilateral Test series.
It was a totally different picture roughly 4 hours ago, when Lunch was taken. England batted and batted and outbatted India out of the Test, making 669 and gaining a lead of 311. With the pitch showing inconsistent bounce, questions started being asked as to why weren't the hosts declaring and we now know why. 12 sessions done in this Test and the pitch, barring for an odd misbehaviour here and there, is still looking great for batting. This is the first time that a pair has batted successfully through two back-to-back sessions in this series.
The day got started by England, but it has ended in India's favour. Back-to-back wicketless sessions mean that they have fought back remarkably well in this Test, earning the right of drawing the game on merit, rather than the weather. The crowd rises as one for KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, who got together with the score on 0, in the opening over and are still together as Stumps are drawn. Coach Gautam Gambhir is standing in the team balcony, admiring his players.
3 minutes left on the clock. Given the way England are bowling, we can have 2 overs before close. But pretty sure India will ensure that this is the last over of the day.
15 runs in the last 5 overs. The batters have looked to score a bit, ironically with the close coming so near. Stokes is searching for some inspiration. 9 minutes left for the close. Joe Root is back on. 3-1-8-0 so far.
One last burst for Archer? Nope. Woakes continues. Two catching mid-wickets while the keeper is upto the stumps. Woakes will be trying to target the front pad.
Another spell for Liam Dawson. His last for the day. 19-6-32-0 so far.
Nice, bright sunshine at Old Trafford right now. The ball is not doing much, the pitch is looking good and the conditions are excellent for batting.
12 runs in the last 5 overs. England giving nothing away, India happy to be patient. 28 minutes left in the day, 10 overs left.
With around 35 minutes left in the day, Stokes brings Chris Woakes back on. 12-3-35-2 so far. Joe Root is standing at silly mid on, right in front of the non striker.
Have to give it to both teams. India are trying their level best not to give it away while England are giving it their all on a lifeless pitch. This deck was supposed to assist the spinners but Dawson is not getting any purchase. So, he does the next best thing, that is to vary his pace. It is actually a gripping contest without actually anything happening. Here's Joe Root. 1-0-4-0 so far.
16 runs in the last 5 overs. Nothing much has changed in the last few overs in terms of scoring. If any, England are banging the ball hard into the deck, to try and get something out of the pitch. From India's point of view, that is good because it means that the stumps go out of play. And if the stumps are not in play, you can leave the balls alone.
England going full throttle now, to try and scruff the ball. First, the fielders from the deep are throwing the ball on the bounce onto the square wickets near the pitch, which are really hard. Second, the bowlers are banging it hard, employing the short-ball ploy to try and scruff off one side of the ball.
This was coming. We had observed long ago that the England fielders were deliberately throwing the ball on the bounce to the keeper. In the previous over, Zak Crawley threw the ball on two bounces to the keeper and umpire Rod Tucker spotted that. It is a deliberate attempt to aid reverse swing and a warning is given to the fielding side. A friendly warning. Archer goes off and Brydon Carse returns. 7-2-22-0 so far.
DRINKS BREAK. Shubman Gill is rushing off the field. Must be for a comfort break. This has been nothing short of a marathon innings from this duo. KL Rahul came out to open the innings but Gill joined him just 5 balls later. They have absorbed the pressure and are giving a fitting reply. England are trying their level best too. With the pitch not offering much assistance and the ball just not doing anything, Ben Stokes has kept an in-out field and is trying to force the batters to commit a mistake. Just 45 runs have come post Tea in 17 overs but the visitors know, that time is the essence, not the runs. Yes, maybe, there might be a thought that too much defense could put one into a shell but so far, both, Rahul and Gill have looked positive while defending. Not trying to just survive. And just as India found it difficult with Jasprit Bumrah not bowling, England are finding it extremely tough to pick up wickets without talisman Stokes.
Change in field placements from the skipper and bowler. There is a leg slip placed now, along with a short leg and a conventional slip.
Bat change for KL Rahul, as this one seems to have got damaged at the toe end.. Karun Nair is out with a couple of bats there, and Rahul chooses one to continue further.
Change, as the skipper Ben Stokes has called in Jofra Archer in the attack.
A slight halt in the play, as the onfield umpires have called in two members of the groundstaff for some hammering at the popping crease, and some repairing there. All is well now to continue further.
The first over post Tea yielded 7 runs. But the next 5 overs have gone for just 2 runs. England trying to apply the brakes.
Drama. First sign of something like this post the previous Test. The players from both sides have fairly been disciplined, with an odd sledge here and there. For the second time in three overs, Chris Woakes is stopped in his runup. He is not happy and asks Gill to be ready on time. The captain retorts, saying that Woakes had already started running before he even looked up and when he did, Woakes was about to deliver. Nothing much of an argument there, but Gill does look irritated.
Nothing much happening for the bowlers now. There is a hint of swing, but not much to threaten the batters. Dawson spun one sharply before Tea, but otherwise, it has just been a series of arm balls from him, relying on the pitch more for inconsistent bounce.
A bit of a tactic being employed by England's fielders. They are deliberately throwing the ball on the bounce to the keeper, even from close-in positions. They are doing this so that the ball gets scruffed up and reverse swing can be aided. If we can observe this, pretty sure, the umpires will be keeping an eye on this as well.
Wondering why Ben Stokes has not taken the ball yet. The only reason could be his hamstring. There were loud murmurs from the English dressing room that if the hosts manage to win this Test, Stokes might play as a pure batter, or may not even play the final Test. Because more important than the WTC points, is something which is coming Down Under. And England want to make sure that they send their best and fittest team there. Here's Liam Dawson. 7-2-17-0 so far.
Sorry, mate. Woakes comes running in, but Rahul bails out at the last possible moment, just when Woakes is about to deliver. And it is not due to any sightscreen issue. For the past two days, plenty of flies are swarming on the field and one such fly perturbs Rahul, going under his vizor, around his eye.
The conditions remain fairly overcast but it is a confident Indian side that will head back out to bat. It is not often in this series that the visitors have had a wicketless session and they would want a repeat in this last one for the day. Given the forecast for Sunday, one believes that Rahul and Gill have done enough to take this match into Day 5, but they would want a draw on their terms - not on the weather's terms. They would ideally want to give England a dose of their own medicine and head to The Oval full of confidence. It will be Chris Woakes to start things off post Tea. Rahul to face. Here we go again...
... DAY 4, FINAL SESSION ...
As the game moves into the third and final session, it remains still firmly in England’s control, but India have taken a small step in the right direction. With the deficit still massive, the road ahead is steep. But survival in this session has given them a base. England will return, knowing one good spell could open the floodgates again, while India will aim to stretch this stand as long as they can and try to inch closer to forcing a fifth-day fight.
England, despite not getting a wicket in the session, bowled well. Chris Woakes started well, after his double blow before Lunch, and looked sharp in the afternoon too, bowling a good line and length. Jofra Archer was fast and aggressive, constantly probing and even drawing a few close LBW shouts, but didn't get any from the onfield umpire because of extra bounce. Brydon Carse adjusted his length better in this innings, going fuller and creating problems early on. With the pitch easing up under the sun, they’ll be hoping for a lapse in concentration, just as they got one from Gill, that could bring them back into the wickets column.
Shubman Gill looked increasingly assured as his innings grew. He began cautiously but gradually opened up once the sun came out and the pitch got better a bit for batting. He dealt with the England seamers with calm footwork and impressive timing, driving with confidence down the ground and showing great control on the front foot. KL Rahul, meanwhile, played the perfect foil. While Gill was the more fluent of the two, Rahul ensured there were no unnecessary risks. He played with a tight technique, often blocking resolutely and rotating the strike when needed. Gill did have a nervous moment when Liam Dawson dropped him on 48 at backward point, and he also took a painful blow on the thumb of his right hand from Jofra Archer, but he brushed it off with composure and kept ticking along, reaching his fifty and is looking set for another big one.
A much-needed session for India, one that brought some calm after the chaos of the morning. At Lunch, they were reeling at 1 for 2, but by Tea, they had progressed to 86 for 2, still trailing by 225 runs. It won't be considered a dominant session by any means, but given the context of the match, it was a steady and patient rebuild. England still hold a commanding position in the Test, but the way India batted in that session, showed grit and game awareness, especially under tricky conditions was great to watch.
Meanwhile, it is pandemonium in Harare! With 7 runs needed in the final over, South Africa have choked, managing only 3 runs and losing 2 wickets. And eventually, New Zealand have won the tri-series in Zimbabwe by 3 runs! The openers really played well for the Proteas but once they were dismissed, scoring became difficult. Dewald Brevis nearly took his side home but his controversial wicket put the stamp on a Kiwi win. Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers with 2 scalps.
And there is a bowling change. But it is not Stokes. Brydon Carse is back on. 3-1-13-0 so far.
Ben Stokes is seen warming up. How long before he takes the ball in his hand?
The sun is breaking through now. For the first time in this Test, India get good batting conditions. The clouds have gone for a break and batting should be significantly easier now. Also, the ball getting softer will help the batting side.
Very interesting. Post Lunch, Gill was struggling against Archer. In the last 3 overs prior to the previous one, Rahul did not allow Gill to play even a single ball from Archer. And then, the tables turned in that over.
DRINKS BREAK. Finally, some sanity for India. The horror mini session before Lunch would have sent tremors through the dressing room but this current partnership between Rahul and Gill would have calmed the nerves. Additionally, they have batted pretty well in excellent bowling conditions, as an added boost. They are still trailing by 264 runs, but no one is looking at that. Not even England. Both teams will aim for playing it hour by hour. This last hour has been India's scoring 46 runs in 12 overs and wearing off the new ball. Will be interesting to see whether the hosts manage to find something in the next hour. 50 overs still left in the day. Time for spin. Here's Liam Dawson. 15-1-45-1 in the first innings.
Jofra Archer returns. 4-1-7-0 so far.
Oopss... mistake or naughty? On the last ball of the previous over, Carse tried to stop the ball with his right foot but ended up putting the spikes of his shoe onto the ball. Now, this could be damaging for both teams. First, Harry Brook, who has been trying to shine the ball so hard for the past 12 overs, will face a problem as the shine will be lost. Second, the ball could be scuffed up and cause some aggressive movement. Nothing from the umpires though.
Meanwhile, in Harare, South Africa have started off well. Chasing 181 for the trophy, they are 69/0 in the 8th over, with Lhuan-Dre Pretorius and Reeza Hendricks looking composed.
Much better over from Carse. Or say, much better start in this innings. In the first dig, he was guilty of bowling too short and wasting the new ball. When the ball is new, you need to keep the length fuller, to try and extract as much swing as possible. He changed that length in the previous over.
First change of the innings. Here comes Brydon Carse. 0/71 in 21 overs in the first innings, looking totally off colour.
Let's talk about Joe Root. Yes, again. But this time, not with the bat. On the field, for a change. Looking at his batting exploits, we almost forget what a great fielder he is. He did fumble to take the catch to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal earlier on but the records do not show that. The numbers just stack up, making it his 212th catch in Test cricket, the most by any player in Test cricket.
KL Rahul is also the second highest run-scorer (1260 runs) among Indian openers against England in Tests. Sunil Gavaskar stands perched atop with 2483 runs.
No official update about Pant as such, but hearing how Ravi Shastri is speaking on air, it does seem like he is not going to bat any time before number 7 or 8. That could put even more pressure on the middle order and hence, this particular partnership, between two experienced campaigners, is of great importance.
Interesting point from Stuart Broad on air. He observes that one of the reasons why India struggled with the ball is because the captain or the bowlers were not exactly aware which end would suit them better. For instance, the ball swings more from the Anderson end but there is indifferent bounce from the Statham End. Obviously, this can come only with experience and that is why, Stokes was able to rotate his bowlers better in the first innings, opines Broad.
Phew. What an over that was. Pure steam not from just a locomotive, but a real express train. Got to feel for Archer, as he could have had Gill twice in the over, but the Indians will understand that it is a matter of 30 minutes. Woakes to continue from the other end.
Just a slight delay. Gill is taking some time to compose himself. That ball has stung him hard on the fingers, most probably the thumb on the right hand. KL Rahul has a word with him. The temperatures are dropping down, so this would pain even more. Ready to resume now.
The players are back on the field. It will be Jofra Archer to start things off post Lunch. Shubman Gill to face. Here we go.
... DAY 4, SESSION 2 ...
In case if you are wondering whether the pitch or conditions have changed suddenly at Old Trafford, they have not. The conditions, maybe slightly, as it has gone just a little bit cloudy. Okay, now it is looking overcast. But what has changed is the mindset. After spending more than 150 overs in the field, all the players are tired and that shot from Sudharsan seemed to be because of fatigue. Additionally, with victory seemingly looking impossible, it needs experience to train the mind to be positive at all counts, something which comes off from KL Rahul. You might be trailing by 700 runs, but you still need to play for the situation and every ball on its merit. Many times, resolute defiance can tire the best of oppositions, even when they are on top and India will be looking towards Rahul for that aspect in this innings. Bat through the day, get the game into Day 5 and hope that the iffy forecast supports the tourists.
Looking at another continent, today is the final match of the T20I triseries in Zimbabwe. New Zealand and South Africa are contesting it. After being asked to bat first, New Zealand have posted a fairly decent total of 180/5 in 20 overs in Harare. A typical T20 innings where there was no half century but quickfire knocks from a group of batters. In this case, it was the top 3, as Devon Conway (47), Rachin Ravindra (47) and Tim Seifert (30) got the Kiwis off to a flier. However, South Africa came back nicely in the second half of the innings, as at one stage, 200 seemed to be on the cards. Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers, with 2/24 in 4 overs. In both the previous league encounters, the Black Caps had got the better of the Proteas. Will it be third time lucky for the rainbow nation today?
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill have been left to regroup, but the early damage is already done. It has been a reminder of how fragile batting can be under pressure in overcast conditions with a fresh Dukes ball. This was the kind of session that could define the match. England not only batted India out of the contest but also hurt them mentally by striking twice in that short window before the break. The combination of a massive lead, tired opponents, and helpful bowling conditions means they are well ahead now. India, meanwhile, have their backs to the wall and will need something extraordinary to turn this around. With eight wickets in hand and a long road ahead, the next session could decide whether they survive or collapse further under the pressure. The next session will start at 6.10 pm IST (12.40 pm GMT)!
India’s reply with the bat started off nothing less than a disaster. They had just three overs to see off before Lunch, but in that short period, England struck twice. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell to a beautiful delivery from Woakes that squared him up, while Sai Sudharsan edged his first ball to the slips, where he was caught in two minds whether to play or leave out. Chris Woakes was on fire with the new ball, swinging it both ways and putting the batters in real doubt. He almost had a hattrick, and India find themselves at 1 for 2 at the break.
Ben Stokes was the mainstay for England, and he brought up a well-crafted hundred and kept pushing the score even after reaching the milestone. Although the declaration didn’t come, he ensured India stayed in the field long enough to feel the burden. Brydon Carse offered great support down the order, playing freely and scoring 47. The lower order frustrated India further, dragging the innings to 157 overs. Bumrah was the only Indian bowler who seemed threatening. However, the body language from the Indians suggested fatigue, and a sense of helplessness crept in as the innings dragged on.
Oops... what's happened there? Rahul and Gill walk off but umpire Rod Tucker calls one of them and seems in a pretty angry mood. By his hand gestures, it seems as if he is telling the batters that they cannot walk off till the main umpire has taken the bails off. Rahul does not try to argue, just nods his head and walks off. SESSION SUMMARY - 126 runs and 5 wickets, in 25.1 overs! It was very much England’s session, one where they asserted their dominance once again. They came out with clear plans and great energy, first pushing their overnight score past 650, and then delivering a powerful blow to India right before Lunch. England finished their innings at 669, a mammoth total that put them firmly in control of the Test. They chose not to declare and instead batted deep, possibly to avoid batting again and to sap all energy from the Indian side. In return, India had only 12 minutes to survive before the break, but they crumbled under pressure, losing two wickets for ducks in just five balls. This mini passage before Lunch could have a serious psychological impact on India going forward.
Last ball coming up then, before Lunch.
4 more balls for Lunch then.
So Woakes does not love just Lord's. His love for Trafford is old and legendary. He now has 38 wickets in Manchester, the most by him at any venue in Tests, averaging 17.73. It will be Jofra Archer to share the new ball.
Skipper Shubman Gill walks in next, at number 4, replacing Sai Sudharsan.
Sai Sudharsan walks in next, at number 3, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.