Finance
England won the rescheduled 5th Test against India at Edgbaston, chasing down a record 378-run target to level the series at 2-2. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were the architects of England’s historic victory, which came after a disappointing first innings performance with the bat.
This was England’s most successful run-chase in a Test match. In 2019, they chased down 362 for 9 against Australia at Leeds, thanks to a masterclass from Ben Stokes. Stokes, ironically, is now England’s Test captain.
From the start, it was a thrilling Test match. England did well after winning the toss to disrupt India’s top-order. In the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, India opened with Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara, who could only add 27 runs for the first wicket in the first innings. Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer all failed to make meaningful contributions as India collapsed to 98 for five before a sensational comeback by Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.
Rishabh Pant (146) scored his fifth Test century, while Ravindra Jadeja added 104 to his epic 175 before Jasprit Bumrah’s cameo helped India to 416. England’s top-order struggled as well, with Bairstow providing the only bright spot with a fine 106 off 140 balls as they were bowled out for 284.
The second innings of India looked more promising, thanks to Cheteshwar Pujara’s brave half-century and Rishabh Pant’s 57, but the others fell short. Virat Kohli’s dismal run continued, and Shreyas Iyer was disappointing; India were rolled over for 245 in a meek batting display at a time when they should have gotten a lot more.
India, on the other hand, still had 377 runs to bowl with, and their bowlers ended up conceding their highest total ever in a Test match. It has been a concern for India since the beginning of the year, but this performance in England will and should sting for a long time.
In pursuit of a record total, England openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley got off to a flying start. With the new ball, the pair looked at ease against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, adding 107 for the first wicket. Bumrah returned for another spell to dismiss Crawley and Ollie Pope, while Lees was run out for 56 after a heated exchange with Virat Kohli. England had suddenly lost three wickets in the space of four overs and it looked like India were making one of their fiery comebacks.
But, as it turned out, there was no real resistance.
Since the start of 2021, Joe Root has been in sublime form, while Jonny Bairstow has been the epitome of England’s Bazball approach under the new regime of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. The Root-Bairstow combination had just chased down a big total against New Zealand, but this was something else. The game was still wide open at 109 for three, and there was a hint of reverse from Bumrah and Shami. Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur, on the other hand, were underwhelming and frequently failed to bowl to their fields.
Ravindra Jadeja was tasked with bowling a rather negative line in a perplexing strategy. At a time when he should have been looking for wickets, the left-arm spinner targeted the leg-stump of the right-handed batters.
England finished the day needing only 119 runs with seven wickets in hand. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were already in place, and Ben Stokes was on his way. India were expected to mount a comeback on the final day, and R Ashwin posted on Instagram that it was cloudy at Edgbaston. But nothing could stop England from chasing down history, as Joe Root went on to score his fifth Test century of the year, breaking the record of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith in the tally of Test match hundreds.
Jonny Bairstow became the first England player to score two hundreds in a Test match since Andrew Strauss in 2008. Strauss’s two hundreds had also come against India in Chennai. On that occasion, India had beaten a massive target to claim a memorable victory.
On the fifth day, the Indian bowling lineup had little fight left in it. With the exception of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, the Indian attack lacked sting and posed no threat to England.
This is India’s third consecutive defeat in overseas Tests, and questions about the team’s management and inability to get the best out of their pacers may be raised.
The team should be concerned about Virat Kohli’s form. He has not scored a century in nearly three years, and more importantly, he has had no impact on the team.
On the fourth afternoon, the Indian team looked flat and the body language was a letdown as Root and Bairstow began their marathon partnership that would eventually seal England’s victory.
Source:IT
