On a pitch tailored for seamers and below persistent gray skies, India completed a stop-start opening day at 204/6 within the series-deciding fifth Take a look at towards England at The Oval. Karun Nair, introduced again into the XI after being dropped for the fourth Take a look at, stood agency with an unbeaten 52 on a day when the ball did lots and wickets fell often. The rain intervened twice, limiting play to 64 overs, however the underlying speaking level remained the character of the floor, and Sunil Gavaskar didn’t maintain again.
Throughout a chat on Sony Sports activities Community, Gavaskar appeared to take a jab on the England bowling lineup as he talked concerning the pitch. The facet is enjoying with out Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse – who led the tempo assault within the third and fourth Take a look at. Stokes is the very best wicket-taker within the collection up to now, whereas Archer and Carse have additionally chipped in with common wickets.
“(Unke paas koi bowling bhi hai nahi, isliye aisi pitch banaayi) They don’t have a high quality bowling assault, that’s why they made a pitch like this,” Gavaskar stated on-air, providing a pointed comment concerning the hosts.
“Stokes had taken wickets, Archer took wickets, Carse took wickets. In the event that they aren’t enjoying, who else will take wickets? That’s the rationale they made a pitch like this in order that Tongue and others can get some assist.”
Certainly, the green-tinged floor at The Oval provided vital seam motion all through the day, particularly below overcast circumstances. Whereas Gus Atkinson impressed on debut with a few key wickets, his fellow seamers, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton, have been erratic for big durations regardless of the assistance on supply. Chris Woakes, who had performed all 5 Checks, injured his shoulder whereas fielding and walked off the bottom, his availability unsure for the rest of the sport.
Nair leads India’s battle
India’s innings was anchored by Nair, who capitalised on the chance with a gritty half-century; his first fifty-plus rating since returning to Take a look at cricket after eight years earlier within the collection. He discovered a gentle associate in Washington Sundar (19*), because the duo added an unbroken 45-run stand for the seventh wicket to carry some stability.
Earlier, India misplaced each openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, cheaply. Rahul, one in every of India’s most constant batters this collection, chopped onto his stumps making an attempt to chop a ball too near his physique. Captain Shubman Gill seemed in good contact earlier than operating himself out for 21 in weird vogue, trying a dangerous single to mid-off the place Atkinson hit the stumps direct.
Regardless of the setbacks, Gill managed to surpass Sunil Gavaskar’s file for many runs by an Indian captain in a Take a look at collection – his tally now at 733. Sai Sudharsan, wanting composed for a lot of his 108-ball keep, ultimately fell to a traditional seaming supply from Tongue, who additionally eliminated Jadeja in related vogue later within the session.
