Another chase undertaken at warp speed will reach its thrilling conclusion at Edgbaston on Tuesday when England, powered by the Yorkshire engine room of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, look to boldly go where no English team has gone before. Set 378 to win this fifth Test against India, they will, quite remarkably, resume 259 for three from 57 overs, needing 119 more runs to level a streak that began almost a year ago.
Root’s 76 not out, Bairstow’s 72 and Ben Stokes’ heroics at Headingley in 2019 could be surpassed for England’s most successful run chase of all time. A huge crowd is expected for what could amount to an hour of cricket given the way the hosts have already approached that target.
Warwickshire followed the trend set by Nottinghamshire this summer and provided free tickets at 5pm on the fourth night; just an hour later the latter was looted. Those lucky enough to secure them should remember the 10.30am start and perhaps see a day they will never forget.
England have already bowled out 279, 299 and 296 against New Zealand, but to complete this latest challenge, against an attack as vibrant and hostile as that led by Jasprit Bumrah, would be considered unearthly. Tourists refreshed at night know that an early strike can change things dramatically.
Following a roller-coaster final day under the new leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England bowled out India for 245 and then took off like a freight train. Even a wobble on either side of tea when, from 107 for nothing, they lost three wickets for two runs could not dampen their ambitions, Root and Bairstow combining for an unbroken stand of 150 from 197 balls that sent Edgbaston reeling.
The two Yorkshiremen were superb in fending off the threat of a change ball that initially offered some reverse and then activated once the threat had passed. Close to India was the side desperate to get away, Bairstow summing up his current mood with four overs to go when he pulled Mohammed Siraj for a powerful six.
The start of the chase was also something to behold as Alex Lees and Zach Crowley blazed up centuries in 19.5 overs – England’s first since Haseeb Hamed and Rory Burns (at half-pace) put on 100 during the fourth test at the Oval last summer. There was risk involved, Lees dancing to Mohammed Shami in the second over and playing a Graeme Smith-esque cover drive that eventually went for four through midwicket, plus a leave that missed the stumps by a whisker.
Mohammad Siraj watches as Joe Root (left) and Jonny Bairstow continue the chase. Photo: Rui Vieira/AP
But things soon clicked when he started to heave short balls over the cordon, cutting through cover and turning back a hastily deployed Ravindra Jadeja for a 40-ball half-century. That early momentum from Lees and a decent strike rotation not only rattled India but allowed the much-debated Crowley to settle in at the other end before coming into action.
Clear cover from Shardul Thakur in the 18th over took the target below 300, after which Crowley toyed with Siraj with boundaries on either side of the wicket. When he plays like that, one can see the appeal.
But as a row of letterboxes and traffic cones in the Hollies stand started the conga, a clash between India’s players and the umpires in the middle led to the latest ball change of the summer. The original had done nothing – the pitch had also been left sleepy by the heavy roller – but Bumrah grabbed his replacement and made him talk, Crowley raising his hands on 46 and hit by a delivery that darted in.
The quieter half of a crowd of 20,000, divided on the basis of loyalty, suddenly came alive, spurred on even more by the ever-animated Virat Kohli at fault. Ollie Pope somehow made it to tea and England were 107 for one. But on the first ball of the evening session, Bumrah found the edge of a tame shot for No. 3’s first duck in 48 innings.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates Zach Crowley’s win. Photo: Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Basking in the heady atmosphere, India played out third strike and Lees’ dismissal for 56 when he splashed a delivery to short fine leg, Root snuck in for a single and Shami calmly bowled to man’s end. After offering Lees a few choice words as the players left for tea, Kohli erupted in celebration.
Yet over the next two hours the pendulum swung once more through the sheer class and poise of Root and Bairstow. India also burned two reviews in successive overs, the more ghastly of which came when Jadeja had Bumrah called lbw against Root when the ball pitched outside leg. They have one review left, something that could have a significant impact on the final angst of this thriller.
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Similarly, England’s performance in the morning, when they wiped out the last seven Indian wickets at a cost of 120 runs, can be mentioned if they get over the line. Stokes led the charge here, blasting for figures of four for 33 – his best return with the ball in almost five years – and Matt Potts finished with two for 50.
The key knock among this back was Rishabh Pant for 57 when a Jack Leach reverse was worn by Root at slip. This match may have been a downer for the left-armer after his 10-wicket Test haul at Headingley, but much like England’s struggles in pursuit of a target these days, this moment should not be underestimated.
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