Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Are India gone?
That’s the impression I received from fans and pundits online, even with England five down for effectively 120. Now, there is every reason to believe India are finished in the series, given England are in front by 233, a hefty lead in challenging batting conditions, offering both seam and turn.
Can India defy the odds and keep the series alive, or will England go a long way to winning the series on the fourth day?
Before I explore three key things to look out for on day four, I want to express my biggest disappointment from day three.
Note – this is in no way taking credit away from the excellent efforts of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Sam Curran in putting England in a position of strength from a position of vulnerability.
But, I thought Ravichandran Ashwin was disappointing and cause for a very frustrating Saturday night for an Aussie hoping England would lose completely lose the advantage of a 2-0 series lead. When he threw the ball up a little slower into the rough, he got some fantastic purchase. But, for some reason, he was hellbent on bowling plenty of quicker deliveries, causing me to not even remember when he bowled two genuine off-spinners in a row.
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Interesting question by Ashwin… |
Anyway, India have given away a few advantages in this Test, especially when having England 86/6 on day one, but that all has to be forgotten now. The fourth day is of ultimate focus, and here are my three key things to look out for.
How quickly can India get these last two wickets?
England lead by 233 with India’s biggest nemesis Sam Curran still at the crease.
233 is already perhaps too far out of India’s reach, but anything over 250 is just about “shut the lights”. These final two wickets need to be snapped up very quickly.
Alternatively, England will be looking to bat as long as possible. Stuart Broad isn’t the batsman he once was, but he can still hang around, and we know what Sam Curran is capable of. England are in a good position, made even more impressive by the ability of the middle order to rescue the team after another top order struggle.
India’s top five
Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have been encouraging in the last two Tests, and the king pins are Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
Both these two have put on strong partnerships in the last two innings together, and India need both to perform. Of course, if the openers can lay an excellent platform, India will have hope.
Another battle to watch out for is Ben Stokes v Ajinkya Rahane. There was no sign of Stokes in the first innings until Rahane walked out to bat, and I’m sure the same will happen again in the second innings. Rahane needs to find a way to cope with Stokes better than he has.
Also, the top five is critical to India’s chances, given the somewhat unreliable lower order, which was on show in the first innings.
England’s spinners – can they outbowl Ashwin?
The pitch is drying out further and further by the minute, which opens up the game for first innings hero Moeen Ali and legspinner Adil Rashid.
India will have their hands full trying to counter seam and spin on a track offering assistance for both, and with Moeen in particular loving life against India at home, how India play him and Rashid will make for intriguing viewing.
Partnerships are key for India today. If they lose wickets in clumps, the series can be kissed goodbye.
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My verdict…
It’s not looking too rosy for India right now, and credit to England for their never-say-die attitude in this Test.
This track is offering assistance for both seamers and spinners, and England have the attack to take full advantage.
Thanks for reading!