Ali Martin has filed his match report from Ranchi, which is my cue to sign off. Congratulations to India, who have been clearly the better team. Congratulations to Stokes and Brendon McCullum for making it interesting, though the results have gone just as they did under Joe Root three years ago – win the first Test, lose the next three.
Many thanks to Daniel Harris for doing the heavy lifting today. And to you for your company, correspondence and periodic rants about Bazball. The fifth Test isn’t for another ten days, so we can all get some sleep. Over to Ali.
With the bat, the series has belonged to Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has amassed 655 runs, almost twice as many as the next man (Shubman Gill). Jaiswal’s idea of a failure is making 37, as he did today. His series average is 94, which is what Don Bradman might have settled for if he’d been up against Ben Stokes.
Gill has 342 runs at 49 after taking a decision at 120-5 in this innings that was audacious in its way – to get ’em in singles. Just behind him are England’s buccaneering openers, Zak Crawley with 328 at 41 and Ben Duckett with 314 at 39 (full list here). Those two have done well, but the middle order have struggled and England simply haven’t made enough runs. Of their 88 individual innings, only eight have made it to 50, whereas for India it’s been 15 out of 79. In that light, it’s amazing that England still had a chance of winning the series today.
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After four Tests of this series, the leading wicket-taker is Tom Hartley. He has 20 wickets at an average of 33. Ashwin and Jadeja have 17 apiece (at 30 and 25), and so does Bumrah (at a superhuman 13). And all three have been missing for either a whole Test or part of one. Kuldeep and Bashir have 12 wickets each, Rehan Ahmed 11. Full list here.
Cometh the hour, cometh the plan. “Given that for the past two Tests, it’s been day 3 on which England have gone from a relatively strong position to a match-losing one,” says Smylers, “is there any way they could instigate the return of Sunday rest days? Then they wouldn’t actually have to play on the 3rd day, and could hopefully avoid the pattern.”
“We had a lot of challenges thrown at us,” says Rohit Sharma. “And we were quite composed.”
And the player of the match is … not Jaiswal, not Root, not Bashir, not Kuldeep … but Dhruv Jurel. Which is surely right. On a bowlers’ pitch, he made more runs than anyone else (90 and 39 not out) and turned the match, twice.
A few more soundbites from Stokes. On England’s second innings: “I wouldn’t say it was impossible because I don’t think anything’s impossible, but that was incredibly difficult against Ashwin and Jadeja, and Kuldeep, on a turning pitch. Scoring becomes very hard.”
On Joe Root’s hundred: “Incredible knock. I know he took a fair bit of criticism, which I don’t think was very fair. Class is permanent, form is temporary.”
On this format: “I love Test cricket. I think the future’s bright for it.”
Here’s Ben Stokes, still in his whites and his dark-blue cap with 100 on the front. “Yeah, look, I think it was a great Test match,” he tells Sanjay Manjrekar. “If you look at the scoreboard, India win by five wickets. I don’t think it really gives enough credit to the game as a whole, the amount of ebbs and flows – every single day that happened.
“I’ve got to give so much credit to our spinners, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir. To come out and put in that performance throughout the whole Test match but in particular today, being exposed in situations like that at such an early start of their career, incredible. I couldn’t be more proud of both of them. And obviously very proud of the team throughout this whole week.”
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“Thanks for the coverage,” says Frank Bradley, “I could almost be there.” Too kind! “What a treat of a Test match, played in a most traditional manner. Tweakers everywhere and hardly a ‘Seamer’ in sight.” Akash Deep might want a word about that: he took the first three wickets of the game.
“Shame BBC can’t even afford TMS,” Frank continues. “This is the first match I have ever watched on TV (sound off) and read the Ball by Ball!” It could catch on. But we don’t do ball-by-ball … The OBO brings you cricket without the boring bits.
The post has been piling up on the mat, but the first email I have time to open is a good one. “If folk on here insist on using the ridiculous B*****l moniker,” says Neil Jones, “then we must pay due respect to our previous gurus by referring to Illyball, Bumbleball, Fletchball, Mottyball, Mooroball, and Wheelybinball.” Ha. But what about Mickyball, Flowerball, Trevorball and Spoonsball?
Shoaib Bashir has now played two Tests, lost both, and won many admirers. Before this tour he had never taken a wicket in the fourth innings of a first-class game. In his first Test at Vizag he managed one (Shubman Gill, for 104). In his second at Ranchi he managed three, including two off successive balls – Ravi Jadeja and Sarfaraz Khan. He gave England a chance – a 35pc chance at that stage, according to CricViz. When Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal were romping along in the first hour this morning, that chance had sunk to 4pc. Off the first 16 overs of this chase, India made 82-0; off the next 16, it was 32-2.
And here, with his summary of the day, is EW Swanton.
Hard, close Test match cricket played in a fine spirit @TimdeLisle. Everyone involved can take enormous credit. We are fortunate indeed to live in these times.
— Gary Naylor 85 (@garynaylor85) February 26, 2024
Ben Stokes leads his team off the field, looking dignified in his dark blue cap. The two teams exchange hugs, the Indians in orange, so it looks as if the England cricket team are greeting the Dutch footballers. India have played total cricket, taking far more wickets with seam, thanks to the great Jasprit Bumrah.
England have got more wickets than expected out of their greenhorn spinners, largely thanks to Stokes’s empathy and ingenuity. But they really missed a trick when Jack Leach went home and they didn’t send for a replacement. The situation was crying out for Liam Dawson, a tough competitor who might have got some Jurel-like runs.
61st over: India 192-5 (Gill 52, Jurel 39) After India collapsed, losing five wickets for 36, these two calmly added twice that. Just as in the first innings, Dhruv Jurel came out and changed the game. What a temperament he has.
INDIA WIN THE MATCH AND THE SERIES!
A pull for four and a clip for two from Jurel, and India have done it. They have won this battle of the rookies by five wickets. And they have won the series too, 3-1 with one to play.
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Gill breaks the shackles!
60th over: India 185-5 (Gill 52, Jurel 32) After facing 119 balls, Shubman Gill decides he has got his eye in and hits his first boundary. It’s a six! And another! Both off Bashir, the first a straight drive, the second a lofted whip. One more of those, and India will have the series in the bag.
Fifty partnership!
59th over: India 172-5 (Gill 39, Jurel 32) Stokes has a conference with Ollie Pope. The upshot is that Pope goes a bit deeper at forward short leg. Gill, facing Hartley, takes a single that brings up the fifty partnership. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s been enough to seal the match.
58th over: India 169-5 (Gill 37, Jurel 31) It’s still Bashir, bashing away from over the wicket. If he can get both these batters out, he’ll have a ten-for and this will be forever known as Bashir’s match. He manages a maiden, no mean feat when faced with the busy Jurel.
57th over: India 169-5 (Gill 37, Jurel 31) Jimmy Anderson is off the field, one of the commentators says, with “tightness in the leg”. Meanwhile, thousands of other people have been feeling some tightness in the gut.
Just a single from Hartley’s over, but the game is up. India need 23.
56th over: India 168-5 (Gill 37, Jurel 30) Bashir continues and Jurel goes on the attack, dancing down to drive, hard, to long-on – where Ben Duckett throws himself full-length to save two. The ball bobbles up into his face: as he’s already horizontal, he can’t Duckett.
55th over: India 165-5 (Gill 37, Jurel 27) Joe Root is taken off, after one over, and Tom Hartley returns. He restricts each batter to a single, but there’s no sign of the breakthrough England desperately need.
Thanks Daniel and morning everyone. What a shift that was. Daniel has taken five wickets and has kindly left the other five to me.
54th over: India 163-5 (Gill 36, Jurel 26) I’m a little surprised England haven’t used Anderson, just for an over or two, post-lunch because you know he’ll ask questions. But Bashir continues and after a single to Jurel, Gill does down the ground, not getting all of it. But the ball drops safe and that means my watch is over; here’s Tim de Lisle to croon England home. India need 29 runs to win.
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53rd over: India 161-5 (Gill 35, Jurel 25) Ach, two singles, then Crawley palms a soft-handed edge from Jurel and as the ball runs away, the batters run two. A shove to point earns him one more and England are running out of road, the partnership now 41. India need 31 runs to win.
52nd over: India 156-5 (Gill 34, Jurel 21) Gill plays three Hartley dots … then three more, Stokes making a fine diving stop to prevent a boundary … before turning to Joe Root. The match is here, mates. India need 36 runs to win.
“I feel Jurel is a better keeper (might be recency bias) and hence should keep more,” reckons Arul Kanhere. “Wicketkeeping takes a lot out of batters and Pant does not need that coming back from injury.”
I’m not sure I agree with the last bit – Pant strikes me as the sort of character who thrives from constant involvement – but I agree Jurel might be the better gloveman.
51st over: India 156-5 (Gill 34, Jurel 21) We see Stokes, bent over and hands on knees, trying to work out how to affect the match; he’s not got long left. Gill takes a single to leg, the only run from the over, and this again feels over. England need something because India need 36 runs to win.
50th over: India 155-5 (Gill 33, Jurel 21) I’m a little surprised we’ve not seen a bowling change now that it’s drifting, but I guess Stokes has decided who are his likeliest wicket-takers. Gill inside-edges one, except there’s no short leg to catch, adds two via twizzle to square leg, then flips one more towards midwicket; he’s going to remember this knock more than many others of far greater size and flair, because this is dripping so much substance New Order should release it. India need 37 runs to win.
49th over: India 152-5 (Gill 30, Jurel 21) This really is tremendous work from this pair – they’ve defused a brutal situation with calm assurance. Jurel takes one to leg, then Gill two to square leg; a single down the ground follows, and India are cruising again, the partnership 232. India need 40 runs to win.
“Dammit all,” says Pete Salmon. “I’m on a ridiculous deadline writing a piece that needs every bit of concentration I have. Proud of myself for waking at five to get my teeth into it. Planned to check OBO to see it was 1/150-odd, put on some lo-fi instrumentals and get it done. Now glued to the radio and the OBO, writing about a sentence every 15 minutes. No good at all.”
What constitutes a lo-fi instrumental? An England Test match from the 90s?
48th over: India 146-5 (Gill 27, Jurel 20) Gill taps a single to mid on, then Jurel wants two to Lawrence; he’s sent back and rightly so. Question, though: given the keeper’s form, when Pant’s back, is it just as a batter? India need 44 runs to win.
47th over: India 146-5 (Gill 26, Jurel 19) Bashir seems a really wise bowler: he knows his build and his action so doesn’t give much away. And of course, as I type following two singles, he sends down a piece of filth that Jurel carts to the fence for the first boundary in 31 overs. In fairness to the batters, though, they’ve earned it with canny work, keeping the score moving and the strike rotating. India need 46 runs to win.
“I only have two reservations about the B**b*** bollocks,” says Brian Withington. “The first is some of the media interpretation/projection and the second is the name, which I understand is not used by the England team. I have previously (but curiously unsuccessfully) recommended solving the latter by calling it the ‘S&M Method’ in honour of its inspirational captain and coach (or ‘M&S Style’ for the more traditionally disposed who think the coach should come first). As for the interpretation, I rather like your simple distillation. Possibly shades of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, so how about coalescing around ‘Bat, Bowl, Field’?”
I hate the suffix ball in its football iteration and like to call them the Testvangelists, but mainly because “being sound to folk” doesn’t have the required glib quotient.
46th over: India 140-5 (Gill 25, Jurel 14) Gill has decided he’s going to be the man: nothing wild, just him backing himself to stop in at one end with the target low enough for that to see his team home. He snaffles a single to short cover, then Jurel – in mine, POTM if India win – drives to long off for a brace – and I’d not be surprised to see Stokes try something soon. Might we even see him with ball in hand? India need 52 runs to win.
45th over: India 136-5 (Gill 24, Jurel 11) Jurel takes one to midwicket then Gill cleverly eases wide of Foakes for another; this is settling a little, and England need another wicket; India need 56 runs to win.
“I fully expected to awake to a hat-trick ball,” storms Kim Thonger. “Very cross with myself for waking just a couple of minutes too soon, feeling that I jinxed it. Sorry everyone. Isn’t it wonderful though, that England now have four plausible spinners, five if you count Root, from which to select. Never happened before in my lifetime.”
I wonder if any of them are quite that good, but there’s plenty to work with.
44th over: India 134-5 (Gill 23, Jurel 9) Hartley’s bowled really well since lunch and I’m sure that helps persuade Jurel – whose knock yesterday still might be the difference here – goes at him hard, looking to lift over the on side and instead skewing short of short third … just. A single follows, and this is so, so good. Every ball is an occasion, and we’re all invited. India need 58 runs to win.
43rd over: India 133-5 (Gill 23, Jurel 9) Gill will know he should be the one who sees this home, which leaves him in something of a quandary: does he try and get it done, risking losing his wicket, or does he try and make sure he’s there at the end, risking a ball with his name on it on the competence of his partners. He edges with soft hands for one, then Jurel turns behind square for another. India need 59 runs to win.
42nd over: India 131-5 (Gill 22, Jurel 8) I think we were just told that it’s been 25 overs since India hit a boundary, which tells you England have bowled well, but also that as the pressure has ramped up, they’ve retreated – they’re trying to nurse it home not blaze it home, which is maybe how Jadeja got himself out: his eye wasn’t in when he needed it to be. Hartley, meanwhile, sends down a vey nice over, finding decent turn with one that keeps low too – it narrowly misses the face of Jurel’s bat, and a shove off its final delivery drops just shy of a c&b. One off the over, Gill flicking to off, and all the momentum is with England.
“This is worth waking a tad early for,” reckons Colum Fordham. “Bashir and England bought Jadeja’s wicket with pressure, despite it being the off-spinner’s worst delivery of the day. And he may have another! That was a good ball. England finally have a too-notch offie after Graeme Swan! And it is out! My goodness! Thanks for the great OBO and interesting disquisitions on Bazball. Stokes’ leadership is phenomenal. The self-belief he instills, a bit like Klopp with Liverpool.”
This is exactly it: in a sense, the attacking aspect is a misnomer: what’s key is the confidence with which he allows his team to play.
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41st over: India 130-5 (Gill 21, Jurel 8) The crowd are cheering every run now and this over yields four singles. I still think India are favourites, but one more wicket and England are into the bowlers India need 62 runs to win.
“One of the most astonishing Bazball aspects of this series is that England have been going toe-to-toe with India in their own backyard using a spin bowling line-up with the squareroot of bugger-all experience in both Test and first-class cricket,” says Tom van der Gucht. “In terms of selection acumen and man-management, this must be worthy of significant praise.”
I couldn’t agree more. Tell people how much you rate them, encourage them to be themselves,
40th over: India 126-5 (Gill 19, Jurel 6) Jurel edges with soft hands, earning two, then shoves the same through midwicket. The pressure is intense though – next ball he pulls to mid on and Gill wants a single, a fumble in the field meaning he’s safe when sent back. A further single follows, now back comes Bashir…
“Chastening as the situation is,” says Finbar Anslow, “I feel a little of the sting has been taken out of the game by the sublime Grateful Dead quote from Aditya Srinath to start proceedings (chapeau). What else to say, except ‘as I picked up my matches, she was closing the door. I had one of those flashes, I’d been there before (been there before).’”
39th over: India 121-5 (Gill 18, Jurel 0) And what a delivery Shoaib finds with the hat-trick ball, jagging in, and Jurel manages an edge on to the pads. Shoaib has bowled really nicely today, cramping the batters with his line and length – hold tight whoever scouted him – so this match and series is now right in the balance. Oh man. India need 71 runs to win.
WICKET! Sarfaraz Khan c Pope b Bashir 0 (India 120-5)
WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON! This is a good ball, bouncing and turning; Sarfaraz gets nowhere near it, it brushes his bat, AND SHOAIB BASHIR IS ON HAT-TRICK! THIS THING OF OURS SIMPLY CANNOT BE BEATEN!
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39th over: India 120-4 (Gill 18, Sarfaraz 0) I can’t believe a batter of Jadeja’s experience and aggression got himself out like that, but that is Test-match cricket. Now then, Bashir wheels in again, Sarfaraz presses forwards, the ball loops up, is caught at backward short, and England think they’ve got him! The umpire says not, but Stokes goes upstairs immediately!
WICKET! Jadeja c Bairstow b Bashir 4 (India 120-4)
Whaaaat! A full-bunger, clipped straight to midwicket, and Jadeja has handed England impetus just like that!
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38th over: India 120-3 (Gill 19, Jadeja 4) Gill, now wearing a cap, misses Hartley’s loosener and there’s an appeal for leg before, but it was going well down; one to leg follows. Jadeja, meanwhile, was well down the pitch following the first delivery, ready to pilfer a run, and when he taps to point he’s game for one too. But Gill isn’t interested, and they amble a third single when Jadeja knocks to long on. India need 72 runs to win.
Tom Hartley has the ball, and play.
“Assuming Brook is back I’d go Foakes,” returns Will Vignoles, “who has kept beautifully this series and is a brilliant designated driver and wingman for a set batter. However he’s not great with the tail as yesterday showed, he doesn’t maybe have the instinct or the game to counterattack and transfer pressure break on to the opposition. So maybe not as straightforward a choice as it seems on the surface. Who’d be a selector eh.”
For sure it’s not an easy discussion, and there’s also Jamie Smith who’s a talent. I guess the question really is whether England persevere with Bairstow, and who keeps is one you answer once you’ve answered that.
Gosh, I can’t wait for this next hour. I think it might be crucial, y’know.
“Not sure I agree with Stephen Todd’s view that the whole Bazball philosophy transfers as easily as he imagines to any workplace,” writes Mark Exton, “I just think it’s a little more complex than he’s imagining, especially in larger workplaces. On a more positive note, I informed my Indian colleagues ahead of the day’s play that England will win by five runs, and I’m not yet giving up on this prediction!”
It was actually me who said that, and i stand by it. Obviously everywhere is different, but if bosses treat the people in their teams with care and consideration, they’ll perform better. I don’t think that’s controversial or impossible.
Lunchtime email: “Through all the discussion of Bazball,” says Stephen Todd, “I feel a couple of critical thoughts are overlooked. The first is that the go-hell-for-leather ethos only works when you have lots of dominant batters. The Aussie Steve Waugh sides also scored at a much higher rate than their peers: much like current England, they had the batsmen who could.
The second is a part of a book of podcast by Malcom Gladwell, when he talks about ice hockey teams ‘pulling the goalie’ – taking their goalie off in exchange for an extra attacking player. It’s usually a last-minute attempt for a team down by goal or more. The story goes that it doesn’t happen as much because it also means you could give up more goals and lose by a lot more. Gladwell worked with statisticians who said that teams should actually pull the goalies much, much earlier. It increases your winning chances, and also increases your lose by a lot chances. I feel Bazball is exactly this. England have a good lineup, so they can play to 4-5 runs an over. But they also risk losing bigger than they otherwise would have, if it all goes south. And of course maybe you lose games that could have won if you played it safe. I feel this is really what has changed. It’s a risk vs. reward space, where ultimately the seemingly over the top risk is actually more prudent, given all the other variables.”
I think the key aspect for me, which I alluded to earlier, is that the spirit of Bazball – players playing their natural game in a fun environment – is how, in general, you get people to perform to their maximum. Not just because they’re relaxed, but because they feel part of something and want to succeed for that something: an idea about the game, but also leadership they love. It translates to any workplace too.
That was a very good session from the tourists. India started really well, finding a boundary an over as England’s costly habit of offering one again surfaced. But the first wicket changed the tone, and though India remain warm favourites, things can change very quickly indeed. This is another fantastic match.
37th over: India 118-3 (Gill 18, Jadeja 3) Gill pulls a single – we’ve not seen many of those, which tells us England’s lines have been good – then Shoaib zips one past Jadeja’s outside edge. Two slips and a short leg in for the final ball, but it’s played away nicely and that’s lunch – England’s session, but India are still in command. India need 74 runs to win.
36th over: India 117-3 (Gill 17, Jadeja 3) Root returns to golden arm it before lunch so while he gets warm, what’s the story with his barnet? How, at 33, do you decide that what you need is a step? The 90s are back with a vengeance, so who will be England’s Ronnie Irani? Will indy singles have brackets (again)? So many questions. Jadeja takes one to mid on then Stokes fiddles with his field, changing little things before every ball – you’ve got the sweep, now you don’t, now you do – that’s so simple but so clever, never allowing the batter to feel settled. Another single follows, twizzled by Gill to leg, then Jadeja, caught on his haunches, does really well to play into the ground from there, and with one over remaining before lunch India need 75 runs to win.
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35th over: India 115-3 (Gill 16, Jadeja 2) These orange India hoodies are rude in the extreme, I want one. That’s how it works on TMS, right? Also, I enjoy a victoria sponge. Back in the middle, Shoaib raps Gill on the pad and Foakes likes it, but again when asked by his skipper, the bowler says going down; there’s a real equanimity about him that suggests he’s the right temperament to bowl spin in Tests. Another maiden and India need 77 runs to win.
34th over: India 115-3 (Gill 16, Jadeja 2) The pitch is such that if England’s bowlers keep bowling – and at the moment, the batters are letting them – they should get the help to create chances. This pair, though, are seriously good players who aren’t fazed by the situation – they play the game for these situations – and another tight over, one taken from its final delivery, builds tension. England are probably 50 runs short, but another breakthrough in the nine minutes before lunch and we’re really talking. India need 77 runs to win.
“Talking about India,” says B Hari, “we are blessed with an abundance of cricketing talent. Makes it uber competitive. Poor Patidar, back to our domestic Ranji trophy to grind his way back into favour.”
I guess it also means that because the team is so good, it can carry a player acclimatising, so if they think he’s got it he might get a little longer. But I believe there’s a young lad who might at some point force his way back into the team.
33rd over: India 114-3 (Gill 15, Jadeja 2) Because England have got a hold of the scoring, the necessity for immediate wickets has receded and they’re building decent pressure with some economical bowling; after four dots, Shoaib persuades one to stay low; Jadeja watches it well, playing late to jab down on it. Maiden. India need 78 runs to win.
32nd over: India 114-3 (Gill 15, Jadeja 2) A question for Bazball unbelievers: without it, where do you think this series would be? And I ask that question not because I think the tactics are crucial, but because I think they create the environment of love and positivity that allows a manifestly inferior team to still be competing at this point. Gill swipes Hartley’s first ball for two to cover, the only runs from the over. India need 78 runs to win.
31st over: India 112-3 (Gill 13, Jadeja 2) The succession of full-tosses England sent down last evening might just cost them this match because they’ve got the strangle on now. Gill, though, opens the face nicely and earns three off a delivery that, had it turned, was on a really good line. Shoaib then rips one past Jadeja’s outside edge and two singles follow. Imagine the joy he’ll be advertising if India see this through and he’s there at the end. India need 80 runs to win.
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30th over: India 107-3 (Gill 9, Jadeja 1) My screen crashes, returning for me to see Gill has taken a single from Hartley, and there are frantic dives when Jadeja feathers around the corner, but the ball goes to grass and I’m not actually sure there was any bat involved. India need 85 runs to win.
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29th over: India 106-3 (Gill 6, Jadeja 0) Question for you: first Test next summer, who keeps? I know Jonny in form is unignorable, but I’d be very tempted to stick with Foakes, who’s had another good tour. Anyhow, this is another good over from Bashir, beating Jadeja’s outside edge with one that sticks and spins; maiden. India need 86 runs to win.
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28th over: India 106-3 (Gill 8, Jadeja 1) I actually feel bad for England’s spinners because they’ve shown decent promise here, but in all likelihood two of them won’t be in the first squad of the summer. Gill flicks Hartley to leg, a throw hurtles in, and at slip, Root makes a fine diving stop to save three … then a grubber is too low even for Foakes, racing to the fence for four byes. A single to midwicket follows, Jadeja off the mark, and that’s a better over for India. India need 86 runs to win.
27th over: India 100-3 (Gill 6, Jadeja 0) There’s no one who’ll relish this situation more than Jadeja, but England know if they can get rid of him, they’ll really be on a roll. Meantime though, they’ee doing alright, and if you think that without Bazball, this series would be here or anywhere proximate, I’m afraid I cannot possibly agree. India need 92 runs to win.
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WICKET! Patidar c Pope b Bashir 0 (England 100-3)
He only needs one! Shoaib’s bowled well this morning and when he finds a bit of turn, Patidar edges and, at short leg, Pope reacts like a demon, seizing the ball as it whistles past his shoulder! What are we seeing here?!
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27th over: India 100-2 (Gill 6, Patidar 0) This is chance for England to up the tension, but for Patidar it’s a chance to be the hero. And when Gill takes one down the ground, Shoaib has five balls at him…
26th over: India 99-2 (Gill 6, Patidar 0) A classic Andy Flower wicket that, dry bowling yielding results, and England now have two new batters to attack. Oh, and we see the wicket again – it looks like there was an edge, so does that mean it was caught, given it preceded the stumping? Anyroad, look at the celebration, Stokes leaping and fist-pumping; he think his boys can turn this around; of course he does. Wicket-maiden, and India need 93 runs to win.
WICKET! Rohit st Foakes b Hartley 55 (India 99-2)
Now then! Now! Then! Hartley, coming around, finds a little bit of turn away from the bat, and Foakes has the bails off in a trice! Wicketkeepers are good! P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E!
25th over: India 99-1 (Rohit 55, Gill 6) Now then! Gill gets down to sweep, misses, and wears ball on pad. The umpire signals a leg bye too, but that was turning well away from the stumps and Shoaib knows it’s not out when offered the chance to go upstairs; in that sense, he’s the anti-Broad. Rohit then comes down the track to ease a single to long on, and two dots follow; decent over, problem being England need more than decent. India need 93 runs to win.
24th over: India 97-1 (Rohit 54, Gill 6) Rohit cuts one to cover, then Hartley finds some bounce and turn, beating Gill’s outside edge; England need more of that, lots of it. A single to midwicket follows, and India are ticking them off – slowly, but nevertheless. India need 95 runs to win.
“I don’t know if it will make sense,” says Arul Kanhere, “but somehow Rohit feels more relatable than any other athletes ... it’s as if he decided to pick up a cricket bat after taking a stroll in the park. Reminds me of my jolly old uncle ... happy, relaxed, irritated, animated and goofy, without the ability to hit sixes at will though.”
Yup, agree – it’s the cuddliness. He’s India’s Raekwon.
23rd over: India 95-1 (Rohit 53, Gill 5) After drinks, Gill drives Shoaib and Lawrence, on as sub, misfields as they try to steal one, so isn’t able to chuck in hard. Another single follows, to backward square, and runs are coming more slowly now.
“As an England fan,” writes Will Vignoles, “it is really a shame that this series has gone South the way it has – some poor cricket from England but is really shown there’s a reason India don’t lose at home, and that’s that they’re really very good at cricket and usually that’s what matters, especially at home. In a way, it reminds me of the 2018 series in England between these sides, where England’s 4-1 win didn’t tell the story of how India were in pretty much every game but lost vital moments which meant they couldn’t take advantage of some strong positions. Hopefully England can pick up the final test and finish on a high – despite (almost certainly) two heavy defeats this hasn’t been the horror show of three years ago. Although in a way this is more painful.”
22nd over: India 93-1 (Rohit 52, Gill 4) England have slowed down the scoring, which gives them a bit more time to make something happen. Gill plays five dots, then takes a single into the on side. India need 99 runs to win.
“I’ll forgive the heat of the moment and yes, his best match with the nut was a victory,” chides Rowan Sweeney, “but if you want to elevate him beyond Golden Arm, Root’s 8 wickets at 49 is hardly excellent.”
I do think he’s better than golden arm, but yes, fair enough: excellent was probably over-egging it.
21st over: India 92-1 (Rohit 52, Gill 3) Between overs, we see Rohit speaking animatedly to Gill; he’s desperate to lead his team home here. He again flicks over the infield for one, this time giving his junior partner five balls to face; he takes the last of then for a single. India need 100 runs to win.
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20th over: India 90-1 (Rohit 51, Gill 2) It’s one and done for Root, his task accomplished and Hartley returning. Stokes seems to really like him, but not as much as he will if he can knock Rohit over; Rohit eases away two towards point that raises his fifty, adding one more thereafter. We then see footage of his irritation at Jaiswal’s wicket – going at Root before he’d had a proper look – but he’s commandeering this chase very nicely and England badly need shot of him. India need 102 runs to win.
19th over: India 87-1 (Rohit 48, Gill 2) Yup, Bashir returns and when Gill comes down he realises he’s misjudged the flight, doing well to turn into the on side for one, and Rohit lifts his final delivery over midwicket for another single, which means he retains strike. India need 105 runs to win.
“I wonder if Rehan is the spinner with the biggest upside,” emails Daniel Forman, “with his ability to turn it both ways. And he’s definitely the most Bazball, either way his batting and attitude. Plus he’s probably the man most likely to offer something in Australia.”
I agree he’s got the most going for him if he turns into a brilliant version of himself, but at the moment he’s behind the other two for good reason.
18th over: India 85-1 (Rohit 47, Gill 0) I wonder if, if Joe Root had his time again, he’d take his bowling (even) more seriously. He’s been excellent in this series and the term golden arm is almost an insult because it suggests chance rather than skill. England are still in this, just, and when Gill gets going with one to long on, India need 107 runs to win.
WICKET! Jaiswal c Anderson b Root 37 (India 84-0)
The golden arm does it again! Jaiswal looks to open the face and drive over extra, but a bit of turn away means he ends up slicing to short third, where a diving old man takes terrific catch hurling his carcass forward. How do you do fellow kids! And do we got ourselves a ball-game?!
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18th over: India 84-0 (Rohit 47, Jaiswal 37) Root replaces Bashir, who I’d not be surprised to see again soon, perhaps from the other end.
“Probably not a bad decision just now,” says Andrew Crossley, “but I’m almost certain that there was no inside edge; the snicko mark was bat hitting pad just above the boot, I think. Shame not to then see ball tracking…”
I don’t think it was hitting, for what that’s worth.
17th over: India 83-0 (Rohit 46, Jaiswal 37) The problem England have is generally, this track has been easier to bat on in the morning, and at this rate the match will be over before it livens up later on. Stokes has a long chat with Hartley before this over, and one does keep low for him, but Rohit defends then flicks into the on side for one. India are making this look pretty straightforward. India need 109 runs to win.
16th over: India 71-0 (Rohit 42, Jaiswal 29) I guess the question regarding England’s spinners is which will go best at home. Hartley is perhaps the Giles selection – one you make when you don’t love any of your options, so go for the guy who doesn’t get whacked and is good with bat and in field – whereas Shoaib is the Bazball selection, one with the biggest upside. But for now, it barely matters: Rohit opens the face nicely for three, then Jaiswal sweeps four – England, running out of runs to play with runs with which to play are offering the shot and India are taking it – then another cut for four follows, and with 11 runs from the over, this feels extremely over. India need 110 runs to win.
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15th over: India 71-0 (Rohit 42, Jaiswal 29) Jaiswal touches around the corner wide of Pope at short leg, then nails a reverse for four; India are making sure to get in at least one proper scoring shot every over and for that reason, they’re racing towards their target and a series victory. Don’t they care about keeping it alive into the fifth? So selfish. India need 125 runs to win.
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REVIEW! NOT OUT!
It’s a good ball this, Hartley seeing Jaiswal coming and dragging down … but Jaiswal got a shard of bat on it, so the call is a simple one.
15th over: India 67-0 (Rohit 42, Jaiswal 25) In fairness to the bowlers, though, the pitch isn’t offering as much as it had; perhaps Hartley will find something, replacing Anderson. Rohit waits for his loosener, playing it down into the off side and running one, then the bowler goes around, Jaiswal comes down and when it jags back in, wears ball on pad. There’s an appeal, it’s rejected … and England go upstairs!
14th over: India 66-0 (Rohit 41, Jaiswal 25) Who do we think has been player of the series? It’s hard to look beyond Jaiswal, I’d say, though it’s always hard to look beyond Bumrah, the best bowler in the world in every format. Meantime, after allowing four dots, Rohit gets down on one leg to haul Shoaib from outside off around the corner for four, then takes a single down the ground. This is terrific batting. India need 126 runs to win.
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13th over: India 61-0 (Rohit 36, Jaiswal 25) Do we think Anderson has gone for Sun In? His hair – and what a head of it it is – has that look. Rohit looks to turn through midwicket, the ball rears up, and even though he doesn’t know where it is, Jaiswal calls him through for a quick single; Anderson shares some sentiments and Rohit chuckles to himself. Three more singles follow, the second of them Rohit’s 9000th in first-class cricket, and India are seeing this away with a great deal of certainty. India need 131 runs to win.
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12th over: India 56-0 (Rohit 33, Jaiswal 23) Jaiswal misses with a sweep and there’s a strangulated appeal but impact was outside the line and it wasn’t hitting the stumps. Then an edge past slip sends Anderson hurtling to the fence again and this time he dives but the ball slides on and that’s four. Shoaib, though, is bowling nicely … but can he find a breakthrough? India need 136 runs to win.
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11th over: India 52-0 (Rohit 33, Jaiswal 19) Jaiswal has had such a series and he flicks a single to long leg. Then, after two dots, Rohit waits for one, using the inswing to loft an apparently effortless pick-up over long-on for six; in the field, Stokes nods in appreciation and nothing about the way his side have attacked this chase suggests it might get big on them. India need 140 runs to win.
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10th over: India 45-0 (Rohit 27, Jaiswal 18) No, it’s Shoaib; big show of faith in him from Stokes and I liked how he bowled yesterday, his tight line creating pressure. After two decent balls, Jaiswal nurdles him around the corner for one, the first run of the morning, then Rohit glances behind and Anderson tanks after it, diving to haul it back before it goes over the rope as they run three; he is an absolute freak of nature. Another single follows, then a bit of turn and bounce which Rohit manages to ride. India need 147 runs to win.
“I totally agree with your preamble musings on each match being a referendum on Bazball,” writes Mark Kelly. “Sometimes it feels like every play and miss elicits a Pavlov’s dog like response from a commentator regarding Bazball being all fine and good but you have to play to the match situation and conditions. It’s like they actually want them to fail. I am eagerly anticipating the start of play. I am not sure how long that eagerness will last. It is afternoon here in Sydney so at least I haven’t gotten up at silly o’clock to watch it.”
Ah, but there’s nothing like waking up early doors to find that England have made a mess; yesterday was a classic of the genre.
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9th over: India 40-0 (Rohit 24, Jaiswal 16) Anderson, his highlights reminding us that he’s 21, starts outside off and Rohit defends; three dots follow. He’s got one slip, so I guess he’s looking for bowleds, lbs and catches on the drive; maiden. Joe Root from the other end? India need 152 runs to win.
“I think your suggestion to change the name BazBall to WokeBall is a brilliant one,” chortles Ianco Gavan.
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And play!
Jimmy Anderson, two wickets away from 700, has the ball.
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Here come our players, Ben Stokes geeing his men up. India need 152 runs, England need 10 wickets.
“In answer to your spin question,” begins Nicholas Bentley. “We need to be clever and rotate both Hartley and Bashir through the summer, we can’t just expect one to step up when we need them in India or Australia. Sadly, I fear that there is no place for dear Jack. Sport is cruel.”
He’s lasted a lot longer than I thought he would, I must say. But I too enjoy Hartley’s attitude and it does looks like Bashir might spin it a bit harder.
Talking of spinners, I love the devil of India’s. Kuldeep Yadav has such an infectious mischievousness that you only get if you also have implacable confidence in your ability to cause havoc. Will any of England’s be able to impose themselves this morning?
Email! “Lovely preamble ... and paean to test cricket,” says Aditya Srinath. “Brings to mind this lovely Bob Weir/Perry Barlow lyric”
“‘What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin.’”
Something I’ve been wondering: which of England’s spinners will we see play Tests regularly? There’s an opening for one, because Jack Leach, the number one, is injured and not so good he can’t be replaced.
Preamble
Once we give something a name it becomes a thing, and once it becomes a thing, it takes on a personality and characteristics, there to be misrepresented and misconstrued over and over again. We may know this from, er, ourselves, or from the constant media bombardment that reminds us – once, for example, there were kind people trying to help those needing it most in whatever way they could, now they are “the woke mob” and they’re ruining our previously thriving planet.
So, as soon as we decided that playing fun, aggressive cricket played in a nurturing, inspirational environment was to be called Bazball, we also decided that every match was to be a referendum on the same. The reality, though, is somewhat different.
India are the best home Test side in the world, a settled winning machine favoured by conditions and the five-Test series. England, on the other hand, are finding themselves, taking on the expers with spinners no more experienced in Tests then you and me. Or, put another way, it is not because of Bazball that India are poised to win this brilliant series, it is because of Bazball that this brilliant series is brilliant – and still alive.
Probably not for long, but such is facing India in India; such is not Bazball. Of course, it may yet be that Baz n’ Ben’s England pull off yet another victory for the ages, but even if they do not, they remain what we know them to be: a developing team doing all they can to sustain this wonderful things of ours. There are those who’ll tell you that elite sport is about winning, and maybe they’re right. But life is not, so.
Play: 9.30am local, 4am GMT
