
The England player who might become a problem for Ben Stokes - and could it be time for a star to return? BUMBLE ON THE TEST
The stage is set for a compelling fifth day of the first Test between England and India, with all results still on the table.
Ben Stokes' side need 350 more runs to win and have all their wickets in hand after the openers survived a stint late in the day.
Here, Mail Sport's David Lloyd gives his take on day four - assessing which player could be under threat and offering a timely reminder... catches win matches.
What, no somersault?
Rishabh Pant is box office. It is fabulous to see him back after his near-fatal car crash in 2022.
He is supremely talented and a real entertainer. But where was his somersault celebration on Monday?
Come on Rishabh! I bet he's a beggar to play against as he rubs the opposition up the wrong way. We are in for a real treat watching him throughout this five-Test series.
The value of digging in
A batsman needs a good defence in Test cricket, as KL Rahul proved during his brilliant innings. Cricket lovers appreciate when a batsman has to dig in before accelerating when the going gets easier. For all their Twenty20 experience in the IPL, India 's batsmen have shown they also have sound defensive techniques and excellent concentration.
Ben's Bashir problem
Shoaib Bashir is 21 and he already has 61 Test wickets. He gets total backing from Ben Stokes. However, will he become a problem later in the series?
India are pretty comfortable against him. In the first innings, he took one for 100. In the second, it was two for 90 and he went at more than four an over. What will England do with him now?
It could be Jofra time
Phil and Kirsty have Location, Location, Location. Cricket has rotation, rotation, rotation. With Tests coming thick and fast, England will want to rotate their attack.
So all eyes are on Jofra Archer, who had his first bowl with a red ball in four years at Durham on Monday. If he is fit and firing, England have got a bit of stardust.
Can't catch a break
Both teams have been shelling catches. When I was a coach, that was arguably the most frustrating part of the job. It isn't a lack of preparation, either. Concentration, visibility, the weather and the slope all play a part.
Trust me, nobody is more disappointed than the player who spills the catch. All together now… catches win matches.
Ground to stir memories
I love coming to Headingley to reminisce about my Roses games here. After play, David Bairstow would lead the charge to the Original Oak, which had a bowling green and we would sometimes 'have an end'.
Then it was the Three Horseshoes 'for a couple' before Bryan's for 'Addock 'n' chips. Great days, great company.
Boycott in fine form
My wife and I were entertained at the weekend by Yorkshire vice chair Phillip Hodson and his wife Sally Ann. She is Tony Greig's sister. Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Lady Rachael were there and Geoffrey was in great form.
It was wonderful to see him deep in conversation with Sunil Gavaskar. Top hospitality. They do it right in Yorkshire.
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