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The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
India's Manchester Test rescue act has rattled England in more ways than one
A fascinating series in which both teams have refused to concede an inch witnessed one of the finest rescue acts in recent times as India displayed extraordinary determination to bat out five sessions and draw the fourth Test in Manchester after being 0-2 and trailing by 311 runs. That India managed to save the Test is a remarkable achievement as they played most of it with 10 batters after Rishabh Pant broke his foot during the match. England would have anticipated a quick finish to the match when India lost wickets off successive balls without a run on the board on Saturday. But their batters were not going to give up, no matter how dire the situation. The fight shown by the lower order in the heartbreaking Lord's Test defeat galvanised the frontline batters in the hour of need at Old Trafford. India batted 143 overs on days four and five to save the match and keep the series alive heading into the last Test at The Oval. KL Rahul (90) and captain Shubman Gill (103) bore the brunt of the early England storm, facing more than 200 deliveries each to take the sting out of the home team's attack. Then, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar guarded the gates until the final hour of the match, thwarting every attack with the composure and technique of top tier Test batters. The pitch had more than enough spite to keep the batters in check. The ball that got Rahul lbw stayed low by a foot, while Gill was hit on the body by deliveries that spat at him. The spinners also had enough rough to work with; both Liam Dawson and Joe Root got the ball to spin sharply and stay low. But Jadeja and Sundar did not give up. As the final hour of the Test began, and with both Sundar and Jadeja approaching thoroughly deserved centuries, England captain Ben Stokes offered an early draw. Both batters refused and batted for an additional five overs to reach their centuries. A perfect reward for an incredibly hard day at the office. But England and Stokes did not see it that way. Stokes was miffed at India's refusal to accept a draw when he offered it. Then, as some sort of protest, he got Harry Brook to bowl who dished out club-level deliveries. It was a draining day and by the end of it, England were rattled. Stokes and his England teammates had a go at the Indian all-rounders for wanting to score a century. After the match, Stokes extolled the virtues of a well-earned 80 not out instead of a century. 'I don't think there would have been much more satisfaction in walking off 100 not out, getting your team off in a tricky situation, than walking off at 80 or 90 not out,' the England captain said. Stokes lecturing the opposition batters - one of whom was aiming for his maiden Test ton - about how they should feel about their accomplishments and milestones was incredulous to watch. India were well within their rights to not only chase milestones but also keep England bowlers on the field for as long as possible, since the fifth Test begins in just three days and extra miles in the legs of the bowlers would mean advantage India. Just like England's openers were well within their rights to delay taking strike in the Lord's Test and use time wasting tactics. But England's reaction and antics at the end showed a palpable frustration had snuck into a team that was within touching distance of a 3-1 series lead in Manchester. England had their moments earlier in the innings, none more so than when Jadeja was dropped by Joe Root at slip first ball. But the match somehow slipped past them. Stokes had pushed his body to breaking point, nursing a hurt hamstring and shoulder to get the team over the finish line, and then possibly take a well-deserved break; England's bowlers were running on fumes after being on the field for 250 overs. All of which possibly contributed to England throwing a hissy fit at the end. India, meanwhile, go in the final Test knowing they have one of their most in-form batting line-ups in recent memory which also fights right until the end. They also know England's main fast bowlers have run out of gas after playing successive Tests and the home team will now have to rely on second or third choice bowlers. India too will have to manage without Jasprit Bumrah and or Mohammad Siraj. But they have been doing so almost the entire tour. All they need now is to get four fully fit bowlers, including wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and then see who is standing at the end of it all. All four Tests have gone deep into the fifth day and the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has become a Test of endurance. England looked ragged by the end of the penultimate bout. If India somehow manage to select the best playing XI, which they have failed to do in four Tests, the series can still end in a 2-2 draw. And that, in many ways, would be the perfect result for two teams who may have their flaws but have not given up at any stage across 20 days of absorbing cricket.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How Ben Stokes should prepare for the Oval Test and my pick from each team in a dream XI: BUMBLE AT THE TEST
England found it hard-going on the final day of the fourth Test against India, toiling away but failing to find the wickets needed to win the game. They had been in a dominant position after restricting their visitors to 0/2 in the first over of the final innings, but some stern resistance ensured India go into the final Test with the hope of saving the series. There were still plenty of talking points from the final day, however. One was Ben Stokes battling through with the ball, having made a century and then carrying out long bowling spells despite potential injury issues. Then there was a discussion of the two attacks, with both teams starting to tire with one game still to go. So, for the final time this week, our man David Lloyd was at Old Trafford to dissect all the big talking points, from Stokes' fitness, to India's star, and a throwback to an action of an India great. Mail Sport presents the latest edition of BUMBLE ON THE TEST. Ben battling through Watching Ben Stokes bowl in the morning session was painful. If he were a racehorse, he'd have been sent to the knacker's yard because it looked like he was falling to bits, holding his shoulder and grimacing with every delivery. Somehow, though, he just kept going and got the wicket of KL Rahul. He really is a remarkable cricketer and England will now need to patch him up for the Oval. Shubman the superstar Shubman Gill confirmed he is going to be an absolute superstar and a new hero for India at No 4, following in the footsteps of Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Like all the greats, he seems to have so much time. My only worry for him is whether the captaincy will eventually weigh him down. There is no sign of that in this series, but if you've got a player as good as that, why not just let him bat? I'll stick with Jadeja I got asked in the pub the other day: who would you choose if you could have only one player from each team? Gill, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah are all candidates for India, but I am having Ravindra Jadeja. He is in the game all the time and an absolute sticker with the bat, as he showed against yesterday. For England, I am going for Stokes over Joe Root. Sachin's masterclass India's resolute batting on Sunday made me think of watching them practise years ago at Old Trafford. Tendulkar stayed behind in the nets with a coach and played purely defensive shots. His little game was to try and drop the ball dead without it hitting the side of the net, something you can only do with soft hands. It is a real skill and India are masters of it. Give bowlers a break Bowlers of both teams have flogged themselves to a standstill on a pitch that has been an absolute back breaker. When Bumrah, the best bowler in the world, can't get a jot out of it, you know it's a grueller. Talk is that the Oval will have more grass on it and the bowlers are going to need it. Both teams will also have to change their attacks because they look absolutely knackered. The kids were all right Walking round the ground, I noticed many young children playing impromptu games of cricket. It was marvellous how they just organised themselves. But it did make me think how grounds should set aside a designated area for children to go and play, with community coaches looking after it. A day at a Test is a long time for kids to sit through, so give them a space to have a bat and a bowl. Old (lady) Trafford! I have thoroughly enjoyed hosting my Bumble's Legends Lounge at Old Trafford. There were no casualties, but there was one misdemeanour when a patron flatly refused to move out of a seat which was designated to someone else. Some colourful language ensued, but we dealt with it in a very diplomatic manner as the culprit was well into her 80s. We delicately defused the situation by offering her another stiff gin and tonic.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Ben Stokes enjoying ‘high quality' games between England and India despite draw
Ben Stokes praised a showing of 'high-quality cricket' between England and India as the fourth Test ended in a draw. England reached 669 in their first innings before the game fizzled out, with India closing the day on 425 for four. KL Rahul fell for 90 before Jofra Archer then dismissed Shubman Gill for 103 and Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both scored tons. Stokes hailed the quality of the Test, telling Sky Sports: 'I thought Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's opening partnership was incredibly crucial in the way we could sort of lay the foundations for the game. 'The opening partnership, the way they took the Indian attack on, the rate they were managing to score at it sort of allowed us to go, 'right we're going to try and bat once' and look to hopefully bowl India out. 'It started great yesterday with two wickets in the first over, but it was one of those wickets where if you got in, you felt like you were going to be the one to make the mistake to get out. 'It's been a back-and-forth series so far, we've been throwing punches and India have been throwing punches back at us, it's just been real high-quality cricket – two very good teams. 'Got to give credit to the way India came out here and performed under the pressure they were.' With the game destined for a draw, the final stages of the match saw India's batters electing against shaking hands with 15 overs left. Jadeja and Sundar scored hundreds before shaking hands and Stokes revealed he offered to shake with the aim of protecting his bowling attack. 'I think all the hard work was done by India, they both played incredibly well,' Stokes added. 'It got to that point where there was obviously only one result and there was no chance I was going to risk any of my big, fast bowlers for injuries with one more game to go. '(Liam Dawson) has bowled so many overs this game, his body started to get a little bit tired and cramp up in the legs. 'I wasn't risking any of my frontline bowlers for that last half-an-hour.' Stokes appeared to be troubled by his left leg and a problem in his right shoulder, and admitted he was 'pretty sore'. 'It's been a big five or six weeks,' he said. 'I'll always try and give everything that I possibly can. Try and run through a brick wall. 'I ask the guys up there to run through a brick wall for the team. I'll always try and do the same to try and lead by example in that sense. ' Bowling, being out in the field all that kind of stuff it is tough work, but pretty sore.' When asked specifically about his shoulder, he added: 'It's just a workload thing, got through a fair few amount of overs and just everything starts creeping up on you. 'I'll keep trying, keep going. As I always say to all the bowlers, pain is only an emotion.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Ben Stokes is most important player to any team I have seen
England's first draw without heavy rain under Ben Stokes was a Test that showed how brilliant the skipper is, but also how his team are worryingly dependent on him. There have been teams in the past who have been very reliant on individuals. Ian Botham, of course. When I was captain I had Andrew Flintoff. But having worked his way back to fitness with the ball and finding form with the bat, not to mention his captaincy, I cannot remember an individual as vital to a team's hopes as Stokes is to this England team. He does things no-one else can. I think Jasprit Bumrah is the greatest seamer I've seen. Well, Stokes has out-bowled him in this series and been better than anyone else. He gets back-spin, has an awkward angle, and a great ability to know exactly how to bowl on a surface, and hit the one spot on the pitch that can cause trouble, as he did to KL Rahul on the final day against India at Old Trafford. It is luck that the ball stayed low, but the great players seem to have a knack of finding it. The trouble is that Stokes's body is in bits. He's taped up and drugged up. In this series, he's been clutching his groin, hamstring, calf, shoulder, and he's had long-term knee issues. Stokes bowled a brilliant spell first thing on day five, but only one other four-over spell in the innings. When he was out of the attack, England did not look like they had the weapons to take wickets on a flat pitch. Had he been able to bowl more than 12 of the 150-odd overs, I have no doubt England would have won. It should be said that India were magnificent in the third innings. Rahul and Shubman Gill laid the platform and the all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. They showed once again that they are a team that does not give up, and they have highly skilled players. Their task to save the draw was so much tougher than England's at Edgbaston, yet they managed it. They got their selection wrong again, but cannot make the same mistake with the series on the line at the Oval. Can they convince Bumrah to play one more game? Surely they have to. This was the kind of draw they can cling to, and use to galvanise one final push. Who knows what state England will turn up at the Oval in, and both teams could make a fair few changes. It's been a really tough series for both bowling attacks, and Stokes looks out on his feet. Stokes is the reason England are in a good position in this series, even after the disappointment of failing to win this game having made the running. He also is the reason I give them a fighting chance in Australia this winter. England tick a lot of the boxes you want them to a few months out from the Ashes, and selection for the tour should not take long because the squad is settled. But if he is not fit to play a full part with the ball, I think it is no exaggeration to say they have no chance. He makes them the team they are, and is the team. It is tricky to know how to manage Stokes until November. He will have to play at the Oval but there is a case for sticking him in a freezer until England arrive in Perth, then defrosting him a couple of weeks before the series. England do things their own way. Look at Jofra Archer, who has been really good since his comeback on next to no cricket. It would not be that much of a surprise if Stokes does not play at all. He did that before this series and hit his straps with the ball. He could turn up in Perth having not played much and his bowling would be finer. The problem with his bowling is how much of it he has to do because he is so good, and then his body breaks down again because he is 34 and has a lot of miles on the clock. It is a vicious cycle. His batting has taken a little while to get into this series, because he came in cold. One thing I hope is that, now he has found form, he keeps himself ticking over with the bat, perhaps with a couple of games for Durham in September. The temptation could be for him to play white-ball cricket for England, but I would really urge them to avoid that until after the Ashes. Everyone in the UK should be crossing everything that he's fit for that series. England's bowling with the old ball is a massive worry. Between overs 30 and 80, three of their seamers who have played at least two matches – Archer, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue – have not taken a single wicket. Chris Woakes is not much better, and has the keeper up with the old ball. At Old Trafford, they didn't take a wicket on the fourth or fifth afternoons. Stokes is their only hope in that period at the moment, so something needs to change, and they will be crossing their fingers for Mark Wood's return. As tough as this draw will be to swallow and as galling as those stats are, I do feel this team are heading in the right direction. Before we can even think about the Ashes, Stokes will need to pick himself up off the canvas for one last push at the Oval.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Ben Stokes defies injury to rally England but fourth India Test ends in draw
Ben Stokes' latest injury-defying act failed to inspire England as just a second draw of the Bazball era following stubborn India resistance kept the Rothesay series alive. A troublesome left leg and a fresh problem in his right shoulder failed to deter Stokes, who snared KL Rahul for 90 on the last morning of the fourth Test to give England hope of moving into an unassailable 3-1 series lead. Jofra Archer then dismissed Shubman Gill for 103 on the stroke of lunch but Joe Root dropping Ravindra Jadeja from the next ball proved crucial as he and Washington Sundar batted out the rest of the day. However, there were farcical scenes at the finish when it became clear there would be no winner as India's batters elected against shaking hands with 15 overs left – the earliest opportunity a draw could be agreed – so both could get their hundreds. Root and Harry Brook provided buffet bowling to speed things along, with Jadeja getting to his ton first and and Sundar followed to signal the end of proceedings, with India on 425 for four with a lead of 114. It was unnecessary distraction to what had been a brilliant India rearguard, with England barely acknowledging either century, as the tourists head to the Kia Oval still only trailing 2-1. With the fifth Test getting under way on Thursday, much of the focus will likely centre on Stokes' availability after he was left weary and wounded in Manchester. He battled cramp in his left leg when batting on Friday and reported general soreness on Saturday, which meant he did not bowl as Rahul and Gill took India from nought for two to 174 for two overnight. More fitness problems emerged almost as soon as he started bowling from the Sir James Anderson End, as he grimaced and repeatedly rubbed his right shoulder after sending down the second over of the day. Despite being in visible discomfort, straightening his arm after every delivery in an eight-over spell, Stokes caused problems, with Gill's drive on 81 bursting through a leaping Ollie Pope's hands close in. England burned their final review as the ineffective Liam Dawson erroneously thought Rahul had gloved down the leg-side, but the India opener was lbw as Stokes made the breakthrough with his 20th delivery. With variable bounce in play at Stokes' end, Rahul was beaten by a nip-backer that thudded into his knee roll in front of middle stump, with the England captain immediately celebrating. Gill wore a painful blow to a right hand already heavily bandaged after one leapt off a length and struck him in the glove and helmet but the India captain soldiered on. Having moved on to a titanic 700 runs for the series, Gill brought up a fourth three-figure score of the trip off 228 balls with a push into the offside for a single. By then, England had the second new ball, taken 40 minutes before lunch, and Archer claimed the prize wicket of Gill, who fiddled outside off down the wrong line and feathered through to Jamie Smith. England should have ended the session with a spring in their step but Root parried then dropped the rebound at head height after Jadeja flirted at a rising delivery from Archer first up. Dawson was tidy but nonthreatening at the beginning of the afternoon, with the slow left-armer unable to take advantage of the footholes outside the off-stump of India's left-handed pair. Against an old ball and with the pitch flattening out, Sundar and Jadeja grew increasingly confident. This was evident in the way they went after Stokes in his three-over burst from the Brian Statham End, which culminated in Sundar belting a six then a four and Jadeja cutting away to the boundary to take both batters to fifty and India into the lead. Having conceded 15 from his allotment, Stokes seemed to accept one last moment of magic was beyond him and he hooked himself from the attack – finishing with 11-2-33-1 – to seemingly end England's flickering hopes of victory. It seemed Dawson, who finished with nought for 95 from 47 overs, and Root would administer the last rites after tea but India were in no hurry to get off the field when the match ticked over into the last hour. Both teams must agree on the draw and England were clearly unhappy at Jadeja and Sundar continuing, with Brook eventually called upon to send down some floaty off-spin while Root was kept on. Jadeja got to his hundred in a blizzard of boundaries, eventually finishing on 107 not out, before Washington brought up his first Test century in Brook's next over before hands were shaken five overs after England had first offered them.
