TEST-2
“Conventional beliefs continue to dominate over innovative approaches.”
In the end, James Anderson’s forecast of wrapping up the chase within 60-70 overs proved accurate, albeit with a twist.
Jasprit Bumrah, true to form, showcased his prowess at dismantling cricket stumps to secure India’s series-leveling triumph, while Anderson could only watch from the pitch.
It marked the conclusion of a curiously cautious Test match, where India had maintained dominance since the toss, yet continually felt the looming threat of uncertainty.
The final day, shrouded in a hazy late-winter atmosphere on India’s east coast, epitomized the clash between these contrasting forces.
Ultimately, conventional wisdom and regional expectations triumphed over innovative strategies.
To be fair, chasing 332 runs on the fourth day of a Test match in India is a formidable task.
Despite this, Shubman Gill’s optimism on the eve of Day 3 stemmed from a combination of factors: the allure of aggressive batting, England’s recent successes, and the manageable condition of the Vizag pitch, which, aside from a few cracks, had not deteriorated beyond playability.
While the outcome may have seemed predictable—India securing victory by over a 100-run margin—the narrative took a slightly different turn as England held onto hope until the very end.
Bumrah was always anticipated to be England’s primary threat at the start of the day, especially with the morning moisture favoring seam bowling.
However, England navigated through his initial burst unscathed.
Interestingly, India paired him with Axar Patel, aiming to play defensively from the other end.
Night watchman Rehan Ahmed managed to score a couple of boundaries off Bumrah, and after half an hour of play, England stood at 95/1, cruising comfortably.
Although Rehan fell victim to an unpredictable delivery, his brisk 23 set the tone for the chase.
Yet, Indian bowlers, particularly Ashwin and Bumrah, are a formidable force on home turf.
Ashwin, despite a lackluster start to the Test, returned to form with a crucial wicket late on Day 3, reestablishing his dominance, especially with his ability to extract bounce, a key factor that had been missing in Hyderabad.
And it took a surface like this to fully exploit Ashwin’s repertoire.
Unlike the typical fourth-day wicket at home, there wasn’t as much turn, and England’s aggressive approach had forced India to deploy fewer fielders around the bat.
Thus, Ashwin relied on his other skills: flight, dip, and bounce.
While it may not have delivered the same fireworks as some of his previous performances, it was still intriguing to witness batsmen of Ollie Pope and Joe Root’s caliber cautiously playing forward in defense, albeit with enough room between their bat and the pitching spot.
The dip particularly troubled Root, causing him to misjudge the line, while Pope fell victim to an edge brilliantly caught by Rohit Sharma at slip.
Root and Pope collectively faced only 31 balls, managing to score 39 runs, primarily through boundaries.
Later in the day, as Crawley, Ben Foakes, and even Tom Hartley showed, there was an opportunity for England to slightly adjust their approach, exercising restraint on a day where the task seemed less daunting after initially troubling India.
Once Ashwin found his rhythm, England found themselves under pressure, especially with the looming threat of Jasprit Bumrah with the old ball.
It reiterated the fundamental truth of Test cricket: matches are often won by teams with a deep and penetrative bowling attack.
However, credit must be given to England for their resilience in the face of adversity.
It showcased the leadership qualities of players like Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, who instill a steely resolve in their teams, defying the odds.
It’s been over a decade since a visiting team has compelled an Indian captain to adopt such defensive field settings, highlighting England’s tenacity and adaptability.
As we look ahead to Rajkot, it presents another opportunity to shape the narrative of this finely balanced series, with both teams vying for supremacy.
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