England at the cusp of a thrilling win as they need 119 more to win the 5th Test against India

[MenInG]

Stumps, Day Three - India 125-3, lead England by 257 (Pant 30no, Pujara 50no)

England have comeback from tricky positions already this summer and will need to do so again at Edgbaston with India well on top in the rescheduled fifth Test.

But the fact remains that India are favourites to win this game and also the series...

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[Titan24]

Eng need to get the remaining 7 wickets in next 100 runs or so at max to give themselves some sort of a chance. Otherwise series is looking done and dusted.

 

[Robert]

Looks like India are beating England at their own game (top order failure, thumping middle order counterattack).

There are a few issues that England got away with against the Kiwis (weak top order, creaky opening bowlers, injury crisis) which better sides like India will expose.

 

[dravidthewall]

India need to score another 150 runs with remaining 7 wickets and set target 400 for England. Any score less than 400 england fancy their chance to chase it. Root bairstow ,stokes are in good form and go after the chase as they have to win this match

 

[boomboomcheema]

Don't think England have a way back into this Test Match. They had their opportunity when India were 98-5 but blew it away . Later their top order didn't contribute anything due to which they are trailing by around 150 runs.

Don't see how England can be contenders in this match again, they have squandered away too many opportunities.

 

[MP2011]

Pujara playing some strokes this morning.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Opening with Joe root is something different they are trying. Obviously want to dangle the carrot to Rishabh to try and hit it over long on or something similar. Good that he resisted the temptation, at least till now.

 

[MP2011]

What a square cut from Pant!

 

[Ab Fan]

England need to get Pant out ASAP. Root can control Pant but unless Pant loses his temper and throws his wicket away, I don't think Root is a wicket taking option.

 

[Ab Fan]

England should try their main pacers, no point resting them. The game will drift from their hands in next 2 hours if they don't pick 3-4 more wickets till lunch.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Highest 4th innings score at Edgbaston is 283/5 when Saffers chased and won back in 2008.

But this English team looks like they can break any chasing record. India needs to be conservative and rule out any chance of an England win first.

 

[Devadwal]

Pujara throw it away ,England back in this game

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

C'mon Shreyas - a good chance to go big and cement ur spot. Go Lad!

 

[MP2011]

Lead is 300 now

 

[RamLakhan]

Pant looks like an Australian batsman while playing short balls, excellent with cuts and pulls!

 

[Moeey]

Pant looks like an Australian batsman while playing short balls, excellent with cuts and pulls!

Him being a shortie also helps. Almost all balls reach his chest. So he is used to it. Now look at iyer who looks 6 feet, he finds it much harder to face short ball.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

England is toast. Lead is over 300 and India still got 6 more wickets left. I want Bairstow to prove me wrong, but I reckon he isn't chasing down India's final total this time. India's bowling is far too good.

 

[James]

Big England loss coming up. The pitch is actually decent for batting still, but the scoreboard pressure and the quality pack bowling from India will be too much. Hopefully someone on the English side can get an exciting century to give the crowd something to enjoy.

 

[MP2011]

50 for Pant.

 

[dravidthewall]

50 for pant. Another masterclass innings

 

[MP2011]

Iyer gone. Not test standard.

 

[dravidthewall]

India folding. Iyer gone

 

[Varun]

Poor shot from Iyer.

I feel we need 400 minimum.

 

[RamLakhan]

They will get there. I expect beefy to put up a show today!

 

[Ab Fan]

Iyer gone. Not test standard.

Doesnt have the right balance while playing shots. One two many. Needs to improve the basics. This is a trundler attack. He will get to face bouncers from bowlers of 140+ pace in future and that would be even more harder to deal.

 

[MP2011]

What a shot from Pant, lol!

 

[MP2011]

Doesnt have the right balance while playing shots. One two many. Needs to improve the basics. This is a trundler attack. He will get to face bouncers from bowlers of 140+ pace in future and that would be even more harder to deal.

Yeah. I've noticed even his bat rotates quite a few times when he plays his shots. Means he is not in control while playing his shots.

 

[James]

Leach gets Pant. Surprised tbh. Got to note the captaincy decision from Stokes to keep backing Jack to get him out.

 

[MP2011]

Pant gone courtesy an ill timed reverse sweep.

 

[MP2011]

Only Pant can get himself out.

 

[Varun]

Have a bad feeling about this.

Hope it's not a repeat of South Africa.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

What a shot by pant to get out.
pitch looks flat and if bairstow root and stokes start bazooka bazball - need at least 50 more
Eng's gr8 chance to run thru us.
Cmon lord & Jads...

 

[Rajdeep]

How much can England chase here?

 

[RamLakhan]

What a shot by pant to get out.
pitch looks flat and if bairstow root and stokes start bazooka bazball - need at least 50 more
Eng's gr8 chance to run thru us.
Cmon lord & Jads...

India have got enough, don't worry. And the pitch is not flat...

 

[Ab Fan]

What a shot by pant to get out.
pitch looks flat and if bairstow root and stokes start bazooka bazball - need at least 50 more
Eng's gr8 chance to run thru us.
Cmon lord & Jads...

What is bazooka bazball now?

 

[James]

How much can England chase here?

This is a not dissimilar standard of Indian bowling unit to the Australian attack that England scored 362/9 against to win a Test match in 2019. So with a ~10% margin on that, the absolute maximum gettable total IMO would be 400.

India will be overwhelming favourites to win the Test match though, and if they set 450 for example that would be practically impossible for England to get.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

What is bazooka bazball now?

Close your eyes and swing for the tall timber ....having talent in spades like those three helps generally ..

 

[Deewana Mastana]

India have a strong grip but should look to step up the run rate as to get as many as possible with the forecast not being ideal either. Not sure with the blockage going on right now by Jadeja and Thakur though.

England wasted a golden opportunity with the bat as they should have got 350 in the first inns.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

India have a strong grip but should look to step up the run rate as to get as many as possible with the forecast not being ideal either. Not sure with the blockage going on right now by Jadeja and Thakur though.

England wasted a golden opportunity with the bat as they should have got 350 in the first inns.

I think they r playing for lunch. After lunch interval we might get to see fast scoring.

 

[MP2011]

Thakur all at sea, showing how vulnerable he is against this kind of bowling.

 

[James]

England wasted a golden opportunity with the bat as they should have got 350 in the first inns.

England messed up quite a few things in the first innings tbh. They should not have conceded more than 385 runs and they should have scored at least 300 of their own. That would have reduced the deficit considerably and made this impending target legitimately gettable. As it is, this one is now a real longshot for England.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Good to see the Eng boys go up to Shardul and check on his wellbeing. So often in the imagery of being the tough guy, this human aspect goes ignored.
Good spirits

 

[Deewana Mastana]

I think they r playing for lunch. After lunch interval we might get to see fast scoring.

Every session is important as the forcast isn't ideal and if that means taking time out of the game I suppose India would be the happier side than England as India wins the series.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England messed up quite a few things in the first innings tbh. They should not have conceded more than 385 runs and they should have scored at least 300 of their own. That would have reduced the deficit considerably and made this impending target legitimately gettable. As it is, this one is now a real longshot for England.

Yep that's right James.

England messed up as I said earlier Bairstow should have cracked on from the 100 and set up a big partnership with Billings as that was what they needed and could have got 350 perhaps.

 

[MenInG]

The Pant dismissal

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[Kroll]

Out

 

[MP2011]

Thakur gone.

 

[MP2011]

So far Thakur has failed in 3/3 innings of this test match.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Thakur wasted the balls could have got 20 runs at least.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England's only chance is to keep them to 400 or under if they want to have a crack at this.

 

[Kroll]

I feel that around 350, England would fancy their chances, it might still be around that with only 3 more wickets to get.

Certainly, you don't wan them going for a world record chase. With Jadeja still there, India could still pose a 380 target.

 

[MP2011]

So much deadwood we are carrying in this XI.

 

[Kroll]

England will need to get some solid partnerships from the top 3, they just can't leave it all to Root, Bairstow and Stokes.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Oh Jimmy!

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England's top 3 are shaky that will be the concern for England.

 

[Kroll]

Looks like its going to be way more than 350, Eng will have their work cut out.

 

[Ab Fan]

Very poor batting by young Indian batters- Gill, Vihari and Shreyas. Made no contribution in this game.

All hopes on Jadeja now to score a 50 and get the lead past 400.

 

[MP2011]

Lead is 350 runs now.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Lead 350 now.

 

[Devadwal]

Need somehow another 40 runs

 

[Kroll]

Already uncomfortable territory for Eng, unlike the 250+ chases they got with ease vs NZ but India's bowling attack is also stronger.

 

[Ab Fan]

India should play Ravindra Jadeja at 6, Washington Sundar at 7, Hardik Pandya at 8( if he is bowling or else Shardul only) and three pacers - Bumrah, Shami and Siraj/Prasidh.

Pandya plays short bowl better than Iyer.

My XI for India in tests :-

Rohit
Rahul
Pujara( with Gill keeping him on toes for performance)
Kohli
Pant(wkt)
Jadeja
Pandya
Washington
Siraj
Shami
Bumrah

 

[style_guru]

It's spinning sharply now. Will be interesting to see how England tackle that. Too bad Ash isn't playing or else India's chances would've got a boost for sure.
Anything above 380 won't be easy even for this dynamic English side.

 

[Ab Fan]

If it is spinning a bit, Jadeja will have a role to play with the bowl too. He needs an all round performance to put his contention in test cricket and this could be his best chance now in a decider.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Forget about chasing the total, I would be surprised if England crosses 200. This pitch is good to bat on but by no means flat. And English batting is one of the worst in the world (disregarding Bairstow and Root)

India should win by more than 150 runs

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Shastri: England need something special
Ravi Shastri, talking to Sky Sports...

"India are in a fabulous position. They would have said 350 minimum and anything else is a bonus. Chasing over 350 on a fourth-day, fifth-day track is never easy with a spinner in play. There is rough outside the left-hander’s off stump and Jadeja is surely going to use that. It won’t be easy one bit for England. With that up-and-down bounce as well, it will need something special from England."

 

[Varun]

If it is spinning a bit, Jadeja will have a role to play with the bowl too. He needs an all round performance to put his contention in test cricket and this could be his best chance now in a decider.

Jadeja doesn't need to "put his contention" anymore. He is already a legend.

 

[dravidthewall]

still 70 overs left for today. Lot of overs today and tomorrow 98 overs. Definitely we will get result either india win or england win. Draw is out of equation

 

[Deewana Mastana]

India playing for time and lost 9 wickets now

 

[James]

England have done well today.

 

[Manunited18]

If England can get to 180-2 [MENTION=33823]Close[/MENTION] of play today then it could be set up perfectly for tomorrow.

 

[MP2011]

We've got a really poor batting lineup.

 

[MenInG]

WICKET! Jadeja b Stokes 23 – India 236-9

The captain redeems himself!

After that missed review opportunity a couple of overs ago, Stokes takes matters into his own hands and gets the key wicket of Jadeja.

The India batter was attempting to cut the ball, but was cramped for room and only succeeded in chopping onto his own stumps.

Just one more needed for England, and we could be in for another thrilling chase!

There's also a little celebratory dance from Stokes - not sure we've seen that one before.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Bumrah needs to hit out now.

 

[Varun]

6 and out from Bumrah.

378 to win for England.

 

[MP2011]

England needs 378 runs to win this test and square the series.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England need 378, Stokes takes 4.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England would possibly face 50 overs today.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

England can easily win this. Very poor batting by ts in the 2nd innings . Couldnt bat time or score runs.