Jadeja lights up Oval to keep India in hunt

FIFTH TEST Allrounder puts on 77 runs with Hanuma Vihari for seventh wicket

is the best among current players in the world. He had a Ranji triple century last season, a solid 183 in the Irani Cup and had down well on India’s tour of England earlier this summer. Besides, he had played in the Essex first-class league for two years. Experience is vital in English conditions and Vihari showed it once the early nerves settled. He had twice come close to being leg-before when he joined Kohli overnight and then top-edged Ben Stokes twice, for a six and four. But Sunday morning was different. He played late and with soft hands to negotiate Stuart Broad and James Anderson and raised a 77-run partnership with Jadeja.

Vihari initially played to the leg-side, but stretched well forward or played back — his strength — and showed he wasn’t averse to playing shots either, thumping cover drives off Broad and Stokes and a slog sweep against Moeen Ali standing out.

MOEEN EFFECT

In the end, Moeen Ali’s flight and drift and getting one to straighten got a feather touch as he played forward, but Vihari left promising a lot more. Jadeja played a big role at the other end, rotating the strike and scoring at every opportunity.

The 29-year-old took four wickets and his ninth half-century only underlined his determination to seal a regular allrounder’s spot in the eleven, at least give the team management a selection headache. When he cut Moeen to point for four to get to his half-century, the sword routine was out. And a tap on the chest showed the old swagger was back.