We just have to give it our all
Physio Craig’s unlucky break
batting all-rounder and, judging by the way he took on a swarming India attack, he may be right.
Curran had come to the wicket at 80-6 after Stokes had followed Jonny Bairstow and Malan into the final column of Sharma’s analysis just before lunch.
When Jos Buttler followed them – becoming the fourth in 17 balls and third in an over given Stokes’ dismissal came with the last ball before lunch – it is fair to say hopes were not high around the ground.
Fortunately, Curran had more belief in his own skills than most and steadily, first with Adil Rashid for company then Broad, provided a boost to a sagging atmosphere. Against the backdrop of a Hollies Stand cheering every run – defiance on the gallows fuelled by lunchtime bars – England built steadily at first from 87-7 to bring up the hundred and then pushed on.
The pair had moments of good fortune, most notably when Shikhar Dhawan spilled a chance to dismiss Rashid on 13, the opener put off by Karthik diving across him but still nearly catching a rebound as the ball dribbled over his shoulder to the grass.
And while Rashid only added a further three runs before he was comprehensively castled by Umesh Yadav, it was not before the pair had nudged the score on to 135. It was a partnership worth 48. Curran then reached his half-century with a dismissive slap for six over extra cover off Sharma, which brought Edgbaston to its feet.
But he had brought them nicely to the boil, launching Ravi Ashwin for a straight six and then four before confidently taking a single and the strike when Kohli pushed back his field.
Sharma, who had taken none too kindly to the bruise to otherwise excellent figures (still impressive at 5-51), suffered a bit more as Broad and Curran added another 41 runs for the ninth wicket.
It was a superb effort from a 20-year-old and one that helped set up what should be a huge first hour today. ENGLAND team physio Craig de Weymarn had emergency surgery on a broken jaw yesterday after being struck by a ball when giving throw-downs to Ben Stokes.
The popular member of England’s backroom staff suffered the blow before play when the all-rounder hit back an underarm practice throw from just five yards.
The incident left Stokes “shaken” according to an England spokesman, who later confirmed that De Weymarn had undergone surgery and was to be kept in hospital overnight.
It is the second accident this year involving backroom staff after team press officer Danny Reuben suffered a fractured eye socket when struck by a throw from Tom Curran in New Zealand in February. five wickets quickly otherwise they will get the runs. We have to leave nothing out there in the first 15 or 20 overs. We have to give everything we’ve got, which is a really exciting place to be.”
After losing two wickets to Stuart Broad, and one apiece to Anderson, Ben Stokes and Sam Curran, India need to reach 194 for victory – a run chase which would be their biggest ever in England, eclipsing the 174 they hunted down at the Oval in 1971.
Kohli was unbeaten on 43 at the close, with Dinesh Karthik (18no), with the India captain looking key.
Anderson lamented England’s poor slip fielding– they could have removed Kohli in the first innings on 21 only for him to hit 149.
“On another day I could have got him out for 20 and we wouldn’t be talking about how brilliant he is. But that’s not the case. That is what has made this Test so exciting and also frustrating at times,” he said. “It has been great the way the momentum has shifted and it has been Test cricket at its best.”
Anderson was equally impressed with the contribution from Curran, who followed up his four first-innings wickets with a half-century to keep England in the match.
Anderson said: “He is a really impressive lad. I remember me as a 20-year-old and I didn’t know what was going on but he has been around quite a bit and his skills are brilliant. He knows just how to set up batsmen with the ball and he has the ability to be a top-six batsman.
“To show the guts and determination he did to get the team back into the match when it looked like we were down and out was brilliant to see from a young lad.”