BUTT YES WE CAN WIN IT!
Jos has put England in sight of victory
JOS BUTTLER was the man they said was only good for hit-and-giggle one-day cricket. He was a batsman too loose and too fancy-dan for the Test arena. He did not have the technique or the patience for mighty struggle.
How wrong the cynics and sceptics have proved to be in this captivating summer.
England’s most destructive batsman showed yesterday he could also be the most determined and dogged as he played a marvellously old-fashioned innings to make his team favourites to win this Fourth Test against India and with it the series.
The sun-drenched crowd at the Ageas Bowl revelled in the brilliance of Buttler as so many of his team-mates once again flattered to deceive.
He conjured an invaluable knock of 69 as England finished the third day on 260-8 --- a lead of 233 runs already.
In a low-scoring match of compelling twists and turns this is a mighty advantage, especially with a wearing pitch. India have never scored more than 194 in the last innings to win a Test here.
It was all a far cry from a messy morning when Alastair Cook was out for another low score, making just 12, caught in the slips by a juggling catch by KL Rahul.
Out to the crease strode Moeen Ali rather than England captain Joe Root at No.3, a curious and perhaps desperate experiment in the middle of a Test match.
Moeen had been down at No.7 in the order in the first innings, where he had flourished, vindicating the comment of Root before the match when he said: “That is where we feel we get the best from him.”
Suddenly, Moeen was up the order – allowing Root to retreat to his preferred No.4 spot.
Chaos? Creative thinking? Making it up as you go along? Take your pick.
India sensed weakness from England at the move. Their captain Virat Kohli laughed as Moeen walked out and chirped endlessly at Root when the England captain batted.
It was surely as unfair on Moeen as had been the unjust axing of Sam Curran for the previous Test. The frayed thinking of England is a huge concern.
Certainly, the only way to justify this gamble was for it to work. It didn’t.
Moeen scrambled an uncomfortable nine runs before edging Ishant Sharma to second slip, a low catch by Rahul confirmed after
video review. Root was in now anyway with the score at 33-2, to join under-pressure opener Keaton Jennings.
The latter batted solidly for 36 before a low skidder from Mohammed Shami trapped him lbw on the last ball before lunch.
The next delivery, fast after the interval, saw the exit of Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck as he attempted an instant booming drive.
It was pure cricket folly when the match was so tight and tense.
Bairstow was selected despite having a hairline fracture of a finger. Was the injury playing on his mind? Will England think again about his place in the side for the Fifth Test?
In the heat of the afternoon sun it was a fierce battle for advantage – with superb bowling from India confronted by gritted-teeth English batting from Root and Ben Stokes.
Only 60 runs were scored between lunch and tea. But only two wickets fell. The second was a horror moment for England when Stokes called a sharp single and Root was run out on 48 by a direct hit throw from Shami.
Buttler joined the fray, and relished the titanic struggle in a half-century partnership with Stokes who was eventually outwitted by sharp turn from Ravi Ashwin after a patient knock of 30.
England’s keeper was the one batsman who displayed fluency with his strokes – a majestic clip through mid-wicket fizzed to the boundary in the blink of an eye.
He reached his 50 with a commanding drive through extra cover – and over by over of graft and class common sense from Buttler led his side into a position of far more strength than when Root departed with the score at 122-5.
Sam Curran was a willing and able lieutenant after tea, once again emphasising his Test match credentials as the pair increased the scoring rate until India took the new ball.
Buttler was trapped lbw by Sharma for his 69 but Curran was still there on 37 not out at close of play.
But the Lancashire man remained optimistic, he said: “We can definitely bowl India out for under 250.
“There is wear and tear on the wicket and rough outside the off stump. That is encouraging for Moeen and Adil Rashid.”
But India star Cheteshwar Pujara predicted another outcome. He said: “I think we will bowl England out early in the morning and then bat well. We know what we need to do.”