Bat king Kohli is
ENGLAND will approach this morning with a simple equation in their heads – get Virat Kohli, win the match.
A day after the India captain left the field following a two-toned 149, an innings built with grit but ultimately beautifully finished off, he left unbeaten on 43 and with India’s fate seemingly in his hands.
At 110-5, India need another 84 runs for victory, while England need to chip out five wickets.
But it is the wicket of India captain that is key.
While a fifth day will not be needed to decide this match, those who have populated the the AT EDGBASTON stands on days one to three have little cause to complain about value for money.
Following on from a masterclass from Kohli on Thursday, yesterday they saw an England collapse in the face of some superb swing bowling from Ishant Sharma, a heroic rearguard from Sam Curran and then watched unblinking as England’s seam attack strained sinew to reduce India to five down at the close.
Stuart Broad, who claimed the wickets of both openers to start the ball rolling, then Jimmy Anderson, Ben Stokes and Curran with one apiece all contributed as England made India battle for every run in 36 utterly compelling overs.
But the sight of Kohli walking purposefully from the middle with Dinesh Karthik and a job half done was not what England wanted.
England players often reach for the verbal flat bat of the “big first hour” in answer to tricky situations but never have the words seemed more appropriate.
And if Anderson admitted yesterday that Kohli had taken the first battle in the renewal of a series-long war on Thursday when repelling his best efforts, re-engagement today will be gripping. England will hope that atmospherics and a good night’s sleep will help out.
That the match was still alive last night owed plenty not only to Dawid Malan’s drop of Kohli on Thursday, which he will need no reminding cost England more than 100 runs and kept India in the game, but to the spirit shown by Curran.
If his bowling in the first innings was a revelation as he rattled through four India batsmen, his work with the bat yesterday morning allowed England to post a target that at least put doubt in the away dressing room.
Alec Stewart, the director of cricket at Surrey, has gone on record as saying he thought Curran would end up as a