England v India SWING IS INDAY THE AIR
CRICKET Jimmy and Ben put India on the rack Jos: we look like winners
HOT tempers and high-quality swing proved too much for India to handle at The Oval as Jimmy Anderson and then Ben Stokes left them on the ropes in the fifth and final Test.
Anderson is now long odds-on to finish this Test as the leading fast bowler of all time after taking two wickets and moving to within another two of Aussie Glenn Mcgrath’s record of 563 victims.
There is also every likelihood he will end it with an ICC rap and a few pounds docked from his match fee after giving umpire Kumar Dharmasena a mouthful in pursuit of the prize wicket of Virat Kohli.
If the big one eluded him yet again – the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane proved ample compensation – Stokes (below) slotted in behind his heat trail, got steamed up himself by Test debutant Hanuma Vihari then claimed India’s talisman in a double-wicket burst.
Clashed
Stokes’ final spell, in which he clashed with Vihari after the rookie top-edged him for six and four, effectively derailed a chase which saw the tourists limp to the close at 174-6, still 158 adrift of England’s 332 all out.
Kohli has caused more problems than any other batsman in this series with 593 runs, and looked on his way to another significant contribution when he drove loosely at Stokes on 49 and edged to Joe Root.
The value on Kohli’s wicket was demonstrated clearly in a passage of play during which Anderson lost his rag early in the final session.
England’s leading wicket-taker – now the leading wicket-taker of all time against India with 107 – thought he had his man lbw when he was on 16, getting one to swing back in late.
However Dharmasena kept his finger in his pocket and his judgement was vindicated with umpire’s call on impact just going in favour of his original call. At the end of the over Anderson let him know what he thought, a volley which saw his skipper Root called in and spoken to by the official.
“It was probably a couple of words and that’s about it,” said Jos Buttler.
“Virat is one of the best players in the world, if not the best at the minute, and Jimmy is England greatestever bowler. The two of them are immensely competitive and have had a great duel all the way through the series. But I think Jimmy has been particularly unlucky.”
Dissent
Match referee Andy Pycroft might not take the same line and will surely be inclined to make a further point with a Level 1 offence for dissent and a portion of Anderson’s fee retained. India may have sat in their dressing room shell-shocked but the brilliance of Buttler with 89 on his 28th birthday, another furious wag of England’s tail and a tired display from their own bowlers would be a fair place to start the postmortem. England could not have dreamed they would climb past 300 when they walked out seven down and never more so than when Adil Rashid was pinned lbw by Jasprit Bumrah for just 15. But India have been frustrated by England’s tail throughout this series.
Equally, it has been India’s achilles heel – failing to convert promising positions at seven down with partnerships in the 30s for the eighth wicket, a 41, 50 and 63 for the ninth and even a 33 stand added for the final wicket at Trent Bridge.
And with India’s fast bowling unit aiming just 12 per cent of deliveries at the stumps, England tired them. Yesterday’s resistance from Buttler and Stuart Broad, adding 98 for the ninth wicket, shifted the hosts back into the driving seat.
BJOS BUTTLER said England have put themselves in pole position to secure victory in the Fifth Test and wrap up a 4-1 series win against India.
The batsman marked his 28th birthday with a counter-attacking 89 as England posted 332 all out before Jimmy Anderson and Ben Stokes broke open an India reply which closed on 174-6.
Anderson moved to within two wickets of Glenn Mcgrath’s all-time fast bowling record of 563.
It was a turnaround that put England in charge according to Buttler.
He said: “The lead at the moment is quite healthy, and I hope if we can back up the performance, we can be in a really strong position on day three.”
Buttler praised England’s tail with Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad and Anderson helping him to drag their total from 198-7 to 332.
“We spoke about 50 runs, that’s what we were targeting but I thought the guys worked really well in partnerships,” he added.
“Rashid’s got a lot of talent with the bat and Broady has scored some vital runs for England over his career as well.
“Overall, we managed to get a really good partnership to gain a good first innings score.”