DAY 4 PREVIEW
Follow UsIt was a day filled with entertainment. Jonny Bairstow was kept quiet by Indian bowlers, until Virat Kohli had a word with him. From that point, Bairstow who was on 13 off 61 balls, scored 93 runs in the next 79 balls. Another blazing century helped England cut the deficit to 132.
India in reply, lost Shubman Gill early in the first over and Hanuma Vihari also failed to contribute. As for Virat Kohli, he was looking good. Unfortunately, he got a ball that bumped unevenly off a length, to take the glove back to the keeper, who shelled it. However, Joe Root at first slip was aware to take the catch.
There on, the duo of Pujara and Pant, made sure India didn’t suffer any calamities further. At the end of Day 3, India have a commendable lead of 257 runs. However, in recent times, England’s approach in Test cricket has changed a lot, which makes a team think twice as to what could be a substantial target?
Despite being in the driver’s seat, India need a minimum of 400+ target if they have to win this Test. The “Baz-ball” approach is a double-edged sword, you live by it or die by it. So far, they have had enormous success.
In the New Zealand series, England chased 270+ targets in all three matches. The most notable aspect in their chase was their run rate. In all the three chases, they had a run rate of over 3.5. To emboss more, their last two chases (299 at Trent Bridge & 296 at Headingley) came at a run rate of over five runs per over. Despite the advantage for teams batting first at Edgbaston in Tests since 2015, this is one of the reasons why Stokes preferred chasing.
India bank on Pujara and Pant
Regardless of that, a lot of onus is on this pair of Pujara and Pant. They have bailed India out from difficult situations, and Day 3 was an example of it. While batting in away conditions, the duo have posted over 450 runs at a healthy average of 66.4. This unbeaten half-century partnership is their fourth successive 50+ stand in away Tests and fifth overall.
Individually, the two have been good in their own terms. Pujara hasn’t been at his best in recent times, but his numbers in the second innings have been top notch. While he averages 17.5 in the first innings since 2021, the average witnesses a massive spike to 44.3 in the second innings. This series, in the second innings, this is his third successive 50+ score.
On the other hand, Pant in the last Test of a series has scored close to 1000 runs at an average of 92.9. In fact, all his five centuries have come in the last Test of a series (one-off Tests not included).
India needs to evade the first session dangers
In away Tests since 2021, India’s first session record isn’t a bright one, to be precise, horrendous on the fourth day of a Test. Overall, in the first session, Indian batters have lost a wicket every 25.8 runs and 60 balls, still better than second session numbers (25 and 49.3). However, in the first leg of this series, they had lost 36 wickets at an average of 22.8 and balls/wicket ratio of 54.7.
Even worse, in the first session of the fourth day of an away Test, India lost 16 wickets at a paltry average of 15.1 and balls/wicket ratio of 36.2. This is their worst hit session across the days and sessions of a Test.
What targets are achieved at Edgbaston?
India with a 257-run lead and seven wickets in hand are already at an advantage. At this ground as well, only once has a team chased a target of 250+. South Africa against the hosts in 2008, chased 282 to win, which is the highest target chased. In fact, only two targets of 200+ have been chased at this venue.
But, England under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, fancy chasing any target and the New Zealand series was a testimony of it. Moreover, in 2022, India have failed to defend two targets of over 200 in back-to-back matches against South Africa in their backyard.
The good part is, towards the business end of the Test match, there is no rain expected. On both the remaining days, in none of the hours of play, precipitation is more than 10 percent. All-in-all, buckle up for an action packed Test.
