DAY 3 PREVIEW
Follow UsOn a rain-marred day, India took the honours. From their overnight score of 338/7, they piled on 78 runs to take the tally to 416. All thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s third and first away Test century. Not to forget the record-breaking 84th over by Jasprit Bumrah against Stuart Broad.
After a stop-start day, England are five down for 84 with captain Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow at the crease. Unlike in the series against New Zealand, England batters have been kept quiet with some exceptional bowling. Especially Bairstow, who went after New Zealand bowlers from the word go. To justify this, Bairstow had a strike rate of 106.7 in his first 50 balls. Whereas, he has a strike rate of 25 this innings.
Stokes and Bairstow under pressure again
In recent times, there have been very few occasions of Joe Root failing. In those difficult times, Bairstow and Stokes have stepped into the act. In Tests since 2021, the Bairstow-Stokes partnership has stitched 568 runs at an average of 56.8. The pair have hoisted two century and one half-century stand. The most notable aspect of their partnership is the run rate of 4.1. In this period, among partners who have scored 500+ runs, no pair has scored at a better pace.
There is a reason for the pair to be called the crisis duo. In the aforementioned time, all their three 50+ stands came for the fifth wicket when their team was four down for less than 100. Their highest partnership of 179 against New Zealand, came when they were 93/4 and their other century partnership came against Australia when they were 36/4. So, don’t count them out. In fact, four of the five century partnerships between the two in Tests have come when their team’s score was less than 100. Can they do it again?
Sixth and seventh partnership highs
Another encouraging sight for England is their sixth and seventh wicket partnerships have been better than any of the top order stands. In the year 2022, England’s sixth and seventh wicket have put on 1000+ runs at a healthy average of 43.45. They have had three century and four half-century partnerships.
In comparison, the first two wickets have averaged 31.32 with two century and four half-century partnerships. Whereas, the third, fourth and fifth wickets have averaged 40.3.
A difficult batting day
However, England batters have an obstacle in front of them. The Edgbaston venue that has been conducive for batting in the first two days, has been a graveyard on the third day.
In Tests since 2016, prior to this match, on the first and the second day, teams had scored 35.6 and 40.8 runs per wicket. In terms of balls per wicket, the first day had seen a wicket fall every 66.9 balls and 82.6 on the second. But, on the third day, a wicket has fallen every 19 runs and 37.3 balls. Only on the fifth day, the ratios have been poorer (16.7 runs/wicket and 34.5 balls/wicket), as is the case with most venues. England, already under pressure, need something special from either Bairstow or Stokes, but preferably both.
To mount more pressure on England, in Tests since 2015, when India have scored 300+ while batting first (1st innings of the match), they haven’t lost a single match. In 30 matches prior to this, they have won 26 and drawn four. In this period, India are the only team to be undefeated after scoring 300+ in five or more matches.
Well, it all comes down to the weather. Day 2 didn’t see much play because of intermediate rain interruptions. On the most crucial day of the Test, the chances of rain persist. However, not as intense as it was on Day 2. In none of the hours, the perception percentage is above 30 percent. Sometimes gloomy and sometimes sunny, the predicted weather for Day 3 (Sunday).
