Follow UsNeeding just seven more wickets to win with 536 runs left to defend, India are on the cusp of levelling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 1-1 following a difficult loss in the first Test in Leeds.
However, the path to victory looked not-so-clear just 90 minutes before stumps on day four, with India, puzzlingly enough, batting on even after stretching the lead beyond 600. Not many expected the visitors to bat on after setting a target of 550, but they batted 83 overs and scored 427/6, leaving the declaration very late to set England a target of 608.
Considering the hosts are three down, not many are questioning the declaration now, but why did India bat till the very last session of day four?
"We did speak about it [timing of declaration] a lot during the day. It's still a good wicket, even our boys were batting quite comfortably there towards the back end. They were batting at 4-5 runs an over,” bowling coach Morne Morkel explained after day four.
"You can't control the weather. It was about getting ourselves into a comfortable position and having 20-25 overs at them tonight to take a few wickets. We got that, which is a bonus for us.”
Walking away with a draw after thoroughly dominating the game for so long would be brutal for India, but Morkel believes there’s enough out there on the wicket for his side to bowl out England cheaply and win the second Test.
“We saw today that if you get the ball in the right areas, there's some assistance. We just need to be on the money tomorrow,” Morkel said.
With 536 runs needed and with just seven wickets in hand, a win is practically out of England’s hands. However, Morkel asserted that he expects England and Harry Brook to start day five with the thought of going for the win.
“Harry Brook likes to take the game on and he’s an entertainer,” Morkel said.
“That’s a brand of cricket they want to play. They probably might have a go for a while and then reassess.”