Subhayan Chakraborty in London
England’s hopes of clinching the fifth Test at The Oval took a significant hit on Day 2 as three dropped catches in the first 15 overs of India’s second innings allowed the visitors to seize control. India ended the day with a 52-run lead and eight wickets in hand on a lively pitch, with young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal capitalising on England’s fielding lapses, scoring an unbeaten 51.
Jaiswal, well capable of turning games, was dropped twice, first on 20 by Harry Brook at second slip and then on 40 by substitute fielder Liam Dawson at long leg. Additionally, Zak Crawley spilled a chance off Sai Sudharsan at third slip when the batter was on 7. While Sudharsan’s reprieve proved less costly, falling for 11 before the stumps, Jaiswal’s explosive batting threatens to prove decisive in this low-scoring contest.
The drop by Dawson, standing in for the injured Chris Woakes, was particularly glaring. Jaiswal hooked a delivery from Josh Tongue straight to Dawson, who remained stationary but lost sight of the ball, possibly in the sunlight or floodlights, with his sunglasses perched unused on his cap. Brook and Crawley’s drops in the slips were genuine chances, adding to England’s frustration.
“We’re always frustrated when you miss opportunities,” said Marcus Trescothick in the post-match press conference. “Of course, we pride ourselves on being very good in those sorts of areas, but it just didn’t happen. We all know how important they are, and we all know how tough catches can be—especially in the slips—so [we are] disappointed, but it is what it is.”
England’s fielding struggles are not new in this series, having dropped 15 catches in the series so far. Last week in Manchester, similar errors proved costly, with Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja reprieved en route to match-defining centuries. Trescothick dismissed suggestions that physical or mental fatigue contributed to the dropped catches. “I don’t think that’ll be anything to do with it,” he insisted. “It just happens over the course of some days and some games. It’s just the game, as we see it.”
While India’s disciplined bowling performance provided some excuse for England’s batting collapse, their fielding errors offered no such mitigation. After a dominant morning session, England’s performance waned as the day progressed, with their catching woes tilting the balance in India’s favour. Despite an improved bowling effort compared to their erratic first-innings display, the dropped catches, particularly Jaiswal’s, could prove to be the defining moment of the match.
With India’s lead still manageable and two top-order wickets taken by the close, the situation is not yet dire for England. With a crucial Day 3 coming up at The Oval, the series decider with all its ups and downs seems like a gripping conclusion to this fiercely contested series.
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