Shamik Chakrabarty
By 6.05 pm local time on Sunday the sun was out in south London. By then, however, the match officials had decided to bring down the curtain on the fourth day’s play of the Oval Test. It felt like a hastily taken decision, for there was still an hour to manoeuvre. Stuart Broad, the former England fast bowler, wasn’t impressed.
“Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?” Broad posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The pitch suddenly became lively in the final session on Day 4. The ball was moving, in the air and off the deck. Mohammed Siraj, the ultimate Trojan, was straining every sinew. Prasidh Krishna took the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root from the other end. England became jittery. Even the ever-reliable Jamie Smith was playing and missing, and getting beaten to the incoming deliveries. Another wicket looked just around the corner. The second new ball was due in four over. The stump mic caught Siraj saying: “Believe.”
India had the psychological upper hand when bad light stopped play. Yes, it allowed the Indian fast bowlers a breather, who could come refreshed on the fifth morning. But the hosts needed the break more than their rivals, to regroup. Also, the game going to the fifth day allowed England the advantage of using the heavy roller before the start of play. It neutralised the Day 5 pitch factor.
The denouement of a fascinating Test and the series offered a clear equation — England needing 35 runs, India four wickets. It was over in an hour, India winning by six runs to level the series 2-2.
Prasidh started off with a long-hop and Jamie Overton happily put it away to the square-leg boundary. The next ball took the inside edge and went for another four. Prasidh was bowling short and leaking runs.
But Siraj, who else, was at the other end. He removed Smith and then trapped Jamie Overton leg-before. A Prasidh yorker cleaned up Josh Tongue. Chris Woakes came out to bat wearing a sling to a standing ovation.
India missed a couple of chances, but Siraj had to have the last laugh. A pinpoint yorker to Gus Atkinson and India pulled off heist.
Siraj returned with 5/104. This game saw his rise from a cult hero to an icon.
Brief scores: India 224 and 396 beat England 247 and 367 (Gus Atkinson 17; Mohammed Siraj 5/104, Prasidh Krishna 4/126) by 6 runs.
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