Subhayan Chakraborty in London
The fifth and final Test at the Oval began with a scene that could have been scripted for a movie. Josh Tongue, England’s fiery pacer, bowled his first ball so far off that it gave away five wides. His next delivery veered toward the other side, adding another five to India’s tally. In a single over, Tongue gifted 12 runs as India moved to 18/1 to 30/1. It was an over to forget, one of the most chaotic in recent Test memory. But he managed to produce two jaffas out of nowhere to get Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja.
The morning had promised so much for England’s bowlers. A green track under gloomy skies with floodlights on, set the stage for dominance. Tongue wasn’t alone in his struggles; Chris Woakes, and Jamie Overton collectively sprayed 15 wides and 30 extras, inflating India’s stumps score of 204-6.
Tongue’s opening over was particularly grim. His front foot slipped on a crease dusted with sawdust, rendering control impossible. It was a painful spectacle, a bowling radar resembling abstract art.
But Tongue’s day wasn’t defined by that horror start. A tactical switch of ends by Pope sparked a turnaround. Tongue found rhythm; his unorthodox action, pace and awkward angles troubled India. The transformation paid dividends with two near-identical wickets. Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja, both left-handers, poked the ball from around the wicket, kissed the outside edge, and went straight to Jamie Smith. Jadeja’s dismissal came at the end of an over that began with wayward wides.
India faced a peculiar challenge – not just a lively pitch, but an England attack that switched between unplayable, too short, too wide, and suddenly, devastatingly on point. For India, the unpredictability was as tough as the conditions.
For Tongue, the day was a redemption arc. From a morning that threatened to derail his confidence, he emerged with two prized wickets, showcasing pace, bounce, and awkward angles that could prove lethal, leaving the Test poised for an intriguing Day 2. For India, they’ll have to avoid what they couldn’t at Headingley, give wickets to Tongue.
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