Ben Stokes, England given warning by 2005 Ashes hero: Can't go to Oval for a draw

India Today

4 days ago

2005 Ashes hero Matthew Hoggard has issued a warning to Ben Stokes and England ahead of the Oval Test against India, which is scheduled to begin on July 31. England holds a 2-1 lead in the series against India, and they looked primed to seal the series during the Manchester Test. India looked down and out when they were 0 for 2 in the second innings before Shubman Gill and KL Rahul performed a rescue act. advertisementGill went on to get a hundred and got out soon after as the hopes of the hosts were raised. But Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar stitched together a 203-run stand to save India and draw the Test match to set up a grand finish in the series finale at the Oval. Speaking to the Mirror, Hoggard said that the final Test is going to be survival of the fittest and said that the series does remind him of Ashes 2005. The former pacer said that England can't go to the Oval thinking about playing for a draw, and the mentality needs to be good.
Hoggard said that England should put pressure on India by opting to bat first, and he feels the hosts' batting lineup has more gears at the moment, especially with Rishabh Pant's absence. The former pacer believes the Oval can become a tricky ground if England score quicker and India will try to chase the runs in the second innings. 'It's going to be survival of the fittest and it reminds me of 2005. You can't go to The Oval and play for a draw because you'll come unstuck if the mentality isn't right."'In an ideal world we bat first, go big and put India under pressure to match us or go past us. England have more gears in the batting line-up than India, especially if they are going to be without Rishabh Pant."'It's been hard graft for bowlers on both sides, but we score quicker than India and if they have to put their foot down to chase the game, that's when The Oval can be a tricky customer,' said Hoggard. - Ends