Rain ends enthralling day with England needing 35 more

BBC News

3 days ago

Update:
Date: 18:45 BST
Title: Goodbye!
Content: Well, it's TTFN (ta ta for now) rather than goodbye.
We will be back on Monday at 10:30 BST for day five of the fifth Test, with England needing 35 runs to win.
You can read Stephan Shemilt's report from The Oval here.
See you soon!
Update:
Date: 18:42 BST
Title: Thorpe tribute 'from our whole dressing room' - Root
Content: This video can not be played
'For the man who taught him so much' - Root marks century with Thorpe tribute
More from Joe Root on Harry Brook's dismissal: "If that comes off and goes for four again, it is another question asked of them. He did that throughout his whole innings. You can question it but we wouldn't be in this position, he wouldn't have got those runs, without the way he went about it. He is incredibly consistent with it as well. He is an incredible player. He reads the game very well."
On his headband tribute to Graham Thorpe: "I wish I had it in my pocket from the start. I put it there at tea. He is someone who impacted the game in this country as player, coach, mentor and friend.
"That wasn't just from me but our whole dressing room. It is great to see everyone show the amount of love for him throughout this week because he is a real legend of English cricket and has done so much good for so many people."
And on whether Chris Woakes will bat if required: "I assume so. He is desperate to do what it takes. There is a lot of things that have to happen before that."
Update:
Date: 18:40 BST
Title: 'We're in a good position'
Content: England batter Joe Root speaking to TMS: "It is quite fitting for how the rest of the series has gone. It has ebbed and flowed all of the way through and this Test is exactly same. We are in for a cracker for tomorrow. It is a weird one going into the fifth day with the sun out now but it will be a great finish.
"We are in a good position. We have another heavy roller available. Things might happen quicker with new ball. It might be easier to score. A lot of things are in our favour. We have so much ability left in the dressing room. Clearly they have had a good passage of play but tomorrow could be a real good opportunity to get across the line."
On his rebuild with Harry Brook: "It is a long process but you play it like a one-day game. The great thing is there is no scoreboard pressure of five or six runs an over.
"Me and Brooky have contrasting games which works really well for us. That is such an important part of it. The way he played, how destructive he was, putting bowlers under pressure can really upset the rhythm of the opposition and swung things massively in our favour. [Having] deep cover, deep mid-off three down chasing 370 is extraordinary really. That is the impact he can have and is a big reason we are where we are."
Update:
Date: 18:38 BST
Title: How's stat?!
Content: Andy ZaltzmanTest Match Special statistician
This is the second highest scoring Test series every played.
We are past 7,000 runs. The only Test series with more runs was the 1993 Ashes which was a six Test series.
Update:
Date: 18:36 BST
Title: Post
Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special
It is inevitable that it will happen.
I think England will get over the line and I think Jamie Smith will do the job. I am hoping Chris Woakes doesn't have to walk out there.
Update:
Date: 18:34 BST
Title: Post
Content: Jonathan AgnewBBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
On injured all-rounder Chris Woakes potentially coming out to bat:
They can't push Chris Woakes out in a sling, can they?
Update:
Date: 18:32 BST
Title: Post
Content: Phil TufnellFormer England spinner on Test Match Special
That last 20 minutes I couldn't see where England were going to score a run.
Update:
Date: 18:30 BST
Title: Post
Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special
To get that buzz again in your legs again as a bowler is going to be difficult for India.
Update:
Date: 18:29 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On rain stopping play:
It benefits England massively. It is a hammer blow for India. The atmosphere would have been unbelievable for India tonight. They were so on top. The only way England could get a run away was a leg-bye.
Update:
Date: 18:27 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
All those wides and byes from England's bowlers are looking pretty game changing right now. This should be all done and dusted if they had bowled more consistently.
Sam, Chorley
Update:
Date: 18:25 BST
Title: 'Brook is a maverick player'
Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special
I like the way Harry Brook played today with the way he was dancing down.
He played some lovely shots, he played an expansive game to get England back into this Test match.
He is that good. I would back him to execute that shot, but he didn't execute it well enough.
He is a maverick player and I like a player who takes the risk, and he took the risk.
India were petrified of him. If that flies for six you're off your seat.
Update:
Date: 18:23 BST
Title: 'You have to give Brook freedom to play that shot'
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
This video can not be played
'What an incredible dismissal!' - Brook caught on 111 after bat goes flying into the air
I wouldn't have played the shot Harry Brook did but I wouldn't have been able to play the innings to turn the game around.
With players who can win games in situations you shouldn't, you have to allow them the freedom. If you start telling him he can't play that shot there is no way he would play that innings.
If he had knocked it around he wouldn't have changed the tempo of the game.
Update:
Date: 18:21 BST
Title: 'They have so much faith in Jacob Bethell'
Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special
They have so much faith in Jacob Bethell.
They saw him in the nets, they saw in the white ball game, they saw him in New Zealand pre-Christmas.
I don't care who you are, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar or Ricky Ponting - they always look rusty if they had not batted.
You're talking about a 21-year-old who has not played any cricket - he is bound to look rusty. He needs a bit of time playing and getting runs away from this environment.
If they feel he is going to be the next batter in Test match cricket, they have to find him some longer format games and get that rhythm of play.
He needs to find that rhythm. At this level it is tough.
Update:
Date: 18:20 BST
Title: 'He's played 20 first-class games'
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Jacob Bethell looked like a guy who doesn't know his four-day game. That is not a dig. He has played 20 first-class games. He has a rock solid defence but after 20 balls he looked like he didn't know how to score.
Update:
Date: 18:19 BST
Title: Post
Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Today has summed up the whole series.
The Harry Brook and Joe Root partnership, it was done and dusted. Suddenly Brook gets out, there is more drama a young kid [Jacob Bethell] comes out to bat, he makes a mistake.
Joe Root gets out. Any ball looked like Jamie Smith was going to snick off.
Update:
Date: 18:17 BST
Title: Post
Content: But how about these two interventions from Prasidh Krishna in the evening session.
Can India maintain their momentum on day five?
This video can not be played
Bethell bowled middle stump by Krishna for five
This video can not be played
Root edges behind to leave England six down
Update:
Date: 18:16 BST
Title: Post
Content: Harry Brook, of course, could have been dismissed on 19. Mohammed Siraj, however, stepped onto the boundary sponge as he took the catch.
This video can not be played
'He's got away with it!' - Siraj carries Brook catch over rope for six
Update:
Date: 18:14 BST
Title: Post
Content: Harry Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) both reached three figures for England.
Here are the highlights from their innings.
This video can not be played
'He's put them in a winning position' - Brook century edges England closer to victory
This video can not be played
'A truly remarkable batsman' - Root hits 39th Test century
Update:
Date: 18:13 BST
Title: Day four recap...
Content: England resumed on 50-1 and after losing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the first session, Joe Root and Harry Brook combined for a 195-run fourth-wicket stand to break the back of England's chase.
Although Brook was dismissed 111 at the end of the afternoon session, England only needed 57 runs to win after tea.
However, with the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Root, Prasidh Krishna turned the match in India's favour before the weather set in.
Update:
Date: 18:13 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
The only thing I can think is that the outfield was so wet it wouldn't dry in time.