5th Test: Rain Brings Early End To Riveting Day Four, Sets Stage For Thrilling Finish
Rain forcing the match to go into the fifth day means every Test of the ongoing riveting five-match series has now gone into the last day. England looked all set to complete the chase of 374 on day four, thanks to Joe Root hitting his 39th Test century off 137 balls, and paid a fitting tribute to Graham Thorpe.
While Root eventually made 105 off 152 balls, Harry Brook hit a stunning 111 off 98 balls – his tenth hundred in the longer format and was given a reprieve on 19 by Mohammed Siraj. Just when it felt that victory was inevitable for England, Root and Jacob Bethell fell to Prasidh Krishna as overcast conditions meant India found seam movement and made life difficult for Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton – unbeaten on two and zero respectively.
Before India could bring more twists to the game, the rain gods intervened and brought a premature end to the day's play. With Chris Woakes, with his left arm in a sling, pacing up and down in the dressing room in his Test whites, another fascinating day five finish looms large to decide the scoreline of this closely-fought Test series.
The final session began with a slight delay due to rain. But once it went away, Root brought up his 39th Test century off 137 balls. From the other end, Jacob Bethell struggled for fluency despite advancing to drive Akash Deep past cover for four, and his stay ended when he went for a big heave, but bottom-edged to his stumps off Prasidh Krishna.
Suddenly, things began to grow tighter as Prasidh had Jamie Smith inside-edging to his pads, before beating him on the outside edge. From the other end, Siraj hit Smith and Root on pads with his nip-backers, before India burnt a review when Prasidh hit Root on pads.
But India found some hope as Prasidh struck again by having Root edge behind to Dhruv Jurel, who dived to his right to take a good low catch and dismiss the batter for 105. With Smith and Jamie Overton struggling to find gaps, India were well on top before bad light and then heavy rain forced players to go off the field and push the series decider to day five.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
25 minutes ago
- News18
Sachin Tendulkar Reviews India-England Test Series: No Handshake, Cool Shubman, Mature Jaiswal
Last Updated: tendulkar Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, the man who inspired an entire generation and beyond to pick up the bat, dove deep into the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, wherein India heroically drew the Test series 2-2 on English soil. Tendulkar, who holds the record for the most runs (1575) scored in Tests by an Indian batter in England, touched upon the handshake controversy, the newly appointed Indian skipper Shubman Gill, the importance of pacer Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal's role in guiding nightwatchman Akash Deep in their century stand, and more. Sachin Tendulkar, the brand ambassador of Reddit India, felt India did the right thing by rejecting the handshake Ben Stokes and Co. offered in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester just moments before Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja's respective centuries. The Handshake Controversy India had a disastrous start in the fourth innings of the fourth Test in Manchester. England posted an intimidating 669 in their first innings in response to India's 358. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed inside the first over on Day 4, and India looked at a certain defeat. A loss here would have also meant a series defeat for the visiting party. However, KL Rahul (90), along with captain Shubman Gill (103), put up a heroic show, a partnership of 188 runs that brought back a sense of relief and smiles on the faces of tense fans. Day 5 brought a new set of challenges for Team India after Rahul and Gill departed in quick succession, as the scorecard now read 222/4. But Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja had no plans of surrendering to the hosts. The fantastic duo slammed tons. Jadeja clocked 107 off 185, while his partner, Sundar, posted his maiden Test century and remained unbeaten on 101 off 206 balls. Just before they could reach their respective landmarks, Jadeja and Sundar were offered a handshake by England skipper Ben Stokes and his men, implying that they wanted to pack their bags and go home, knowing that a draw was inevitable. India, however, refused to put shutters on the Test match just yet. Once they slammed their well-deserved three-figure scores, Jaddu and Washy shook hands. India had registered a famous and fighting draw, thus keeping the series alive. Sharing his thoughts on the controversial episode, Tendulkar, in a Reddit video, stated that it wasn't India's problem, and it was absolutely fine what the two batters did on the field. 'People are asking Washington scored a hundred, Jadeja scored a hundred was it in the right spirit? Why shouldn't it be? They were playing for a draw. Before that, when England was having a go at them – they negotiated it well," Tendulkar said in a video on Reddit. 'According to me, the series was alive. So why should they (India) go ahead (to shake hands) and give the rest to England fielders and the bowlers? If they (England) want to bowl Harry Brook, it was Ben Stokes' choice. That is not India's problem. So, to me, it was absolutely fine," he added. Tendulkar opined that India had to endure the full-time bowlers all day long before Harry Brook was handed the ball. Jadeja and Sundar weren't playing for their centuries but saving the match for India. 'They were playing for a draw, not their centuries. If they had gotten out when they came out to bat, we could've lost the Test. A few more wickets and we would've been in trouble. When they came out to bat, Harry Brook wasn't bowling, right? Someone else was. So, why should England's bowlers and fielders be kept fresh for the 5th Test? Do you have an answer for that? No!" Yashasvi Jaiswal With so many men in the playing XI rising to the occasion throughout the five-match Test series, Yashasvi Jaiswal may not have gotten the limelight he perhaps deserved. The Indian opener accumulated 411 runs at 41.10 average with two centuries and as many half-centuries to his name. Stressing the importance of Jaiswal, Tendulkar admitted that he was impressed by the young cricketer's mindset. 'Jaiswal impressed me because of his mindset. He is fearless, knows how to accelerate, when to be at the non-strikers' end, and when to play a phase out carefully. You cannot bat in a single gear. You need to use different gears. This is what he did right from the first Test. He did look uncomfortable at times in the first Test, but eventually it boils down to the right column of the scorecard, and he scored a 100, the legendary cricketer said. 'For me, it was important. The first innings of the first match in a five-Test series is very critical." The veteran also congratulated Jaiswal on masterfully guiding Akash Deep when the nightwatchman came to bat and added an invaluable 66 to India's score. 'In the last Test, when he scored a century, a magnificent one on a difficult track to bat on. He showed character, maturity and determination. The way he guided Akash Deep, motivated him to score, it was a treat to watch." Captain-Batter Shubman Gill Shubman Gill won praises from cricket pundits and fans alike for kicking off his maiden Test series as a captain on a high. Drawing a Test series on English soil was no easy feat. Defying the weight of the skipper's hat, Gill also hammered 754 runs in five Tests, earning him the Player of the Series award. 'The most important thing that I noticed was the respect for a good ball, where the tendency is sometimes to push the ball in front foot, he was able to defend there, defend on front foot, it was solid, overall the shot selection was precise," Tendulkar said in a Reddit video. top videos View all 'Gill looked calm and composed, but when an opposition builds partnerships, it becomes tough for any captain to build a game plan and ensure that the runs dry up. Gill controlled the team and the game well," Tendulkar added. You can read Tendulkar's assessment of KL Rahul here. And his review on Mohammed Siraj here. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : sachin tendulkar view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 07, 2025, 10:03 IST News explainers Sachin Tendulkar Reviews India-England Test Series: No Handshake, Cool Shubman, Mature Jaiswal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Mohammed Siraj replies to Asaduddin Owaisi's unapologetic ‘poora khol diye Pasha' salvo after India pacer wrecks England
Mohammed Siraj was the undisputed hero of India's pace attack after a landmark series in England, finishing with the most wickets (23) and a match-winning performance in the final Test at The Oval. Plaudits continue to pour in for the star pacer, with even political leaders joining in to applaud Siraj. Among those celebrating Siraj's brilliance was Hyderabad MP and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who used a phrase to applaud the pacer's stellar performance: 'Poora khol diye Pasha!' roughly translated to 'you ripped them apart'. Mohammed Siraj responded to Asaduddin Owaisi's tweet on the pacer's heroics in England(ANI/PTI) Siraj, who hails from the same city, responded with gratitude on social media. 'Thank you so much sir Always cheering for me,' he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), quote-tweeting Owaisi's comment. The local flavour of the exchange struck a chord with fans, with Siraj's tweet going viral as the two Hyderabadis connected over a performance that lifted India from the brink. The 31-year-old speedster's five-wicket haul at The Oval helped India clinch a dramatic six-run win and draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2. Siraj's ability to snap the resistance of England's lower order proved crucial on the final day, as India defended a fourth-innings target of 374 under immense pressure. Siraj bowled a staggering 185.3 overs in the series, the most by any pacer. While his energy and aggression have long been his trademarks, what stood out this time was his control and his refusal to back down, even when the odds seemed stacked. Tendulkar's appreciation for Siraj Among those moved by his heroics was Sachin Tendulkar, the iconic Indian batter whose name now graces the very trophy Siraj helped India retain. Speaking on his official Reddit account, Tendulkar praised Siraj's "unbelievable" approach, highlighting his persistence and trademark spring in his step. 'I love his attitude. I love the spring in his legs,' Tendulkar said. 'For a fast bowler to be constantly in your face like that, no batsman will like it.' Tendulkar was especially struck by Siraj's resolve on the last day at The Oval. 'The approach he had till the end… that shows his courage and big heart,' he added.
India.com
31 minutes ago
- India.com
Sidhu Slams Gambhir's Critics After England Series: ‘Give Him The Credit He Deserves'
After a tough phase marked by consecutive Test series defeats to New Zealand and Australia, India's gritty 2-2 draw in the five-match Test series against England has become a defining chapter in the team's transition era. Leading the charge in this transformation was head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose decisions and conviction under pressure have now drawn praise from unlikely quarters—none louder than Navjot Singh Sidhu. Also Read: Happy Birthday Deepak Chahar! Inside His Fairytale Love Story With Wife Jaya Bharadwaj With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket just before the tour, India arrived in England with an inexperienced squad. Yet, they walked away with heads held high—thanks in part to Gambhir's vision and unwavering belief in youth. Sidhu's Sharp Rebuke to Gambhir's Critics: 'Will You Stand Up and Greet Him Today?' Sidhu, never one to mince words, launched a passionate defence of Gambhir's leadership during the high-stakes England tour. In a video on his YouTube channel, the former opener slammed critics who had routinely blamed Gambhir for India's struggles. 'We do a lot of hero-worshipping. I want to say that whenever India plays even a little badly, anyone and everyone climbs on Gautam Gambhir and blames him. Will you stand up and greet him today?' Sidhu asked pointedly. This public show of support struck a chord with fans and pundits alike, especially considering the immense pressure Gambhir faced before the tour. After a whitewash at home to New Zealand and losses in Australia, murmurs had already begun about his suitability as India's red-ball coach. But the gritty turnaround in England turned the tide. Backing the Young Brigade: Gambhir's Risk That Paid Off One of the most talked-about decisions from the tour was Gambhir's preference for Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav—a move questioned by experts and fans. However, Gambhir's emphasis on batting depth and long-term transition planning eventually bore fruit. Sidhu credited Gambhir's 'conviction' for the results. 'It was Gautam Gambhir who insisted on this transition, who gave opportunities to guys like Akash Deep and Washington. Yes, Kuldeep was maybe a better option. But he had conviction.' Players like Akash Deep, previously unknown quantities on the international stage, seized the opportunity, helping script what Sidhu called a 'Brisbane-Perth-England' moment—a reference to India's greatest overseas triumphs. India's Young Core Signals a New Dawn With the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rajat Patidar stepping up alongside Washington and Akash, the series highlighted India's bench strength and the potential of its next-generation stars. Sidhu rightly pointed out that the absence of senior figures wasn't a weakness—it was a chance. 'There were many unknowns when the team went who had not made their name. Gambhir had told three to four big names are missing, but think of it as an opportunity. His words have proven to be true.' India's win in the fifth Test at The Oval, which helped level the series, was a culmination of this belief—built not just on talent, but on trust, bold calls, and hard-nosed cricket.
