1 month ago
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On a day when England’s second-string seamers were handed the best bowling conditions of the summer, and Chris Woakes suffered an injury that may yet end his hopes of one last Ashes, it was Gus Atkinson who made the only unanswerable case for a trip to Australia.
India finished a rain-interrupted first day of the crucial fifth Test on a moderate 204 for six, but it was a scoreline that disguised a multitude of sins for an injury-hit England side demanding one last push and a 3–1 win.
While Josh Tongue sprinkled some dross with the occasional gem, and Jamie Overton struggled for rhythm in his first Test for three years, Woakes badly hurt his shoulder diving on the boundary, with repercussions that are not yet clear.
Thank goodness, then, that Atkinson slotted straight back into the role he had vacated because of hamstring trouble after the one-off game against Zimbabwe in May.
First he pinned Yashasvi Jaiswal leg-before with his seventh legal delivery, as stand-in captain Ollie Pope successfully overturned his first DRS decision at the 14th attempt. Later, Atkinson found pace and bounce to have Dhruv Jurel smartly caught by Harry Brook at second slip.
And in between he unearthed a novel solution to a problem that has dogged England all summer. How do you deal with Shubman Gill? Answer: you run him out, stupid.
England held India to a moderate 240-6 on the first day of the fifth Test at the Oval
Chris Woakes was forced off with a shoulder blow which could rule him out of the Ashes
Gus Atkinson returned from a hamstring injury after more than two months and was England's best bowler
India had been relatively pleased with their lot when they reached 83 for two on a green pitch under grey skies, having lost their fifth toss of the series and their 15th in succession in all internationals.
The odds on this happening were 32,768 for one, which at times this summer has felt like the chances of forcing an error from Gill. Now, having moved to 21 and taken his tally for the summer to 743 runs, the most by an Indian captain in any Test series, he dropped Atkinson into the off side and set off for a single that existed only in his imagination.
Following through, Atkinson collected the ball in his left hand, transferred it to his right, then threw down the stumps with Gill stranded. The look on his face said it all. Not since Brian Lara 20 years ago has a visiting batsman scored more runs in a Test series in England, yet in that moment it all seemed to count for nothing.
Two days after the tourists upset Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis by not giving his Oval square the respect he thought it merited, another Indian batsman had gone walkabout in the wrong area. And just as the run-out of Rishabh Pant felt crucial to the outcome of the third Test at Lord’s, so Gill’s demise may prove critical here.
India belatedly recovered their poise thanks to a fighting half-century from the recalled Karun Nair, who two years ago made 150 here in a county game for Northamptonshire. With Woakes unlikely to feature again, and Washington Sundar – a centurion on Sunday in Manchester – at the crease, the tourists can still wriggle off the hook.
They were helped by bowling that – Atkinson excepted – might charitably be described as a mixed bag. Tongue’s first over contained a total of 11 wides, including two sets of five, as he sprayed it around like a graffiti artist after one too many.
He partially redeemed himself with two beauties to dismiss the left-handed duo of Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja, each caught behind as they poked at balls that left them. At one point, Tongue touched 90mph. But if he goes to Australia, he’ll need more control than this.
Overton’s pitch map, too, resembled a Jackson Pollock painting, and he finished with figure of 16–0–66–0. If he’s unable to trouble Indian batsmen in helpful conditions on his home ground, what chance will he have down under?
India are hoping that they can draw the series level to finish 2-2 after they drew the fourth Test
England can take control if they eliminate India's last four wickets for 50 or 60, then bat well
Woakes' blow proves that this is a summer which is taking its toll on everybody
Woakes, the only England seamer to play all five Tests this series, had earlier bowled KL Rahul, chopping on for 14, but enjoyed little luck. Then, shortly before 7pm, as he hared after a Nair off-drive and turned four into three with a committed dive, he jarred his left shoulder and grimaced in agony.
If he plays no further part in this Test, the onus will fall on three young seamers, each appearing in their first game of the series. In other words, England may have to bat out of their skin if and when they get their chance today.
It was all the more galling for Brendon McCullum’s team that their first encounter with a pitch to their liking coincided with the absence through either injury or exhaustion of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. To add Woakes to that list as they seek to prevent India levelling the series was a cruel blow.
But a combination of a packed schedule, a dry summer and self-interested county chief executives more interested in the bottom line than an England series win that would lift the whole cricket community has meant a series finale lacking the sense of occasion it deserves.
England can still take control of this game if they polish off India’s last four wickets for 50 or 60, then bat with the nous that brought them 669 in Manchester, even though a match-winning score on this pitch might be closer to 350. But India are not going down without a fight, and Woakes’s woes confirmed a summer that is taking its toll on everyone.
