By V.N. Prasad
Heartiest congratulations to the Englishmen on seizing a 2-1 lead. I salute skipper Ben Stokes for his energy and admirable skills in handling the situation in the slender 22 runs victory. As the skipper, he managed the show brilliantly. He richly deserved the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
Scores tied at 387 in the first innings almost at the end of the third day, we expected England to put up a breezy 300 plus and rattle us on the 4th day. Our seamers on the other hand rattled the Englishmen with exceptional tenacity to bundle them out for a meagre 193. With a little over a day in the Test, we believed in the right earnest that the Lord’s Test was in our pocket. Alas, that was not to be as the game of cricket said to the world — “Wait, it is not over until the last ball is bowled.”
At this juncture, I remembered our coach Keki Tarapore. He would always insist on the following to the batsmen.
1. Come behind the ball with a vertical bat, unless the length is perceivably short to either cut or pull.
2. Drop your wrists to rising deliveries and see the ball as it passes across your nose.
3. Be very cautious on bad tracks. Avoid ‘Back Foot’ as much as possible.
Small totals to chase are invariably tricky. If only the last hour was seen off by our top order batsmen without loss of a wicket, on the 5th day they could have spaced it out nicely to win the Test at leisure. Two or three 50-plus partnerships would have seen us through comfortably. Distraught/ panic set in as we lost 4 wickets at the fag end of the 4th day; as English seamers tore through our top order. Particularly, Jofra Archer bowled brilliantly.
Hats off to Ravindra Jadeja. He stood like a rock between the Englishmen and victory; as he scored his successive 50- plus. Hopes were still alive with the expectation that either Rishabh Pant or Nitish Reddy or Washington Sundar would dig in and help Jadeja to take us across the line. Except K.L. Rahul, none others looked comfortable until Jasprit Bumrah occupied the crease. Eventually, unnecessary rush of blood did him in too. Md. Siraj came in at 10 drop and stood rock solid with Jadeja. Imagine Bumrah and Siraj faced 58 deliveries and scored mere NINE RUNS between them; as the lion hearted Jadeja took our total just 22 short of victory.
With a fractured finger on the left hand, Shoaib Bashir sat out most of the time. Skipper Stokes used his intelligence to call him in. Bashir bowled a superb spell; had the heart to flight the ball beautifully. Ultimately, the one tossed up to Siraj rolled back from his bat to tickle the varnish on the leg stump and the one bail just dropped as the Englishmen on the field and in the stands roared to register victory. Siraj sat dejected/ disappointed/ distraught at the unfortunate way he got out. At the non-striker’s end stood Ravindra Jadeja — our Man of the Match; cursing his luck and Nation’s luck in losing a battle that was at a smelling distance.
I strongly reiterate. KULDEEP YADAV should be included in the 4th and 5th Test compulsorily.
No issues boys. Time to pull yourselves together. Have lengthy discussions. Overcome the odds. Get into the RING at Trentwell. Come out stronger. Best to you. It is not over yet.
This post was published on July 15, 2025 6:05 pm