The thrilling Test series between England and India has ebbed and flowed for 24 days — so it only seems fitting the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy comes down to the final hour.
Courtesy of a 195-run partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook, England is 35 runs away from completing its second-highest run chase in Test history and sealing a 3-1 series triumph. Meanwhile, India is four wickets away from clinching a dramatic victory, with the six-week tour ending as a 2-2 stalemate.
The tie remains a possibility heading into day five, while injured all-rounder Chris Woakes could be forced to bat at No. 11 one-handed with a dislocated shoulder.
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“For England, there are 35 runs standing between them and the biggest series win of the Bazball era,” BBC’s Stephan Shemilt wrote.
“What are the consequences for less than an hour’s cricket on the fifth day? The difference between 3-1 and 2-2.
“The chance of a first series win against India in seven years and a first five-match series win against anyone in the same timeframe. The difference between heading to Australia as winners, or not.
“What a way to end it all.”
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For England, there’s plenty on the line. Despite everything Ben Stokes’ men have achieved during the Bazball era, a Test series victory over India and Australia, their two biggest rivals, has eluded them.
Toppling India would give England a timely boost of confidence ahead of the upcoming Ashes tour, but the lingering Bazball sceptics would grow in volume if Brendon McCullum’s troops failed to win another marquee series.
The hosts have endured their fair share of poor luck, losing match-winning captain Stokes after Manchester, missing frontline spinner Shaoib Bashir since Lord’s, while speedster Mark Wood has been unavailable the entire series. Meanwhile, the toss has fallen in their favour on five occasions, the odds of which are 3.1 per cent.
Regardless, failure to defeat an undermanned Indian team — who are without retired superstars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin — would be a hammer blow for England’s Bazballers.
“England will either head off to the Ashes with their finest Bazball series win or wondering how they lost a Test that was within their grasp while Brook and Root batted on a different plane to everyone else,” The Telegraph’s Nick Hoult penned.
“Whatever happens, both sides have combined to produce one of the finest Test series in recent memory, pummelling each other for five Tests across six relentless weeks.”
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The entire series has been packed with drama; Ben Duckett’s stylish chase at Headingley, Shubman Gill’s record-breaking marathon in Edgbaston, Jamie Smith’s Birmingham blitz, Ben Stokes’ Lord’s heroics, the Old Trafford handshake drama.
But is there time for one final twist?
“It is quite a fitting end for how the rest of the series has gone. It has ebbed and flowed all of the way through and this Test is exactly the same,” Root told BBC Test Match Special at stumps on day four.
“We are in for a cracker, we are in a good position. We have another heavy roller available.
“Things might happen quicker with the 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 and clearly they have had a good passage of play but Monday could be a real good opportunity to get across the line.
“It has been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey and we have the confidence in our dressing room.”
The fifth Test between England and India will resume on Monday at 8pm AEST.
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