Welcome to England, India. Or at least, welcome to the England their batters might have expected when touching down at the start of June. Cloud cover, stoppages for rain, and seamers operating on a green-tinged surface — the opening day at the Oval was certainly a far cry from what came before.
And yet by the time stumps came at 7.30pm the tourists had scrapped their way to a serviceable 204 for six from 64 overs and it was England who were feeling a bit glum. Though the hosts went into this series decider 2-1 up, a late injury to Chris Woakes took the shine off a day that, until that point, had been all about Gus Atkinson’s stellar return on his home ground.
Figures of two for 31 from 19 overs did not tell the full story of Atkinson’s day either. Arguably the most important strike witnessed came not from his brand of waspish fast-medium but a sparkling run out of Shubman Gill for 21 in a six-over mini-session between the afternoon showers. Given the glowing form India’s captain has been in this series, it felt like a defining moment.
It was a hugely self-inflicted dismissal too, Gill having dropped Atkinson into the off side with a defensive prod and set off for a single that was simply never on. Turning on his heels but already in trouble, he could only look on as Atkinson swooped in, took aim, and threw down the stumps with unerring precision. The look of anguish on Gill’s face as he walked off was palpable.
But Gill’s despair was later trumped by that of Woakes and what may also be greater by way of significance. The only English seamer to push through all five Tests, Woakes had chased a ball to the rope only to fall awkwardly in the process. A dislocated left shoulder appears the likely upshot here, the 36-year-old walking off in agony with his arm in a makeshift sling.
Standing in for the injured captain Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope now faces the prospect of juggling three seamers for the remainder of the match, and only the part time spin of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root offering scope for a breather. And though Atkinson impressed, pinning Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for two and getting Dhruv Jurel caught in the cordon for 19, Pope will need Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton to offer more than they did on day one.
Because as much as England were happy to claim six wickets, there is a case to say that it should have been more. Lee Fortis, chief groundsman and scourge of the tourists in the build-up, had left 8mm of grass on the Oval pitch – ideal conditions to lock in on a length and let the Dukes do its thing. And yet this was something the support cast struggled to achieve at times.
In the case of the fast but often wayward Tongue, perhaps this is missing the point. England like the point of difference he offers and, while he sprayed wides for fun in the morning, his best remains very good indeed. His two wickets on the day, Sai Sudharsan for 38 and Ravindra Jadeja for nine, were both a case of rip-snorting deliveries being edged behind.
Overton, however, looks a curious selection on a surface that might be better suited to Matthew Potts or Sam Cook. While his speeds picked up from some initial 80mph long hops, and swing was harnessed, figures of nought for 66 were the weak link in the attack – a link that must be strengthened swiftly if Woakes spends the remainder of the match on the sidelines.
Atkinson, back from a hamstring injury, appears to have picked up where he left off at least. His removal of Jaiswal was also a notable feat for his Surrey teammate, Pope, who sent a decision upstairs for the 14th time as a stand-in captain and finally saw one go his way. Going by the celebrations – Pope beaming, wry smiles in the dressing room – everyone was fully aware.
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Although the removal of KL Rahul for 14 an hour into play arguably had greater value, such has been the right-hander’s proficiency against the moving ball in England. Replacing Atkinson from the Pavilion End after a tight six-over opening spell, Woakes persuaded Rahul to chop on to his stumps with a bit of nip – even if it was always too tight to cut.
In the end, with Gill having lost his fifth toss in a row, India were grateful to another experienced campaigner for steering them out of choppy waters. Recalled after his omission at Old Trafford, Karun Nair turned things around from 153 for six at the fall of Jurel’s wicket with a classy unbeaten 52 from 98 balls. Support here came from Washington Sundar, who made 19 not out.
England know all about Sundar, of course, but open up an end first thing and India’s tail will begin. Problem is, even with the forecast in London set to improve and batting conditions with it, taking 10 wickets second time around will be a significant challenge if the fears about poor Woakes are accurate.
