The fascinating 2-2 draw between England and India of Anderson-Tenduca Trophy provides a huge start to the new World Test Championship cycle.
It’s an epic competition with five tests entering the final day, and actually four games, which are some of the best individual and group performances in the five-day format in recent years.
Prior to the series, the predictions made by former cricketers and experts, scoring the score line, most of whom predicted England’s victory over England (if not a clean scan).
Putting aside England’s home advantage, experts believe India’s pre-match struggles make them easy to target – and for good reason.
India looked fragile and trembling as the paint was 0-3 in two series, then beat Australia 3-1.
A series of sudden retirement and fitness issues left India without four key players – R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami. Their absence is expected to put a huge pressure on young Shubman Gill to lead as captain in his first series.
India’s lineup has undeniable talent, but its lack of experience – especially hitting under challenging conditions – is a problem.
KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant are experienced athletes in England, but Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan, Karun Nair, Washington Sundar and Abhimanyu Easwaran have never played at this level.
Gill’s modest overseas batting record has raised doubts about his applicability to the captain. Concerns about the fitness of Pace Ace Jasprit Bumrah have increased the prospects in India.
When England chased 373 times in the fourth inning, losing the first test at Headingley, it confirmed the experts’ suspicion.
But India recovered from this setback with this style and won the next Test at Edbaston with a score of 336.
Rapid turnover is not from luck, but skill and ruthless determination – which defines the quality of India’s performance in this series.
The subsequent three tests fought fiercely, with both teams improving intensity and skill levels and matching each other.
This triggered frequent and intense clashes, but also triggered unforgettable acts of heroism, with players on both sides dealing with fatigue and injuries to keep their teams fighting.
Through the neck and neck competition, some aspects of India in combat can be realized in statistics.
Three cricketers – Jill, Rahul and Judja – have more than 500 times in the series. There is one in England, Joe Root.
India has 12 centuries and England has 9 centuries.
Mohammed Siraj’s 23-year-old is the highest wicket gate on both sides. The only bowler who took out 10 wickets in the game was Akash Deep.
There are few failures and heroes enough, but the pillars of India’s extraordinary performance in the series are Jill and Siraj.
Gill performed 754 runs in the form of Bradmanesque, 430 of which took one test.
He broke Sunil Gavaskar’s record series in just 20 times, second only to Don Bradman (810), and won the captain’s highest run.
Together with Bradman and Gavaskar, it proves Gill’s achievements and potential. His prolific scores earned all the respect of his team, and after a hesitant start he quickly increased his confidence, showing good temperament and smart tactics in difficult situations.
Siraj has lived in the shadows of Bumrah and Shami since his debut in 2021 and he appears so spectacular that he immediately enters cricket folklore.
He bowled with the heart of the lion – completely leaning, without pity on his body, embraced the role of the spearhead in Boomla’s absence and inspired other walkers to stand out on the skin – earning universal awe and admiration.
Siraj’s 23 wickets averaged 32.43, with an economic speed of 4.02 and a strike rate of 48.43 – hardly any shocking figures.
He was the decisive force in India’s two victories. In Edgbaston, he swung India firmly with six wickets in the first inning (7 overall). In the oval, he took nine wickets – 4 in the first and five in the second – turning the head of the game.
How India keeps nerves under tremendous pressure for 25 days – powered by willpower, ambitions and skills – ultimately wins after the final 56 minutes of the oval to win the series, one of the most exciting stories of Test cricket.
It also marks one of the strong promises of this young Indian team from worry and doubt to ambition and excellence.
The future looks optimistic.
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