Prior to the start of the crucial Day 4 of the ongoing fourth Test between India and England, here are the five things to look forward to:
England finished Day three on 260 for 8 against India in the ongoing fourth Test at Southampton on Saturday. Their vice-captain, Jos Buttler’s fighting knock of 69 helped the hosts to stitch a comeback into the match following yet another batting collapse against the Indian attack.
England now have a competitive lead of 233 runs in the game and will look forward to pushing it further on Sunday with still two wickets in hand.
Prior to the start of the crucial Day 4, here are the five things to look forward to:
1. Will India wrap up England’s tail?
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After a relatively decent start by the Indian bowlers when they cleaned up the English openers soon, the visitors found themselves in the same trouble again. The likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes conquered them for quite sometime before the young Surrey cricketer Sam Curran frustrated the Indians, yet again. When England resume their innings on Day 4, India will aim to wrap up England’s tail as soon as possible. The hosts already have built a lead of 233 runs and if that crossed 270 or further, Virat Kohli and Co certainly will be under pressure. PC: AFP
2. India will need a good start
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Even if England don’t manage to add a lot of runs to their overnight score, India will still need to bat smartly. To begin with, the openers, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan will have set the momentum get going in India’s chase. If even one of them fail, the pressure instantly will fall on the others and that could lead to a collapse, something India have suffered in the recent times. PC: AFP
3. Captain’s knock
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The only Indian batsman who has shown consistency this series is Kohli. However, the way he threw his wicket after getting a great start in the first innings was not acceptable. During India’s chase in the final innings, the Indian skipper will have to architect a captain’s knock to put India in a positive position. PC: Reuters
4. Will the Test end on Sunday?
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There have hardly been occasions this series when India or England have not been bowled out in a single day. Courtesy of England’s tail, the hosts have managed to stretch the third innings into Day four. Now, the interesting detail to watch will be if England are bowled out early today, will Kohli and Co have to bat out Day 4 or not. PC: Reuters
5. Moeen Ali’s form
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The off-spinner bagged five wickets when India batted earlier in this Test and his role will be crucial for the hosts. He removed five Indian batsmen in a span of just five runs and that certainly would have hit the confidence of the already shaky India’s middle-order. Apart from the Indian skipper, no other batsmen has shown any consistency this series and this is the demand of the occasion that India will want their batsmen to deliver to their potential, in order to remain alive in the series. PC: Reuters
