Key events
Right, the players are out there, Jerusalem swirls down the Harleyford Road. Mohammed Siraj has one ball left to complete his over from last evening. Ollie Pope is on strike. Let’s play!
“Hi James, keen to know why Woakes cannot be subbed now he’s retired hurt? Surely it’s only fair for England to have a full Second Innings? I’m obviously missing some arcane cricketing law, can you enlighten me please?”
It’s exactly that Chris Aird, a player is currently only allowed a sub for a concussion injury. The debate has been swirling in this series due to Pant and Woakes getting crocked in the early stages of Test’s 4 and 5. Injury replacements are due to be trialled by some first class boards later in the year… but as I argued in this week’s Spin, injury replacements aren’t perhaps as straightforward as you’d think.
PLUG ALERT:
“Hello Jim”
G’morning OBO stalwart Krishnamoorthy.
“Another Test series coming to an end which is making sure that Test cricket is alive and kicking in the dark times of T20. Probably this is the first Test in this series that is not going to the last session of day 5.
It does not matter if it is 3-1 or 2-2 , the winner is cricket and India has a wonderful core around which it can surely build itself into a formidable team. Today’s battle is going to be between the determination of the Indian team vs one J E Root”
About time Root got a score. My money is on Brook and Bethell romping it home*.
*It absolutely isn’t. But it could be.
(It isn’t)
The Indian players are out on the outfield here at the Oval, the bowlers getting those shoulders loose and the catchers getting their fingers warm. I have them down as overwhelming favourites today, yesterday England seemed a spent force and suffered their worst day of the series. The wicket of Crawley last thing tipped the scales still further in the visitor’s favour.
But the great thing about Test cricket and this England side is you just never know. They could go down in a ball of flames before lunch or take it right down to the wire. Remember they knocked off a similar target serenely in Leeds but that was twenty long days of cricket ago. C’mon then, fling me your predictions.
Matthew Doherty emails in with if not the 64 million dollar question then certainly a question.
“Hello James, who do you think England’s Jessop is today?”
All roads lead to Jamie Overton.
Our main man Ali Martin has the skinny on what will happen in the result of a drawn Anderson-Tendulkar:
In the event of 2-2, told the two teams will share the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (a new trophy, which has replaced the now retired Pataudi and AdM trophies)
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) August 3, 2025
Here’s his take on a galling Saturday for England:
England’s performance in the field yesterday was more chaotic than the basket of a Sunday morning Lime bike basket. A discarded vape here, six (SIX) dropped catches there. Is that a splodge of fruit and nut bar? Please tell me it’s fruit and nut bar… Oh look that’s definitely five wides.
Would it have happened if Ben Stokes was prowling at short cover with his fatherly death stare? We’ll never know. But we sort of already do.
Preamble
James Wallace
It’s been 144 hours and 24 days, since that sun soaked Test at Headingley (ahh ahhh ahh ahhhhhh)
Test cricket. Nothing compares 2 U. As we stare down the barrel of a high summer sold to the money men we have one last day of the really good stuff to savour and this series is on the line.
England need to knock off 324 runs to win it 3-1 but after Zak Crawley had his off stump splattered by the indomitable Mohammed Siraj with the last ball of play yesterday and with Chris Woakes sporting a sling, India (probably) need just eight wickets to do the business and level things up at 2-2.
Its been a punishing series. One full of great moments rather than being truly great but it deserves a grandstand finish. There are some weary minds and bodies here at the Oval this August Sunday morning (and that’s just the press pack arf-arf)
So, for what is surely the last time in Tests this summer, come take the OBOs re-assuring hand and let’s see this thing out together.
Play starts at 11am. Get in touch why dontcha.
(*IMHO -but what do you think?)