Posted by Batting in Pairs
Batting in pairs is just as important in test matches as bowling in pairs, it helps check the fall of wickets and also helps put pressure on the bowling team. Before this test match, England have only three instances of consecutive partnerships scoring 50+ in this series, on the other hand India have had five such instances. If more batsmen were able to get in and build partnerships, it could have been a different series for England.
50+ Partnership in fifth test, first innings
The Sweepers Make Hay
Since the beginning of the series against New Zealand, it was clear that sweeping would play an important part in the success of batsmen while batting in India. Take the below three sweepers, Ali has his second hundred of the series, Bairstow is the second highest run-getter for England in this series and has three half centuries, and Joe Root has consecutive 50+ scores in the last 11 test matches he has played against India.
England batsmen in Fifth test
India’s tryst with DRS a success
India chose to review the umpires decision three times on the first day of the fifth test match. Even though India got two of those reviews wrong they would be happy that they have used their reviews better than England.
One would have expected Kohli, the more animated of the two captains, to choose to review spuriously, but this series has shown it is quite the contrary. Kohli’s review of Root’s wicket was an extremely close call with the bat nearly touching the ground when the ball passed the edge, but it is these decisions that are worth reviewing.
Reviews this test series
Ishant Sharma comeback
There were bound to be changes in the Indian playing XI considering Kohli has never played the same XI while captaining India in tests. Ishant Sharma, who was slotted in to the side in place of Kumar, got the wicket of Jennings in his third over of the innings with a brilliant change-up delivery.
In his first spell he bowled four maidens and was the pick of the bowlers for India on Day 1. He bowled many short spells with his final spell being the most expensive one. It was his maidens at the start that restricted England to 68/2 at the end of the 1st session.
Ishant Sharma bowling in fifth test, first day
Pace variation by spinners
It would be interesting to watch out for Ashwin and Jadeja’s speeds when they come on to bowl in the second day of the test match. With the pitch offering slow turn, even Jadeja slowed his pace down compared to the speeds he bowled at the Wankhede. A case in point is the dismissal of Bairstow. The wicket-keeper batsman lobbed a drive off Jadeja, a result of the lack of pace in the delivery.
Ashwin, who is playing in his home ground, would be familiar with the conditions, so a look at his bowling speeds throughout the test can confirm our suspicions that he has intended to bowl slower on this wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin – Average Speed
Ravindra Jadeja – Average Speed
