England will start the final day at Headingley needing another 350 runs – or the hosts must lose ten wickets – to settle a see-saw opening Test that has skirted around the prospect of a draw from the outset.
Ben Stokes’ side, unbeaten by weather alone in the last two years, closed Sunday evening on 21 without loss after six probing overs. They are pursuing 371, a ground record if they get there, and seamer Josh Tongue was adamant no alternative result has even been discussed.
“[We will] just go for the win. That’s the clear message in the changing room. It’s just [about] being as positive as we can. They’re going to bowl well at times tomorrow: it’s just crucial we soak up that bit of pressure and reapply it. I don’t see why we can’t chase that down,” the quick said, summing up a philosophy that has become second nature under Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
India, meanwhile, feel the same aggression offers them clear openings. KL Rahul, whose skilful 137 held their third-innings together before a late collapse to 364 all out, believes predictability could be England’s undoing.
“There’s definitely going to be a result,” he said. “That’s what England have said very openly, and their style of cricket suggests that as well. It gives us a good opportunity to pick up 10 wickets. We know how they’re going to come out and bat on day five.”
Rahul batted almost four hours on a surface already showing variable bounce, then warned it may deteriorate further. “The wicket today was a very tricky wicket: I spent a lot of time batting there and I didn’t feel set at all at any given stage. The wicket’s taken a beating, and tomorrow might break even more… We know their style of cricket, so [we’ll] try to keep that in the back of our heads and try to see what lines and lengths we can bowl and how we can get them out.”
India would, he admitted, have liked a few extra runs. “There was a little bit of discussion about how many runs we need on the board or… maybe giving them a few overs to bat in the evening today and see if we can pick up a wicket or two. Ideally, from the position we were in, we would’ve wanted at least 40 or 50 runs more.”
For England, navigating the new ball remains the early priority. Tongue added: “Getting through that first 30-45 minutes tomorrow is going to be crucial, and then hopefully [we will] get the winning runs.”
A mixed forecast threatens showers in Leeds, yet both camps insist the weather is an after-thought. Either 350 more brisk runs or ten sharp breakthroughs will decide matters; the only certainty, it seems, is that nobody is settling for a handshake.
