England’s Chris Woakes is ready to bat left-handed if needed in the final Test against India, despite a shoulder injury sustained on Day 3. Joe Root lauded Woakes’ commitment, comparing it to Rishabh Pant’s courageous batting with a leg injury earlier in the series. England are chasing 374, with the match poised for a dramatic finish on Day 5.
The Test series heads into its final morning with England at 339/6, needing 35 runs to win. India requires four wickets to level the series. Chris Woakes’ shoulder injury gives India the opportunity to exploit it if he is needed to come and bat. Joe Root and Harry Brook scored centuries for England. Prasidh Krishna took three wickets for India.
As India battles England in the final Test, former cricketer David Lloyd suggests the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has cost India crucial moments. Despite dominating parts of the series, India risks a 3-1 loss. Varun Aaron believes a rain break aided India’s strategy, boosting their chances.
Mohammad Kaif believes Mohammed Siraj’s dropped catch of Harry Brook could prove costly in the final Test, though his overall bowling performance might overshadow the error. Ricky Ponting echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential expense of the missed opportunity. Ravi Shastri anticipates the drop will motivate Siraj, while acknowledging Brook’s aggressive batting style shifted the momentum towards England.
Michael Vaughan predicts a dramatic finish to the England-India Test series as England needs 35 runs with limited wickets. Harry Brook’s century and Root’s ton put England in a strong position, but a late Indian fightback has kept the match alive. The final day promises high tension with India looking to level the series.
India’s men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, includes young defender Poovanna CB for the Australia tour starting August 15 in Perth. This tour serves as crucial preparation for the Asia Cup in Rajgir, a World Cup Qualifier. Coach Craig Fulton emphasizes improving physical conditioning, testing youngsters, and building momentum before the home competition.
Michael Vaughan suggests Harry Brook as a potential future England Test captain, impressed by his natural leadership qualities displayed on the field. Vaughan believes Brook could be a better fit than current vice-captain Ollie Pope, even though Pope is a great support to the captain. Brook’s prior experience captaining England’s white-ball team further strengthens Vaughan’s argument.
Nasser Hussain and Dinesh Karthik have criticized match officials for halting play early on Day 4 of the fifth Test at The Oval. England, at 339 for 6, needed 35 more runs to win, while India required four wickets to draw the series. Hussain questioned why the umpires didn’t offer an extra half-hour, potentially allowing for a thrilling finish.
Ajay Jadeja lauded Harry Brook’s impactful batting style, drawing comparisons to Rishabh Pant due to their similar aggressive approach and the tendency for their bats to fly. Brook’s aggressive innings, featuring a rapid scoring burst and a century, shifted the momentum for England.
