The “new England” side put in a remarkable comeback in the 5th and final Test against India to chase down a record 4th innings total to retain the Pataudi Trophy. Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl. India had a new opening pair in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Top order failed as India went 5 down before putting 100 runs on the board. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja put up a 222 run partnership to help India post 416 in the first Innings. Jasprit Bumrah smashed 35 in one over with the bat off Stuart Broad which was the highest runs scored in one over in Test cricket history.

The stand in skipper did not stop there, as he rattled past English top order Lees, Crawley and Ollie Pope with the new ball. Mohammed Siraj was the highest wicket taker with the ball with 4 wickets to help India have 132 runs first innings lead. Bairstow’s ton kept England in the game. In the second innings, Cheteshwar Pujara did show some glimpse of his County championship form with a fighting innings of 66 from 168 balls.

Pant smashed a fine half century but other than that it was a poor batting display by the away side who got bundled out for 245. Coming out to chase a record total in the fourth innings, England batters started to dominate. Bumrah gave two crucial breakthroughs but it was all Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow show at the Edgbaston. An unbeaten 269 run stand between the two was enough to hand England a fine 7 wicket win and level the series. England skipper Ben Stokes said after the game that their side want to leave a mark in the longest format of the game.

“We are trying to rewrite how Test cricket is being played, in England especially,” he said. “All the different plans that we put together over the last four or five weeks, for every different situations is something we’ll look to carry forward. It’s not always about bowling top of off or drying up, it’s how are we going to take wickets? That’s what you need to do as a bowling attack, take 10 wickets.”

“We know that we want to give new life to Test cricket, and the way that we go about it, and the support that we’ve received over the last five weeks has been incredible. It’s amazing, in such a short space of time, we feel like we are bringing a new set of fans to the game. Inspiring the next generation is what we want to do, this game at the moment is bigger than results for us, it’s about people who come in to represent England in the future, guys who come into the dressing room after. We want to leave a mark on Test cricket.”

Here are major talking points from the series finale between this “new England” and Team India at Edgbaston:

India’ top order missed Rohit Sharma against this new England pace attack

The Hitman was ruled out of the game due to Covid. Cheteshwar Pujara who was back into the side after a fine County season, was given the responsibility to open the batting with Shubman Gill. Apart from a good half century in the second innings by Pujara, the Indian top order failed. Hanuma Vihari also failed to impress with any sort of form, as he never got going in England.

Further, it seemed that Virat Kohli was shooting for one of his ad films, rather than in the game to play cricket. He was the JESTER of the team, rather than the LEADER that we have known him to be for so long. What a waste of a spot, though no one can deny that he has a lot of energy to give to the team!!

The Pant show was not enough to save India from this “new England” team

The talented wicket keeper batsman was the star of the show for India’s batting who smashed a 111 ball 146 with the strike rate of 131.53 to help India post a commanding first innings total. In the second innings, he scored a half century and while he was at the crease India were looking favourites in the match. Rishabh Pant did it all but there was no support for him from the other end.

Cricket is a team game and this one-man show was just not enough (apart from a few contributions in the game here and there) was not enough to outclass England, who played more as a unit across the five-day period. This will be a great less for both the new skipper Jasprit Bumrah and the team-management.

Lacklustre bowling attack on a dead pitch on day 4 and day 5

The so-called fierce attack of Bumrah and Shami magically disappeared on the final day of the Test. Ever since the third-wicket fell, the Indian bowlers were just out of it. For some reason, they thought that the game was already won. Mo Siraj and Shardul Thakur had already taken the back seat in the match to their senior partners and the skipper (Bumrah) had turned to Jadeja hoping for a miracle.

Nothing seemed to click for the Indian side, though there were a couple of changes that could have been taken. If only they were and the game could have turned on its head. But they weren’t and the bowling on the final day of the game, gave Team India no chance of a win!!

Bairstow and Root partnership

Two Yorkshiremen of England completely dominated Indian bowling in the fourth innings, something is very rarely to happen. Bairstow smashed centuries in both the innings, as the former skipper Joe Root joined the party with an unbeaten 142. Bairstow was man of the match and Root Man of the series.

India not only lost the game, but their slow overrate cost them two points in the World Test Championship table. The penalty means they slip below Pakistan in the #WTC23 standings.