The Headingley chase wasn’t an exception.
India were in a commanding position for most of the Headingley Test and would have fancied their chances of defending 371 in the fourth innings. However, a torrid bowling performance in the fourth innings allowed England to chase down the target with five wickets to spare. This was their second-highest chase ever and also the second-highest against India.
While chasing a mammoth target of 371 might look like an exception, the reality is a little different. India have had issues defending fourth-innings totals numerous times lately. And this is a collective failure.
NAM
279/9
ASM
172/10
WI
57/4
AUS
180/10
SL
–
BAN
220/8
PRP
48/4
ALW
49/1
Alembic Warriors beat Pruthvi Panthers by 9 wickets
PRP
–
DID
49/4
Match abandoned due to rain
DID
–
ALW
–
Match Abandoned due to rain
APS
49/5
ASA
83/2
Ami Super Avengers beat A4 Power Strikers by 34 runs
HDS
87/8
SRTS
69/5
Harbour Diamonds beat Shrachi Rarh Tigers by 18 runs
SOSM
159/9
SESS
149/8
Sobisco Smashers Malda beat Servotech Siliguri Strikers by 5 runs (D/L) method
SRTS
–
RAMW
–
LSKT
–
SESS
–
AHWS
–
MUKS
–
SSS-W
82/3
RMW-W
110/8
Servotech Siliguri Strikers Womens beat Rashmi Medinipur Wizards Womens by 7 wickets (VJD method)
SSM-W
155/6
AHW-W
154/5
Sobisco Smashers Malda Womens won by 4 wickets
SRT-W
–
HD-W
–
Match Abandoned due to rain
LSKT-W
35/6
MK-W
58/3
Murshidabad Kueens Womens beat Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers Womens by 23 runs
Murshidabad Kueens Womens beat Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers Womens by 23 runs
MK-W
–
SSS-W
–
SRT-W
–
LSKT-W
–
HD-W
–
AHW-W
–
HD-W
–
AHW-W
–
GHM
49/3
OCC
48/1
Greater Helsinki Markhors beat Oulu CC by 7 wickets
GHM
199/1
KCCL
135/6
Greater Helsinki Markhors beat KCC Lions by 64 runs
OCC
111/6
FCCG
22/3
Match abandoned due to rain
KCCL
–
VTV
–
Match abandoned due to wet outfield
VTV
131/2
FCCG
60/1
Vantaa Vipers beat FinCC Gladiators by 71 runs
KCCL
–
FCCG
–
KCCL
–
OCC
–
VTV
–
OCC
–
FCCG
–
GHM
–
GHM
–
VTV
–
ECB-XI
194/8
IND-W
188/8
ECB Select XI beat India Women by 6 runs
NWW
143/8
LLG
147/2
Leinster Lightning beat North West Warriors by 8 wickets
MUR
152/6
NK
177/6
Northern Knights (Ireland) won by 25 runs
Northern Knights (Ireland) won by 25 runs
NWW
–
MUR
–
NK
–
LLG
–
GUC
101/10
LEX
175/4
Lexus won by 74 runs
Lexus won by 74 runs
TGS
–
THUB
–
YSS
–
THN
–
TSKS
196/8
LAKR
144/7
Texas Super Kings won by 52 runs
SOR
–
SFU
–
LAKR
–
WAF
–
ENGA-W
–
NZA-W
–
PYXI
107/8
YUC
108/4
Yuksom Capitals won by 6 wickets
RNB
202/3
AVECC
105/10
Royal North Brothers beat Avengers C C by 97 runs
IRSCC
–
CAO
–
BES
–
ALSC
–
WIA
–
SLEM
–
CBG
110/9
BMB
124/4
Bamboo Blasters beat Calabash Giants by 14 runs
IYH
121/3
WTS
103/2
Iyanola Heritage won by 18 runs
Iyanola Heritage won by 18 runs
BMB
–
AMW
–
PTS
–
CBG
–
TGC
137/6
MPS
131/7
Trichy Grand Cholas beat Siechem Madurai Panthers by 4 wickets
NRK
–
DID
–
Since 2021, India have the second-worst bowling average (28.93) in the fourth innings, only ahead of New Zealand (33.17). They have conceded 200+ ten times in the fourth innings, the second-most after Australia (11). Additionally, they have the joint second-most defeats (9) in the final dig, four of them came when the target was 200+.
We have filtered all bowlers who have bowled at least five times in the fourth innings since 2021. This reveals that India have the most bowlers (5) with an average of 30 or more. 55.55% of their bowlers fall in this criterion.
All Indian bowlers have struggled. Among all the bowlers to bowl at least 70 overs in the fourth innings since 2021, Mohammed Siraj (55.63) and Mohammed Shami (48.83) have the second and third-worst averages. Joe Root (71.25) is at the top, but he is not a specialist bowler.
Shardul Thakur (36.33) and Ravindra Jadeja (30.87) have been equally poor. While Bumrah (24.33) has been decent, he hasn’t exactly matched the lofty standards he has set for himself. Only Ravichandran Ashwin (18.96) has performed well, but he is not around anymore.
On comparing India’s performances in the first three innings to the final one, the problem becomes clear. Collectively, India have the best average (24.48) in the first three digs and the second-worst in the fourth one, as mentioned above. The average difference between the averages of the first three innings and the fourth innings paints a clear picture.
India have the biggest difference (4.45), followed by New Zealand (3.50) and Australia (0.37). They are the only teams with a higher average in the final turn than in the initial three. Bangladesh have the best difference (-8.89).
Fourth innings bowling has been an issue, but that’s mostly been away from home. Since 2021, India have the second-best average (21.02) in the final innings at home. In contrast, the away average stands at an abysmal 36.72, the second-worst after New Zealand (37.16).
At home, all bowlers, barring Siraj, average less than 30 among those with at least five outings. But away from home, only Ravichandran Ashwin (27.50) averages less than 30. As many as five bowlers have averaged more than 30, including Jasprit Bumrah (31.71).
Seven out of ten 200+ totals India have conceded are away from home. India failed to defend 378 and 371 against England and 240 and 212 against South Africa during this period. They even conceded 324 against Bangladesh, but fortunately, the target (513) was too big for the opponent.
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The issues will exacerbate now that Ashwin has retired, Shami is injury-prone, and Ishant is no longer in the plans. These three provided control and wickets when the pitch deteriorated and were the most prominent reasons behind India’s immense success at home and away. The current crop of fast bowlers have shown a lack of control, prominently on display at Headingley this week as England won a Test match by acing just one out of five days.
This Headingley chase isn’t an exception, rather it highlighted a longstanding problem that is slowly but surely starting to become noticeable. England have shown a tendency to bowl first in the Bazball era, and given India’s issues while defending targets, they might exploit more in the upcoming matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar series.
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