India have bowled only 10 overs of spin across two innings of The Oval Test so far.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin blasted captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir for a lack of tactical acumen in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.
Bad light and subsequent rain forced early stumps on Day 4, pushing the game to the fifth and final day of The Oval Test. It set up a thrilling session, with England needing only 35 more runs to win. On the other hand, India require four wickets for a memorable win. But it could be three wickets if Chris Woakes, who sustained a shoulder injury on Day 1, is unable to walk into the middle.
ABF
–
SKA
95/4
SLK
–
BR
–
DCDM
210/6
DVDM
60/3
MIEDM
–
GGDM
–
SWDM
–
ADKRDM
–
GGDM
–
DCDM
–
NDT
69/1
CDK
167/8
New Delhi Tigers beat Central Delhi Kings by 9 wickets (D/L) method
SDS
–
WDL
–
PD
–
CDK
–
SDSW
121/8
CDQW
26/1
ROM
129/6
CZR
133/7
Czech Republic beat Romania by 3 wickets
ROM
143/4
CZR
155/3
Czech Republic beat Romania by 12 runs
ROM
93/4
CZR
92/8
Romania won by 6 wickets
AUST
155/6
BEL
154/10
Austria beat Belgium by 4 wickets
AUST
146/6
BEL
144/9
Austria beat Belgium by 4 wickets
BAC
–
UCCB
–
LKLS
–
ACB
–
UCCB
–
ACB
–
BAC
–
UCCB
–
LKLS
–
ACB
–
DURH
300/8
BB
163/3
NOR
189/10
MID
192/6
KENT
269/9
SOM
213/4
ESS
289/10
GLO
159/10
Essex beat Gloucestershire by 130 runs
SUSS
284/9
YOR
74/1
HAM
179/3
DER
339/5
LEI
150/4
WOR
328/10
NOT
78/2
SURR
289/8
QAT
127/1
KNY
242/8
PNG
148/10
KWT
149/6
Kuwait beat Papua New Guinea by 4 wickets
JER
–
DEN
–
GER-W
44/8
IRE-W
223/1
Ireland Women beat Germany Women by 179 runs
ITA-W
86/9
NED-W
21/0
KRMPS
–
SBSCC
–
BNC
–
KUMS
–
CAGS
174/3
ATR
173/7
Calicut Globstars beat Adani Trivandrum Royals by 7 wickets
KBTS
14/0
ARKS
236/5
ARKS
–
TTS
–
ALRS
–
ATR
–
BNB
146/9
MGD
149/1
Mangalore Dragons won by 9 wickets
SML
39/3
MYW
180/6
SML
–
HBT
–
MGD
–
GBM
–
YSG
128/10
ROS
133/3
Royal Oman Stallions beat Yallah Shabab Giants by 7 wickets
MAT
–
RNC
9/0
RNC
–
ROS
–
MUT
–
IAI
–
AUS
431/2
SA
155/10
Australia won by 276 runs
IPS
116/10
TMB
119/2
Toombul beat Ipswich by 8 wickets
SBB
2/0
WSS
–
SGR
149/5
WYN
148/10
Sandgate Redcliffe beat Wynnum Manly by 5 wickets
RLS
173/6
SSC
158/10
Redlands beat Sunshine Coast by 15 runs
GCT
133/7
UOQ
132/8
Gold Coast beat University of Queensland by 3 wickets
NSBB
187/8
VLLY
232/4
Valley beat Northern Suburbs by 45 runs
NSBB
–
GCT
–
WEF
150/6
TRR
152/7
MAO
–
BIP
–
OVI
–
LOS
–
WFW-W
122/9
TRW-W
145/6
Trent Rockets Women beat Welsh Fire Women by 23 runs
MOW-W
84/7
BIP-W
111/3
OIW-W
–
LSW-W
–
CHK
130/10
AS-A
131/4
Adelaide Strikers Academy beat Chicago Kingsmen by 6 wickets
PS
107/10
PSA
155/8
Perth Scorchers Academy beat Pakistan Shaheens by 48 runs
AS-A
190/6
PSA
205/2
Perth Scorchers Academy beat Adelaide Strikers Academy by 15 runs
MEMA
184/7
NOSK
143/9
Meerut Mavericks beat Noida Super Kings by 41 run
KARS
126/1
LUF
–
KASS
–
MEMA
–
KARS
–
GOLS
–
The lack of usage of spin was evident with the number of overs bowled by spinners of both teams. While England spinners bowled 265 overs in the series, Indian spinners rolled their arms for 216 overs despite playing two spinners in four Tests. However, the hosts managed only 13 wickets at 72.46, while the visitors picked up a wicket more, averaging 55.50.
“Coming back to the topic of spinners not being used, I have felt in this series that there has been a lack of game awareness and, in many ways, our tactical acumen — both on and off the field. This is the main reason why England are ahead in this series and India are behind. We haven’t been the sharpest. And when you miss the right moment to introduce spinners in these conditions, they become a defensive option.” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.
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India have bowled 76 overs in the second innings so far, with pacers sharing the maximum workload. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep have been relentless, bowling 26, 22, and 20 overs, respectively. On the contrary, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar have bowled only eight overs, with both bowling four overs each. In the first innings, Jadeja bowled just two overs out of the 54, with Sundar getting no chance to roll his arm.
“When Harry Brook started taking it on, after 20 runs, you could have brought on the spinner to choke the run flow. From the other end, a pacer could have bowled. With all this in mind, Washington Sundar could have been introduced earlier into the attack. Making these mistakes creates a huge gap. We don’t know whether the message is going from outside to the middle. We don’t know what’s being discussed in the dressing room. But in today’s day and age, these mistakes can definitely be avoided,” Ashwin added.
Resuming Day 4, England lost a few early wickets, reducing to 106/3 in chase of a 374-run target. However, Joe Root’s record-breaking 39th Test hundred (105 off 152 balls) and Harry Brook’s (111 off 98 balls) statement century have put England in a match-winning position. They shared a brilliant 195-run stand, setting up England’s second-highest run chase in Tests and the highest at The Oval. Despite the duo’s departure, England are favourites, with only 35 runs to seal the win, with four wickets remaining.
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