Gill And Rahul Dig In To Lead India Fightback After Stokes Hits England Ton

As England walked disconnected for luncheon connected nan 4th time astatine Old Trafford they could person been forgiven for reasoning their opponents were already beaten. India had endured nan benignant of greeting that usually dictates a mates of paracetamol and nan curtains being redrawn, specified was nan pummelling that Ben Stokes had delivered pinch bat successful hand.

It was not conscionable Stokes, either. After his first Test period for 2 years drove England to 669 each out, nan visitors recovered themselves tasked pinch negotiating 15 minutes earlier nan break — a speech that could scarcely person gone worse than had a mates of contestants from The Apprentice been handling it. Chris Woakes conjured up 2 wickets successful 2 balls earlier India had made truthful overmuch arsenic a dent successful nan whopping 311-run deficit.

And yet by stumps this 4th Test had taken connected a different complexion courtesy of a mates of hugely wished performances from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. Resisting for 2 wicketless sessions that forced nan Saturday crowd to make their ain fun, they steered India to 174 for 2 astatine stumps. Though still 137 runs behind, location is simply a chance of rainfall connected Sunday and nan tie that seemed truthful improbable astatine luncheon remains a possibility.

Kudos must first spell to nan 2 group batters, not slightest aft 157 overs successful nan field. Though a decent aboveground successful nan main, capable deliveries were shooting debased but astatine nary constituent did their attraction waver. Both do obduracy successful nan astir elegant of ways, pinch Gill’s low-slung hands still caressing nan shot and Rahul each method excellence. Reaching 78 and 87 not retired respectively, 2 of India’s elder pros had delivered a connection to those little down.

Ben Stokes salutes connected making his century, his first successful 2 years. Photograph: Steve Taylor/PPAUK/Shutterstock

But it besides hinted astatine immoderate of England’s shortcomings erstwhile Stokes, their standout performer pinch nan shot this summer, is retired of action. The expected cramps that forced Stokes disconnected nan section connected time 3 whitethorn good beryllium thing much sinister going by nan show of him clutching his precocious limb a mates of times. After that five-wicket haul successful nan first innings, each Stokes could do present was tally done nan tactical playbook and wait.

Woakes was nan prime and his caller shot burst was thing to behold. First went Yashasvi Jaiswal, squared up and edging to gaffe arsenic Joe Root clung connected astatine nan 2nd attempt. Then came a dismissal that Gautam Gambhir could subordinate to, Sai Sudharasan’s attempted time off first shot catching nan bat and besides flying to nan cordon. Think Gautam Gambhir astatine nan Oval successful 2014, moreover if India’s caput coach would sooner hide it.

But beyond this, nan main threat came from Liam Dawson trying to trap nan 2 right-handers connected nan backfoot pinch a spot of skid. Yet each clip nan shot was met pinch conscionable capable willow. And it was Dawson who put down nan 1 genuine chance to materialise during an day that seemed to conscionable disappear. Gill skewed nan shot difficult to backward constituent connected 46 only for it to burst done nan all-rounder’s hands.

Had it stuck, India would person been 74 for 3 and Brydon Carse would person opened his relationship for nan match. Jofra Archer, his chap quick, sewage nan caller shot to talk but a mates impassioned appeals for lbw were declined. This five-match bid has asked plentifulness of some sets of accelerated bowlers — thing India’s will surely attest.

Stokes had fixed them nan tally astir successful nan morning, some done nan completion of his 14th Test period and 125 further runs being trowelled connected to England’s pile. This was nan first clip for 11 years that India had shipped a 600-plus full and Jasprit Bumrah’s runs file ran into 3 figures for nan first clip successful his stellar career.

Shubman Gill (left) and KL Rahul defied England aft India mislaid 2 wickets without a tally connected nan board Photograph: Jon Super/AP

If nan return of Stokes arsenic a unit pinch nan shot has arguably been nan biggest positive for England successful this bid past this innings was not acold behind. Resuming connected 77, Stokes opened up pinch a mates of imperious fours disconnected Mohammed Siraj and past tipped past three-figures pinch a flick down leg. Out came nan ceremony not seen for a bully while — that crooked digit salute and a look to nan entity to honour his precocious father, Ged.

This was nan first clip an England skipper has scored a period and claimed a five-wicket haul successful a Test lucifer and soon nan afterburners were lit arsenic he and Carse (47 from 54 balls) ransacked 95 runs for nan ninth wicket. When Stokes monstered Washington Sundar for a consecutive six it took him past 7,000 Test runs, thing only Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis had antecedently mixed pinch 200-plus wickets.

But unless Stokes is capable to resume his pursuit of nan second connected nan 5th day, aliases others muster 1 past effort successful his absence, India could yet wriggle retired of this one.