What a match, and what irony that it should be settled England’s way by a No.11 defending an off-break like an opening batter – soft hands and with the middle of the bat. But that’s great Test cricket, unsurpassable drama decided as often by the innocuous moment as the grand gesture.
All of India, and there would have been at least a billion watching on TV, would have kicked out a foot as the ball rolled towards the stumps; Mohammed Siraj’s back foot defensive shot having carefully ridden the extra bounce from Shoaib Bashir’s loopy off-break. Just the slightest deflection, with anything but hand, would have kept the red Dukes ball from nudging leg-stump and dislodging the bail – and kept India in a contest that went beyond thrilling as it moved into the final session of the final day.
But Siraj seemed rooted to the spot, mesmerised by the moment that seconds later would give England a 2-1 lead in a five-match series India have dominated most of the time.
Bashir, who came on to bowl from the sick bay, after breaking a finger on his left hand, was rightly lauded by his captain, Ben Stokes, for his courageous role. But it was Stokes, mining deep into his body and mind, who found the golden nuggets needed to get England over the line in this nip-and-tuck Test – a captain’s effort from the trenches rather than the observation tower.
There were ghosts to help him with the digging. Six years previously, to the day and on the same ground, Stokes had dragged England, this time with bat, to the super over bowled by Jofra Archer in the World Cup final against New Zealand. England then won by the barest of margins – something they did against India on Monday, 22 runs being close for a five-day Test which has run its course.
Stokes was simply immense. Whether exhorting his bowlers from mid-off or with ball in hand himself, he radiated a massive positive energy, like a brilliant sun. His two spells were a sapping ten overs each and he later admitted he had to go to dark places to produce them.
Injuries have restricted his bowling in recent times although he wrenched a win from nowhere against South Africa in Cape Town five years ago, but that was done with chutzpah and skilful reverse-swing.
He had no such allies here, only adversaries – the tenacious Ravindra Jadeja with bat and a sluggish pitch only occasionally offering succour.
But Stokes bashed away with energy-sapping hit-the-deck pace, body screeching, searching for vagaries in bounce now diminishing as the ball got softer. He believed and his team believed in him. His three for 48 included the prize wicket of KL Rahul, whom he pinned lbw, but only after a TV umpire review found in his favour.
After a quiet year or so performance-wise, Stokes’ all-round efforts at Lord’s (77 runs and five wickets in the match), plus the impressive marshalling of his players, deservedly won him the man of the match. Also, he showed his team, and possibly himself, that they don’t have to chase to win and that they can bat first and prevail – though he probably won’t become too wedded to the idea if he has to keep bowling the most overs.
One decision Stokes got right on day five was to open with Archer from the Pavilion End. Would that decision have been made if Stokes hadn’t dismissed Akash Deep just before the close of day four, which left him with two balls to bowl from the Nursery End when play resumed on the final morning? Whatever the process, Archer got the Pav End and promptly detonated Rishabh Pant’s off-stump. Soon after, he caught and bowled the capable Washington Sundar for nought, his one-handed pouch a remarkable bit of athleticism.
Perhaps more importantly looking forward, Archer suddenly looked the complete fast bowler – hackles up and with a carnivore’s scent for blood – rather than someone who just bowls fast. Whereas previously his default body language has been somewhat hang-dog, here he was following through to within smelling distance of the batter, dander up and eyeballs popping.
Whether this came from the occasion, his captain’s chivvying or the animus now developing between the teams, there needs to be more of it. His time with England has become precious and every spell must count.
All through these dramas Jadeja, India’s veteran all-rounder and a man forged by crises, was playing the long game. From deep experience he knows Test cricket is a team effort, which means trusting others. He could try to be Superman and do it in a whirl of audacity or he could get India close by minimising risk at least until all other options had been exhausted.
This is not Bazball’s way – its gung-ho rashness may have prevailed chasing the 193 India needed or it may have gone down in flames. Jadeja played the percentages, his unbeaten 61, from a mammoth 181 balls, cruelly coming up short. But that can happen when there are variables in the mix like team-mates and opponents.
Old Trafford is next in a week’s time and while I never thought I’d see another Test series as dramatic as the 2005 Ashes, this is boiling up into a heady melodrama that may well push it close if both teams can maintain the quality and tempo.
Bashir’s broken finger has ended his series and he has been replaced by Liam Dawson. A left-arm spinner from Hampshire, Dawson is feisty and can bat, two attributes he will need as the spice levels rise between the teams.
By the way, that bounce from Bashir which forced the error from Siraj, produced by overspin and sharp dip, is what England want in Australia this winter, which is why they continue to persist with the tall off-spinner despite modest returns. But injuries open doors for others and Dawson has a chance to catch the eye and help win a series that will be considered a classic whatever happens from here.