🏏India tour of England 2025: 5th Test: Eng vs India- Oval, Day 3🏏 - Page 17

Nigel noronha: "What does akash deep do here ? Hit out n let gill come in. Or try to stick in der n give jaiswal strike" I think he's got the right idea. Build the lead quickly before the bowlers can settle. Plenty batting to come...

Josh Tongue was wayward in the first innings but was annoyingly accurate in the second effort from the batter's perspective. He created those wide angles, kept banging away literally at one spot, got the ball to nibble in and out and made life hell for them. Ask KL, who was tortured on both the edges of the bat before eventually being snaffled. Tongue stepped up big time when his team was without Chris Woakes - out with a shoulder injury. Tongue is a real deal. If he managed to be effective despite spraying the ball around in the first innings, imagine how big a threat he will be if he gets it right again today.

India 82/2

ENG 247

IND 224 & 82/2 (20)

CRR: 4.1

Day 3: 1st Session - India lead by 59 runs

Partnership: 12(17)

Last Wkt: Sai Sudharsan lbw b Atkinson 11(29) - 70/2 in 17.2 ov.

Ovs Left: 95.5

Last 10 overs: 36 runs, 1 wkts

Toss: England (Bowling)

end of over 21

6 runs

IND: 88/2

CRR: 4.19

Akash Deep14 (15)

YBK Jaiswal53 (55)

AAP Atkinson7-2-32-1

JC Tongue8-1-26-1

Dr. Ashish Bans: "This is an important and decisive session for the series. If India manages to see through the session for not more than 2 wickets, then they shall be very close to levelling the series."

Tongue to Akash Deep, FOUR, and he's guided this past gully now for four more! Runs early in the morning from a nightwatchman is a joy for the batting team.

India 97/2

STAT: Early days still in this innings but 40 false shots from India have costed them only two wickets - a wicket every 20 balls. Only once previously in this series have they lost wickets less frequently to false shots in an innings - the second innings of the Old Trafford Test.

England know Akash will swing his bat at anything full. Akash has been defending the shortish balls fairly well, so now they are trying to bounce him out. Will be interesting to see how patient England will be to Akash. Will they back their fuller lengths with to bring the cordon in play or try too hard?

STAT: Early days still in this innings but 40 false shots from India have costed them only two wickets - a wicket every 20 balls. Only once previously in this series have they lost wickets less frequently to false shots in an innings - the second innings of the Old Trafford Test.

Jiten Chandaran: "How long before the heavy roller wears off?" It's a good question, the pitch does seem a little sleepy at the moment, or maybe it's just England's bowling