England v India: New ball is key to destiny of Headingley Test

Craig Overton accepted the Headingley Test will turn into “a real scrap” unless England can halt India’s progress when they unwrap the new ball on day four.
England's Joe Root will look to close out victory this weekend (Picture: PA)England's Joe Root will look to close out victory this weekend (Picture: PA)
England's Joe Root will look to close out victory this weekend (Picture: PA)

The third match of the LV= Insurance Series had the look of a walkover when India began their second innings 354 behind and with a score of 78 all out fresh in the mind.

But over the course of 80 carefully managed overs on day three, the tourists clawed their way back into the match with a score of 215-2.

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The odds remain stacked against them, with a deficit of 139 still to clear before they even think of asking England to bat again, but the firepower is there for them to make a real game of it on days four and, potentially five, at Emerald Headingley.

General view of the ground during day three of the cinch Third Test match at the Emerald Headingley, Leeds. (Picture:: Nigel French/PA Wire)General view of the ground during day three of the cinch Third Test match at the Emerald Headingley, Leeds. (Picture:: Nigel French/PA Wire)
General view of the ground during day three of the cinch Third Test match at the Emerald Headingley, Leeds. (Picture:: Nigel French/PA Wire)

Cheteshwar Pujara is locked in place on 91 not out, with Virat Kohli ominously placed on 45 not out and both men looked intent on shaking off some indifferent form.

But the prospect of laying hands on a fresh Dukes ball as soon as play resumes is a potential trump card for Joe Root’s men.

“We’re still in a good, or a great, position in this game and especially with a new ball in the morning,” said Overton, who has four wickets in the match.

“It will be massive, but we have to be on it from ball one.

India's Rohit Sharma (right) celebrates reaching a half century during day three of the cinch Third Test match at the Emerald Headingley, Leeds. (Picture: PA)India's Rohit Sharma (right) celebrates reaching a half century during day three of the cinch Third Test match at the Emerald Headingley, Leeds. (Picture: PA)
India's Rohit Sharma (right) celebrates reaching a half century during day three of the cinch Third Test match at the Emerald Headingley, Leeds. (Picture: PA)
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“Hopefully we get a couple early and press on but, obviously, if they start really well we’ve got a real scrap of a game on.

“If we get a couple of early wickets we can hammer it home a bit more.

“We knew they’d come back and fight, we know what they are like as a team and what their characters are like.

“Credit to them, they played really well and made it hard for us, so we’ve got to come back and show what we can do again.”

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England were guilty of letting their emotions get the best of them in a losing cause at Lord’s in the previous match, swapping bouncers and getting derailed by verbal exchanges.

They have been notably more reserved since arriving in Leeds and Overton suggested that outlook would continue, perhaps heeding Kohli’s pre-match warning that his side thrive when “provoked”.

Kohli’s side have hardly been shrinking violets when it 
comes to on-pitch conduct themselves, but Overton explained: “I think he (Kohli) is one of the characters that wants to get into the battle.

“As a side we’re just trying to make sure that we do our business as we can and, not ignore him, but make sure that we stick to the basics.

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“I think all of us bowlers will be hunting to try and get them out, but we’ll probably be trying to go about it in a different way than they were.”

Rohit Sharma, who scored a solid 59 at the top of the order to set the tone for India’s fightback, felt India were out to right some of the previous wrongs that left them up against the odds.

“We made some silly mistakes in the first innings, but it’s all about how quickly you learn from your mistakes,” he said.

“We batted poorly in the first innings.

“They bowled pretty good balls but it was definitely not a 78 (all out) pitch.

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“As a batting unit, we accepted we batted poorly and we corrected our mistakes in the second innings, which is why we are in this position right now.”

Meanwhile, a banner reading “sack the ECB save Test cricket” was flown over Headingley on day three of England’s ongoing clash against India.

A light aircraft made an appearance over the ground during the afternoon session, trailing the message in red block capitals for several laps.

It is not known who commissioned the fly-past, but those responsible were clearly keen to register their dissatisfaction with the governing body.

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The reference preserving the longest format could reflect frustration with the prominence of white-ball cricket in recent years, which culminated in the launch of The Hundred this summer.

Recent newspaper reports regarding lavish bonus payments due to be paid to leading executives at the England and Wales Cricket Board may also have played a part.

India’s defiance and the message from the skies, detracted somewhat from a moment of brilliance from one of Yorkshire’s own in front of his appreciative home audience.

Jonny Bairstow produced a spectacular catch to get England’s victory push against India up and running on the third morning.

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Openers Sharma and Rahul looked intent on reaching lunch without loss but the latter fell in the closing over to make it 34-1, Overton drawing the chance and Bairstow flinging himself to his left to snap up a stunning one-hander from second slip.

A much simpler chance awaited Bairstow’s Yorkshire compatriot and England captain Root at first had his team-mate not leapt into action, but the electric nature of the take could otherwise have proven to be an energising moment for the hosts.

As it was, India dug in to set up an intriguing weekend’s cricket in Leeds, with the outcome of the Test, and the series, very much in the balance.

Chris Waters on the 
Test match: Page 5

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