England are gunning for an additional exceptional ‘Bazball’ chase within the first Rothesay Check in opposition to India, with Josh Tongue insisting a draw has not crossed their thoughts.
Tongue took three wickets in 4 balls on a dramatic fourth night at Headingley as India left their hosts a chase of 371 – and a glimmer of hope in a recreation they need to have killed off after a whole bunch from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
England head into the ultimate day needing 350 extra with all 10 wickets intact, a tall order that might as soon as have been thought of mission not possible.
But it surely was simply three years in the past, within the early days of Ben Stokes‘ captaincy, that they hunted down a file 378 at Edgbaston in opposition to the exact same opponents. Higher but, they did it for the lack of solely three wickets and roared dwelling within the 77th over.
With 90 at their disposal on Tuesday, there isn’t a curiosity in batting out for a stalemate. There was only one draw since Stokes took over as skipper, a rain-ruined conflict with Australia in 2023.
Going for the win
Requested if sharing the spoils on this sequence opener can be acceptable, Tongue mentioned: “No. I feel we’ll simply go for the win.
“That’s the clear message within the altering room. It’s simply being as constructive as we are able to. They’re going to bowl properly at occasions, so it’s simply essential we take in that little bit of stress and reapply it once more on their bowlers.
“I don’t see why we are able to’t chase that down. With our batting line-up I really feel we are able to chase something down.”
Tongue additionally noticed match to lift recollections of Stokes’ most interesting hour as a Check cricketer, his ‘miracle of Headingley’ in 2019, the place a magical century carried England to 359 by a solitary wicket.
“I bear in mind Stokesy’s innings right here in opposition to the Aussies,” he added with a smile.
The goal could properly have been taken far out of England’s grasp had India not imploded from 333 for 4 to 364 all out of their second innings.
Tongue cleansing up the tail
Tongue was the primary motive for his or her hasty conclusion, wrapping up a triple-wicket maiden with the scalps of Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
He was decisive in opposition to the tail in India’s first innings collapse too and is able to lean into Ben Duckett‘s advised nickname, ‘the mop’.
“I’ve accomplished it twice now, so I may need to begin calling myself that,” he mentioned.
“When the decrease order is in it’s a great alternative to get some wickets.”
Rahul, who performed with nice management for his 137, is prepared for fireworks as each groups struggle to the tip of an exciting contest.
“It’s a blockbuster end ready tomorrow,” he mentioned. “There’s undoubtedly going to be a outcome. That’s what England have mentioned very brazenly and their type of cricket means that as properly. That offers us a great alternative to choose up 10 wickets.”
