NEW DELHI: Tempers flared in the final over of the first session on Day 5 of the opening Test between India and England at Headingley on Tuesday, as a minor delay disrupted India’s tactical plans. Mohammed Siraj, aware that only one over remained before lunch, rushed through his penultimate delivery, hoping to complete the over quickly and allow Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the final one before the break — a move that could have brought a much-needed breakthrough. However, England’s openers appeared reluctant to face Bumrah at that stage.As Siraj sprinted back to his mark to deliver the final ball, Zak Crawley backed away at the last moment, pointing to movement behind the bowler’s arm. The delay meant Siraj ended up bowling the final over of the session himself, much to his frustration.Siraj was visibly annoyed and was seen exchanging words with both Crawley and his partner Ben Duckett while walking back to the pavilion. Rishabh Pant, behind the stumps, also showed visible displeasure at the interruption. KL Rahul later joined the discussion with the two English batters during the walk off the field.
Statistically, the first session of this Test has been the least fruitful for bowlers, with a wicket falling every 83.6 deliveries, compared to 62.7 in the second session and 59.9 in the third.Despite favourable bowling conditions — overcast skies, the pitch offering movement, and floodlights in full effect — India remained wicketless in the morning session. England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, not only batted through the entire session but did so with control and composure, guiding the team to 117 without loss at lunch. They now require 254 more runs in 66 overs for a record chase of 371.Their unbeaten 117-run stand set multiple records. It became the highest opening partnership in the fourth innings of a Test at Headingley, surpassing the 112-run stand by Bert Sutcliffe and Walter Scott for New Zealand in 1949. It also marked England’s highest such stand in a fourth innings since Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss’ 123 against South Africa at The Oval in 2008.Duckett (64*) and Crawley (42*) registered their fourth century partnership and crossed 2,000 runs as a pair — becoming the first English opening duo to do so since Cook and Strauss.Cautious at first, especially under the lights against Bumrah and Siraj with the new ball, the pair opened up as the session progressed. Once Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur came on, Duckett capitalised, bringing up his fifty off 66 balls with a flurry of cuts and pulls, even attempting a few adventurous scoops.
India’s best chance came late in the session when Bumrah induced a leading edge from Crawley, only to put down a difficult one-handed return catch diving to his left. Earlier, Crawley survived an LBW review off Siraj, with ball-tracking showing the delivery bouncing over leg stump.While Bumrah and Siraj maintained pressure throughout, a lack of support in the field and missed opportunities allowed England to remain firmly in control.With rain in the forecast but the first session going uninterrupted, a dramatic finish is on the cards. All four results remain possible as India hunt for wickets and England chase a historic win in what is shaping up to be a Test match for the ages.
