On Day 4, England were dominating the proceedings as Joe Root and Harry Brook frustrated Indian bowlers. But, like it has been in the Test series, the game tilted the other side in one session. Indian pacers made a comeback by removing Root, Brook and young Jacob Bethell. While the pacers were tightening the screws, leading to an exciting climax to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, the game came to a halt due to bad light and rain. The dark clouds led to an early Stumps which did not please England’s legendary pacer Stuart Broad. He feels that the match officials made an early call end the day’s play as they could have waited a little longer for the conditions to get better and resume the game.
"Still 20 mins (minutes) away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station," Broad wrote on X.
"Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?"
England were 339/6 with wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in the middle. The hosts need 35 more runs to win whereas India need to four wickets as Root confirmed that an injured Chris Woakes will come out to bat if needed.
What Root and India bowling coach said about early call-off?
Like all Tests in the series, the fifth Test will be decided on Day 5 as well. After the day’s play, Root was asked in the post-day press conference whether England benefitted from last session ending early. He feels that he heavy roller used before Day 5 will give an opportunity for England batters to score quickly. But, on the flip side, Indian bowlers will be well-rested.
"There's pros and cons to both really. Guys have bowled a lot, there's overs in their legs. You get back out there and you get a couple of boundaries away and all of a sudden the game looks very different again. But then again you come back tomorrow, you get another (use of heavy) roller, (players) can rest up and it's a completely new opportunity. You just sit and wait and do what you're told. So from our point of view, you come back tomorrow and got an amazing spectacle to look forward to," Root told the media at Kennington Oval, London.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel agreed with what Root said. He wants Indian pacers to get on with the job as usual and hit right areas on Day 5.
"Tomorrow we can just focus on doing a good warm-up and get the boys ready to hopefully get the ball in the right area and yeah, create a little bit of excitement again," the former South Africa pacer said.