The fifth Test of the series between India and England headed to the final day after stumps got called early on Day 4 due to bad light. With England requiring 35 runs and India needing four wickets, every result is still possible. England wrapped up the fourth day on 339/6 with Jamie Smith batting on 2 and Jamie Overton yet to open his account.
Meanwhile, the match officials' decision of calling early stumps on Day 4 has come under scrutiny with former England captain Nasser Hussain raising questions over the baffling decision. The third session of the day saw rain starting to pour down and the umpires soon took the players off due to bad light. But, the shower wouldn't last for long and disappeared soon after. However, rather than resuming the play, the officials decided to call stumps.
Hussain was furious with the match officials
Hussain said that there was a 'lack of common sense' used by the officials and groundsmen, adding that a match like this deserved to conclude in front of a sold-out crowd.
"Most importantly for viewers and fans who paid good money, remember Monday is a workday, and this sort of series deserves a finale in front of a big crowd at an iconic cricket ground, the Oval. That would have been some finale on Sunday, you may have just knocked off 35, or you may have seen Chris Woakes walk downstairs in a sling. I'm just wondering if they could have done anything, they had like 42-43 minutes to play with and within the laws and the playing regulations," Hussain said on Sky Sports.
"If the groundsman had said no, we can't get the covers off in that time, the umpires would have to call stumps. I'm just wondering, you do have the option of the extra half hour, don't you? If you feel you can get result at 7.30, if there was 10 to win, the umpires would have given the team the extra half hour, I was just wondering if you could give the extra half hour at 6:42 (11:12 PM IST) and say to the teams, it has to come from the teams," he added.
Hussain further stated that the officials could have asked both the teams if they wanted to finish off the game on Day 4 or if they wanted it to end on the final day.
"We're willing to push that back half an hour, are you okay, both teams, are you okay to do that, if one of the teams, if India could say, our bowlers are exhausted, give them a night's sleep, then you say, absolutely fine, or England say, we've had a mad hour there, we want to come back tomorrow, that's fine, but I'm just wondering if you could have a bit of common sense in there, but it's a shame," Hussain further stated.
On the other hand, it was Harry Brook and Joe Root's centuries on Day 4 that saw England get quite close to the 374-run target. Both the batters formed a massive 195-run partnership and hammered Indian bowlers all around the stadium. Though the Men in Blue got some late wickets during the day, the hosts are still the favourites to come out victorious and seal the five-match series on Day 5.