Former England captain Michael Vaughan does not believe that Ben Stokes-led side have the ability to win the Edgbaston Test as India have set a 608-run colossal target for them. While the Bazball era has always been about winning rather than going for a draw, and Harry Brook reiterated the fact after Day 3, Vaughan feels England have no option but play for a draw. He also questioned whether England batters have the skillset to go against their acquired nature and bat for a draw.
“Well, they have to, they can’t win this game," Vaughan told BBC's Test Match Special. “India have completely dominated the Test with brilliant skill, great discipline. It’s exactly what I want to see from England tomorrow. In a funny kind of way, this day has been coming where BazBallers can’t arrive on day five and even think about winning. Have they got the ticker, the skillset and the determination to try and get a draw?"
“The next best thing from winning a Test match is getting a draw. If they just kind of give it away and decide, you know, ‘That’s the way that we play. We’re always on the front foot, playing aggressively,’ they’ll get bowled out quickly tomorrow. Have they got the skillset and the mindset to try and bat the full day and get on the bus to Lord’s with a draw? We’ll wait and see."
Just one draw under Stokes' leadership
Under Stokes' captaincy, England have played only one Test that ended in a draw, that too a rain-affected one. If rain plays spoilsport on Day 5, England will have to consider the draw option as they have seven wickets in hand and a mountain of runs to climb, even on a flat but deteriorated Edgbaston pitch.
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When England crossed 600 in a run chase
Before the Edgbaston Test, there have been 10 instances of teams setting a target in excess of 600. As the records suggest, England have never won a Test chasing over 600. However, in 1939, they scored 654/5 in the run chase of 696. The game ended in a draw. It is the highest score by a team while chasing in Tests.