That India batted on into the night session at Edgbaston prompt they had been cautious of England’s potential to chase huge scores.
The hosts accomplished a pursuit of 371 with 5 wickets to spare in Leeds final week and knocked off a report 378 to beat India by seven wickets on this very floor in 2022.
4 of England’s finest 10 chases within the fourth innings – and their highest two – have come within the three years underneath Stokes and McCullum.
None have come near this activity, nonetheless. The best profitable chase in Take a look at historical past is West Indies’ 418-7 in opposition to Australia in 2003.
Salvaging a draw on the fifth day is just not easy both. England have solely completed so as soon as prior to now 12 years.
On that event, the fourth Take a look at of the 2021-22 Ashes in Sydney, they began the ultimate day with all 10 wickets in hand reasonably than the seven they’ve remaining right here.
This Edgbaston pitch can be providing extra spin and seam motion than at Headingley final week, plus some uneven bounce.
CricViz’s PitchViz, which ranks the issue of surfaces from one to 10 with the upper quantity being harder, gave this observe a score of 4.6 on the finish of day 4, a deterioration from day one. At Headingley the day-four pitch was rated 3.7, having bought simpler for batting because the opening day.
So it’s clear the chances are stacked closely in opposition to England.
As for positives, there’s some rain forecast within the morning which might scale back the variety of overs they must bat.
Batting has additionally been far simpler in opposition to the older, softer ball all through this match and this present lump of leather-based is now 16 overs previous.
In England’s first innings, India took 5 wickets for 85 runs with the primary new ball and 5-31 with the second. In between, Brook and Jamie Smith mixed for an epic partnership that yielded 303 runs.
“We have now one other 10-15 overs of the toughest level, earlier than the ball will get a bit bit smooth, and we’ll see how we’re going from that time,” Trescothick stated.
There’ll nonetheless be 24 overs left within the day when India get their second new ball shortly after tea – if England can get there.
In some methods, their method on Sunday will probably be extra attention-grabbing than the end result.
