IND v ENG, 1st Test, Day 4 Review: Cook, Hameed build lead as match heads towards a draw

Confident knocks from Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed have ensured that the ongoing Test at the SCA Stadium will most likely conclude as a draw as the England openers forged a confident 114 runs partnership for the opening wicket to ensure England sit prettily on top at Stumps.

Into its fourth day, the Rajkot pitch has surprisingly not broken up and continues to favour batsman in general. Alastair Cook – Haseeb Hameed batted with a good poise and gave no chances to the Indian spinners. The duo batted so well that the bowlers were made to look very desperate to get wickets. Cook ended four short of his fifty while debutant Hameed struck his maiden half-century and finished on 62.

Resuming on 319/4, Indian were able to take their total to 488, riding on Ravichandran Ashwin’s 11th half century. The No. 1 ranked all –rounder hit a fabulous 70 to play a central role in India attempt to narrow the deficit. After things ended on a slight low after India lost two quick wickets toward the end yesterday, the morning session also began on a quite disappointing note after Kohli was dismissed hit wicket while trying to pull Adil Rashid.

Kohli could have escaped but Jonny Bairstow quickly found the bails dislodged and went up celebrating. Rahane also lost his wicket shortly after playing on Safar Ansari onto the stumps. These wickets came after Kohli and Rahane had given a good positive start to the game, playing out the opening spell from the English bowlers. But, Saha and Ashwin found a way out and brought some respite putting up 64 runs to make things normal before leg-spinner Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali cleaned up the Indian tail to help England take a 49 runs lead.

Rashid was the man under spotlight for his 4/114. He figured out the pace to bowl at, held his line and length, and mixed leg breaks and googly to keep the batsman in the loop. He needed this performance and his efforts deserve applause mainly because the Indian spin trio Ashwin, Jadeja and Mishra failed to anything on the same pitch.

Hameed has continued a very special English tradition. It can be noted that the Three Lions have consistent unearthed special talents whenever they have travelled to India for a Test Series. It was Alastair Cook in 2006, Graeme Swann in 2008 and Joe Root in 2012. The previous two have now become big contributors while Root his on the same glorious path. ‘Baby Boycott,’ as he is called in the commentary box for his perseverance, has shown very good signs of joining those extraordinary cricketers

Hameed showed the spark in the first innings itself where he hit 31. His short but impressive effort deserved appreciation because, at a time when his senior partner was struggling get going and edging the ball to slips, struggling to stay at the crease, Hameed was unexpectedly at ease playing the Indian bowlers. Unfortunately, he could not convert his impressive start into something memorable. But, the 19-year-old made sure he made up for the opportunity he lost in the first innings.

Brief Score:

England: 537 (Ben Stokes 128; Ravindra Jadeja 3/86) & 114/0 (Hameed 62*)

India: 488 (Murali Vijay 128; Adil Rashid 4/114)