Last day of Leeds Test (Photo: PTI)
The decision in the Leeds Test is of the day. India will win or England… It has to be stamped in the 5th day game. Chasing a target of 371 runs from India, England scored 21 runs in their second innings without losing any wickets till the end of the fourth day’s play. Now on the last day of the Test match, he has to score 350 runs and 10 wickets are in hand for him. In such a situation, the question is who will win? If England achieves this goal, then it will be its second largest chase on its land. Also, it will be the second largest chase to be held on the Leeds ground. But is everything going to be so easy for England?
India-England track record
Whether or not things will be easier for England, it will depend on its own previous track record and current performance, as well as on India’s next-back performance. It is clear that before reaching the bottom of the Leeds Test, it is important to understand the history-geography of both teams.
Team India defending 350 plus runs
Talking about Team India, he has lost 350 or more runs in Test cricket and lost in just one match. India has played 59 such Tests so far, in which it has come down to defend 350 plus runs. In those 59 Tests, he has won 42, while he has lost in just 1. There are 16 such test draws.
Now, seeing the mood of England, the remaining 10 wickets in the hand and the whole day’s game remaining, it does not seem that England will land on the field with the intention of drawing the match. And, if he does not do this, then the match will reach some conclusion. Either India will get 43rd wins by defending 350 plus runs or another defeat. Otherwise, under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, I will be seen writing a similar story with England.
England lost only 1 in the last 6 Tests played at home
By the way, the last 6 Tests played at home, in which he has chased 200 plus total, he has won 5 of it under the captaincy of Ben Stokes. Meaning England have lost in just 1. One of these Tests is also that, in which he chased 378 runs against India in the Birmingham Test in 2022, which is also his biggest successful chase in his house.
What does 126 years history of Leeds say?
However, this time the target is of 371 runs. If we look at the history of 126 years of the Leeds ground, so far 350 plus target has been chased only 2 times. This was the first time in 1948 by Australia against England, when it scored 404 runs. And then in 2019, England chased 359 runs against Australia. So will England be able to register its name in the record book of Leeds one more time?
The role of Indian bowlers is important
If we look at the overall, the pan is bent in favor of India. But, as soon as the eye goes on Indian bowling, the graph of England starts to dominate India. This is because from 2023 to 2025, the Indian bowlers have given 450 plus runs in the Test played in SENA countries 3 times. Whereas this figure was zero between 2016 and 2022. Meaning even then even the Indian bowlers did not carry 450 plus runs. It is clear that the role of its bowlers in India’s victory and defeat in the leads is going to be important.
