IND vs ENG Test: Did use of roller influence strategy at Oval? | Cricket News – Times of India

London: India’s Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal work together with chief curator Lee Fortis earlier than the beginning of play on day one of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, at the Oval, in London. (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar) (PTI07_31_2025_000154B)

London: The Indian workforce spent an excellent quantity of time deciding on their alternative of pitch roller earlier than play on the second morning of the fifth Test at The Oval.They had their final recognised pair in Karun Nair and Washington Sundar at the crease. After a lot session with consultants at the bottom, they opted for a lightweight roller.India guarded in opposition to flattening out the floor, anticipating England to use the heavy roller as soon as they had been bowled out within the first innings. India finally misplaced the remaining 4 wickets inside half-hour.English openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley went berserk within the first 15 overs. India may solely make a comeback within the Test within the afternoon session after an excellent two hours of play following the use of the heavy roller. That type of set the template for the remainder of the match. As a lot because the pitch was mentioned, the roller grew to become an enormous speaking level.

“We’re trying to work out why (folding cheaply in the first innings after a strong start). Is it the heavy roll or is it the new ball that’s kind of skids on? When is a good time to bat? You can see Jaiswal come out tonight (Friday) and he played positively. We’ll see as it goes on,” England’s assistant coach Marcus Trescothick stated after the second day’s play on Friday.The discipline set by India on the third night was intriguing. They began with an inand-out discipline once they took the sphere to defend the 374-run goal on a vigorous pitch. The pitch performed methods. Duckett and Crawley performed their photographs whilst they appeared unconvincing. But India ensured they didn’t get off to a flyer. The photographs that fly off the bat behind sq. with the brand new ball had been intercepted halfway.

As effectively as Akash Deep batted as a nightwatchman on the third morning, one couldn’t rule out the impact of the heavy roller used earlier than the day’s play. Subsequently, batting grew to become a tad powerful within the second session. The variable bounce was on present once more. The English assault, overworked after dropping Chris Woakes’ companies on account of a shoulder damage within the first innings, misplaced some zing. Again, Washington cashed in on the second new ball to assist India set a difficult goal for England.India adopted the identical precept on the fourth morning. A ramification-out slip cordon with a semi-defensive discipline after England used the heavy roller earlier than the beginning of play. But the emphasis was to not leak runs.As England launched a counterattack within the afternoon session, India would have been left with two ideas—in the event that they erred by utilizing the sunshine roller on the second morning, or if their methods revolved an excessive amount of across the roller used.