Day two of the fourth Test played at The Oval saw England slump to 62/5 but recover well helped by fifties from Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 290. Openers KL Rahul (22 not out) and Rohit Sharma (20 not out) guided India to 43/0 at the end of the day, after conceding a 99-run lead.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has said that the first hour of day three will be crucial for India and added that the visitors will be favorites if they bat the entire day.
“I think there will be another 270 runs scored on Day 3. If India can bat out out the day, then we start getting to the stage where they become favorites to win the Test match. That’s the big if - can they bat out the day?
Read also: ENG v IND 2021: Indian batting unit not as consistent as they would like - Deep Dasgupta
The first hour is always the key as the ball will do a little bit. We saw that on the first two mornings as well. If India can nullify that first hour, when there is a little bit more in the surface, India start to become favorites then,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.
He also warned Indian batsmen against chasing balls outside off-stump, something that they have repeatedly done and failed in this series.
“Bat all day - it’s a simple procedure that India now find themselves in. They have nullified the initial pressure zone with that start. Don’t go chasing the wide ones, don’t go chasing those big drives in the first hour. Play for your off stump and then make hay. The sun will shine eventually,” he added.
The former England player said that the team that gets an individual 100 will win the game as it is not easy to bat on this surface.
“I really feel that the way India have fought, from 120 for 7 to now be in this position, where they are only 56 runs behind… It is not a lot on a ground where you can score quite quickly. The team that gets the individual score to an individual hundred, that side will win the game. If an Indian can get a hundred, that will go a long way in them winning the game.”
