Going into the final day of the first Test, there is plenty of intrigue around the Headingley pitch which hasn’t showed any big signs of deteriorating. When Day 4 began it was lively before a few deliveries kept low as the day progressed with spinners getting some purchase from the rough. As England go into the final day needing 350 runs and India needing 10 wickets, and bit of showers predicted through the day, the Test is heading for a fitting climax.
Off late the pitch has become batting friendly with teams comfortably chasing 300-plus totals. And India batsman KL Rahul, who scored a century at the top, revealed that the pitch reminded him of sub-continental conditions. “I think the first two days, being as hot as it was, the pitch has taken a bit of beating,” Rahul said in an interview with Jiostar at stumps on Day 4. “The crack seems like it’s opening up. There’s a bit of rough there, and the wicket is really dry. Mostly, it’s like a subcontinent wicket on day five,” Rahul said.
The opener who became the first Asian opener to score three centuries in England said India expect the hosts to come hard at them. “Day five wicket won’t be as easy, but knowing how England play and their style of cricket, they’re going to come hard and try and score boundaries and try and score runs as quickly as possible. We need to keep that in the back of our heads and try and bowl as straight as we can. Try and be patient and really not give them those boundaries, make them earn their runs. It should be a very interesting day.”
Hear from KL Rahul after his superb 137 in the second innings. 🔝🗣️#SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/YvuL5kzxh7
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Rahul said the conditions on Day 4 were typically English where the ball seamed around in the morning. Even on Day 5, conditions are expected to be overcast which could bring the seamers very much into play. “It was very different this morning. It almost felt like it was the first time we were actually in English conditions. The ball was seeming around, it was overcast. There was a bit happening from the wicket.
“The first couple of days when we batted, there wasn’t much. There was a bit of swing in the air, but nothing off the pitch. But this morning it was a really good spell. I just felt like I needed to play tighter and make sure that we don’t lose too many wickets and make sure that I kill the first session. I was trying to play as straight as possible. At least defend as straight as possible.”
