Looking Ahead To Day Two At The Oval
Author: Tom Penn
Updated At:
This Test series between England and India has been a rollercoaster ride throughout for both teams and day one of the final Test at The Oval proved to be the same although it is the hosts who come out with a slight advantage.
Cricket fanatics already knew that England would make four changes to their team ahead of this game and Ollie Pope would stand in for Ben Stokes as captain. We didn't know what Shubman Gill would announce at the toss, although it was already a given that Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah would not play, and the India skipper.
Like their hosts, India made four changes of their own with Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna coming in for Bumrah, Pant, Kamboj and Thakur all sitting out.
India will resume on 204/6, with Pope's side favourites to win at this stage with the cricket betting sites.
What Else Happened On Day One
Let's start with the basics, there were delays and interruptions due to rain and only 64 overs were able to be bowled. India made 204 runs with Karun Nair top scoring on 52* and England picked up six wickets.
Gus Atkinson was the pick of the English bowlers, returning figures of 2/31 as he enjoyed wearing the three lions for the first time in the series.
Josh Tongue also took two wickets but he also sprayed the ball all over the place - conceding 11 wides from three balls in one over!
And after injuries had already deprived the watching public of the chance to see Bumrah, Pant and Stokes at The Oval, it is likely that Chris Woakes will not add to his 14 overs bowled on Thursday in this Test as he suffered a shoulder injury while fielding on the boundary with the severity to be assessed ahead of Friday's play.
What to expect on day two at The Oval
Although looking at the scorecard, India do not look in that much of a strong position, they have two well-set batters in Nair (52*) and Old Trafford centurion Washington Sunday (19*).
But with Woakes not expected to bowl again in the game, Tongue spraying the ball around and Jamie Overton alongside Jacob Bethell unable to pick up a wicket on Thursday, a patient and sensible approach could still see the tourists post an imposing first innings total.
England will look for early wickets and backing Gus Atkinson to return the best bowling figures in the side during this innings looks like being a smart bet.
It all gets back underway at 11:00am UK time on Friday and the series which has already delivered four Tests going into the final session, could yet do the same again in this finale.
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