India lost the headingley test by five goals after the target 371 resisted. But with one day the remaining in the second test in Edgbaston they have a unique opportunity to bounce and balance a series of five matches.
England, the persecution of a depressing 608, still needs 536 runs with only seven goals in hand. India, on the other hand, needs only the seven goals to consolidate victory.
SHUBMAN GILL was Standout an artist who led from the front with 430 runs in the match – in the first shifts he scored a massive 269 and watched him 161 in the second. Mohammed Siraj played with the ball and took six goals in the first shifts and in the second he removed Zak Crawley on the duck.
ENG VS India. Test day 4 Updates
Akash Deep, entered Jasprit Bumhrah, also impressed. After four goals in the first shifts, Ben Duckett and Joe Root refused to leave England. There was an England of 72 for three after 16 breaks and India will now find themselves under control.
But the big question remains: can India finish the job? Can they head to Lord with the series level at 1-1?
To happen, they will have to achieve something they have never done before – earn a test match while defending the goal of 600 or more.
India is chasing smaller history
The Indian 608-run in the current test brands is the second time they set a target of 600 or more in the test cricket. In 2009, the previous instance was against New Zealand in Reserve Basin Reserve in Wellington, where India set the target 617. This match ended in a draw, with black caps – led by Daniel Vettori – finally at 281 per eight.
Gautam Gambhir, now the head of the Indian coach, was appointed a match player for his second shift of knocking 167. However, his efforts were not enough to ensure victory.
India has a strong record in defense of targets between 500 and 600 because it won nine out of 10 such tests. This state should offer the team some certainty. In Edgbaston, however, they will have to go a step further – India has to make history to get to the top because they never won the test while defending the target 600 or more.
Not so healthy for England
England’s record when chasing targets 600 or more is far from encouraging. Of the ten cases they faced such a challenge, they ended up nine times on the losing side. They lost twice at home – as soon as they chased 708 against Australia in Kennington Oval, and again in 1950 against West India.
The only time when England managed to save the draw and chase the target 600+ was back in March 1939 against South Africa, Kingsmead, Durban. If they managed to draw an Edgbaston test, the first time England would have avoided the defeat after setting 600 or more in the test cricket.
Here are cases where England is chasing 600 plus
- England lost with Australia to oval, August 1934 (Target – 708)
- England drew with South Africa in Durban, March 1939 (Target – 696)
- England lost with Australia in Melbourne, January 1937 (Target – 689)
- England lost with Australia in Sydney, December 1920 (Target – 659)
- England lost to New Zealand in Hamilton, December 2024 (Target – 658)
- England lost with Australia in Brisbane, November 2006 (Target – 648)
- England lost with Western India in Bridgetown, January 2019 (Target – 628)
- England lost western India in Georgetown, February 1930 (Target – 617)
- England lost with Australia in Sydney, December 1924 (Target – 605)
- England lost western India in Lord, June 1950 (Target – 601)
– ends
Published:
Debodinna Chakracorty
Published on:
6 July 2025
