LEEDS TEST
Tongue has 7 wickets in the match © Getty
Fast bowler Josh Tongue said England will push for the win on the final day of the Leeds Test against India. The hosts were set a daunting target of 371 to chase in the fourth innings, and their openers had already chipped away 21 runs in the six-over period before the close of play on day four.
England have managed just one draw in their last 36 Tests under captain Ben Stokes – the rain-affected Manchester Test in the 2023 Ashes. While weather may once again play a role in Leeds tomorrow, Tongue expects his side to have no intention of settling for a draw if full play is possible.
“[We will] just go for the win. That’s the clear message in the changing room,” said Tongue, who took three wickets in a single over to hasten the end of India’s second innings. “It’s just [about] being as positive as we can. They’re going to bowl well at times tomorrow: it’s just crucial we soak up that bit of pressure and reapply it. I don’t see why we can’t chase that down.”
When Tongue’s statement was put to KL Rahul, the Indian batter said he too expects to see a result on Tuesday. Having already scored 137 on the pitch, Rahul also highlighted the uneven bounce and wear the surface might offer on the final day.
“There’s definitely going to be a result,” Rahul said. “That’s what England have said very openly, and their style of cricket suggests that as well. It gives us a good opportunity to pick up 10 wickets. We know how they’re going to come out and bat on day five.
“The wicket today was a very tricky wicket: I spent a lot of time batting there and I didn’t feel set at all at any given stage. The wicket’s taken a beating, and tomorrow might break even more. We know their style of cricket, so [we’ll] try to keep that in the back of our heads and try to see what lines and lengths we can bowl and how we can get them out.”
Meanwhile, Rahul also defended his team’s lower order following a second collapse in the Test, which prevented India from posting an even larger total. The visitors had lost 7 for 41 in the first innings of the series, and then 6 for 31 in the second.
“There was a little bit of discussion about how many runs we need on the board or… maybe giving them a few overs to bat in the evening today and see if we can pick up a wicket or two,” Rahul explained. “Ideally, from the position we were in, we would’ve wanted at least 40 or 50 runs more.
“I don’t look at it as lower order being from a different squad. They are still from our squad. They are still trying their best. Yes, more than me, more than the top order batsmen, the batters who have gotten out in both the innings will be more frustrated with themselves. Everyone is putting in a lot of work in the nets and sometimes it doesn’t happen.
“When we started this Test match or before this series, the chat as a group was how could we get 350 and 400 runs every time we go out to bat. The positive is that we have been able to do that in both the innings that we have played. That’s the positive. Yes, there are learnings and few of the batters, if they can come good as well, then quickly the 350 seems like we will go to 450 and 500 and that’s ideally what a batting group would want. We will take the runs that we have got in this innings and take it from there.”
© Cricbuzz
