Shubman Gill (103) notched his ninth Test hundred, and fourth of a remarkable series for the visiting captain, while crucial knocks from Washington Sundar (101no) and Ravindra Jadeja (107no) helped India overhaul England’s first-innings lead before a slightly farcical end to proceedings.
At the drinks break in the final session, Ben Stokes offered the draw, India four down and leading by 71 at the time, but it was refused to allow Jadeja and Washington through to their respective hundreds – a first in Test cricket for the latter – as Harry Brook and Root bowled some filth late on.
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In a series that has already had its fair share of flashpoints, the decision was one that appeared to baffle England’s players and might well add to the animosity between the two teams heading to The Oval.
Stokes (1-33), having not bowled at all on day four, appeared troubled by a shoulder injury when bowling 11 overs, leading to concerns over the England captain’s fitness – having also suffered with cramp during his 141 with the bat – going into the final Test.
Despite Stokes’ obvious struggles, at one stage it looked like another tireless spell of his would inspire his side to a memorable victory, a week on from doing the same in the third Test triumph at Lord’s.
As he winced his way through an eight-over burst to start the day, Stokes claimed the key wicket of KL Rahul (90) to a nip-backer that kept low, breaking his 188-run partnership for the third wicket with Gill that rescued India from 0-2 just before lunch on day four.
Stokes could, and quite possibly should, have had greater reward to show for his spell, with Gill dropped on 83 by a leaping Ollie Pope at cover, the India captain also wearing one particularly well-directed bouncer on the thumb onto his helmet.
England were hopeful the second new ball would break the door open but Stokes’ early work from the Sir James Anderson End would end up proving the most potent passage of the day.
Gill passed 700 runs for the series, reaching another richly-deserved hundred and reducing India’s deficit to less than 100, until his resistance was finally ended by a rather innocuous Jofra Archer (1-78) delivery with the eighth over of that second new ball.
Gill couldn’t resist a flirt at a back-of-a-length ball dangled wide of off stump by Archer, nicking off, and giving life to England’s victory charge once more – only for the bubble to burst immediately.
Much like Woakes did to start the innings, Archer should have had two in two balls, but Joe Root dropped a difficult, leaping grab at slip off Jadeja’s first ball which he very nearly pouched at the second attempt.
England were out of reviews after wasting two on lbw calls on the fourth evening and using their last in search of a Rahul glove off Liam Dawson in the morning session that wasn’t there. It mattered little though, with Washington and Jadeja putting on a near chanceless, unbroken 203-run stand through the final two sessions of the match.
The pair brought up their half centuries within three deliveries of each other as Washington smashed 10 off the first two balls of what proved Stokes’ final over of the day and Jadeja then cut four away which crucially saw India fully erase their first-innings deficit and earn a lead shortly before tea.
England’s weary attack stuck at their task for another 25 overs into the evening before the match eventually ended in a draw – only the second of Stokes’ captaincy – at 5.39pm after Washington’s hundred moment, India closing on 425-4 and with a lead of 114.
Stokes’ side still hold the advantage in the series, up 2-1, going to The Kia Oval – the fifth Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from Thursday – and can take plenty of positives from this Test, none more so than Joe Root’s historic 150 that saw him into second among the all-time leading Test run-scorers.
There was also a first Test century in two years for Stokes, as well as a fifth Test five-for in the first innings, but the question marks over his fitness and availability to bowl next week are a concern.
Archer, after a four-year absence, has played two Tests in a row and so might not be risked for The Oval, while Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have played all four in the series and workloads will have to be considered.
India too face multiple dilemmas over the make-up of their side for the series finale. Jasprit Bumrah has already fulfilled the three-Test quota the tourists initially planned for their premier fast bowler, and both he and Mohammed Siraj – who has played all four – have struggled with niggles this week.
Rishabh Pant will also surely be ruled out of the series with the fractured foot he suffered on day one.
Watch the fifth and final Test between England and India at The Kia Oval, live on Sky Sports Cricket on Thursday, July 31, with coverage from 10am ahead of the first ball at 11am, or stream without a contract.
England vs India – results and schedule
All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all on Sky Sports
- First Test (Headingley) – England won by five wickets
- Second Test (Edgbaston) – India won by 336 runs
- Third Test (Lord’s): England won by 22 runs
- Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford): Match drawn
- Fifth Test (The Kia Oval): July 31 – August 4
