Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels Ravindra Jadeja bowling into the rough will be a major threat for the hosts.
There are huge rough marks for the left-handed batsman and Jadeja is going to come into play. The ball is turning square whenever Jadeja has bowled in the right areas.
However, the Indian experienced spinner, who is well known for his accuracy, was not right on the money at the fag end of the penultimate day. Jadeja was either too full in his length or too short as he failed to hit the rough on a consistent basis.
Jadeja did lack consistency and he would aim to come up with better performance on the final day. The off-spinner will hold the key for India on the final day as there is not much help for the fast bowlers.
Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz, “Rory Burns against Jadeja, with the ball spinning out from the rough, he showed great technique and great character. That looks like the major threat from an England perspective, Jadeja firing it into the rough.”
Vaughan feels Virat Kohli needs to keep it simple in the first 30 minutes of play on the final day.
“I think Virat needs to keep it simple for the first half an hour. I’d go with Jadeja, without any question you start with your spinner. Try to fire it into the rough outside Burns’ off stump. If it doesn’t work for them, they have to realize that it is like a subcontinent style pitch and think outside the box. I’m looking for someone like Bumrah to bowl the slower balls. Those kinds of deliveries will be very important.”
England finished Day 4 at 77-0 and needs another 291 runs to win whereas India needs 10 wickets. Jadeja bowled 13 overs in the final session of the fourth day and conceded 28 runs.
The pitch is flat and the Indian bowlers will have their work cut out to dismiss England. The hosts have been set a target of 368 runs and it is expected to be a fascinating final day.