Guwahati Test: 0-5 loading? India lose openers in chase of 549 at stumps on Day 4
A commanding declaration at 260/5, built on a superb 94 from Tristan Stubbs, left India staring at an almost insurmountable target of 549.
A commanding declaration at 260/5, built on a superb 94 from Tristan Stubbs, left India staring at an almost insurmountable target of 549.
Buoyed by a hard-fought 30-run win in the opening Test at Eden Gardens, the Proteas arrive here with confidence and opportunity on their side. The result not only gave them a 1-0 lead but also marked their first Test win in India in 15 years.
India’s young batting group has looked short on both conviction and technique on surfaces that demand clarity of defence and decisive footwork
Test cricket tradition arrives in Guwahati as Ceremonial bell to ring in new era of international red-ball contests
“This was right up there for us. Coming to India, playing at Eden Gardens, doing something we haven’t done for 15 years, this is right up there,” he said, reflecting on the breakthrough result.
Concerns about their skills and temperament in red-ball cricket grew after the visitors failed to cross 200 in either innings over 89.2 overs.
A win in Delhi would lift India’s World Test Championship (WTC) points percentage to 61.9, keeping them firmly in the top three.
Australia captain Pat Cummins is expected to miss the Ashes opener in Perth with a possibility that he may miss the entire Test series against England as the scans revealed his back stress problem had not yet healed.
Hailing KL Rahul’s performance, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that the 33-year-old has finally turned potential into consistent impactful performances, and still has a long way to go.
Former India head coach Greg Chappell has offered pointed advice to new Test captain Shubman Gill, urging him to assert his leadership and clearly define how he wants the team to play.
