Classic case of history repeating itself, after 50 years

In a classic case of history repeating itself, 50 years since the iconic win against England at the Oval in 1971 that gave them their first ever Test Match and series win in England, India renewed and enhanced their track record at the Oval, as they romped home to another memorable victory to mark the Golden Jubilee of that win. 

That afternoon fifty years ago, the unorthodox Bhagwat Chandrashekhar had grabbed a memorable 6 for 38, flummoxing England batsmen with his unreadable googlies delivered at pace, in what was termed the ‘Spell of the Century’ by Wisden. Exactly half a century on, it was another electrifying afternoon spell, this time by an unorthodox fast bowler, that broke the back of the England batting and helped them secure an emphatic victory after three consecutive heavy defeats at the Oval on the last three tours in 2011, ‘14 and ‘18.

In between, they had come tantalizingly close to another incredible win against all statistical odds, chasing 438 in the 4^th innings in 1979, finishing just 9 runs short at 429 for 8. The original Little Master Sunny Gavaskar, now wielding a microphone up in the commentary box instead of his flashing willow of yesteryears, got a magnificent 221 on that occasion, as he almost single- handedly tried to win the match for India, only to be denied in the end.

This time around, India’s crucial runs in winning causes have come from more unlikely sources. At Lord’s, it was Shami and Bumrah who forged a match winning partnership that took the game away from England and here at the Oval it was the brilliance of Shardul Thakur with his unlikely 50s in both innings that made a crucial difference. In the first innings, his 53 allowed India to recover from the depths of 127 for 7 to a comparatively respectable 199.  In the second, his century partnership with Rishabh Pant, where he scored 60 of those runs, put India well and truly ahead in the game.

Trailing by 99 in the first innings, they made a great comeback thanks to a magnificent hundred from Rohit Sharma, his first one overseas. He has been on the cusp of one ever since the series began, playing some fine knocks that just seemed to fall short of the Century that he has so richly deserved. With his disciplined, calm approach to opening the batting in the company of his partner KL Rahul, the opening pair has looked a model of consistency at the top of the order- something that India has not had in a long time, in an away series. Together with a fiery pace attack capable of running through the best batting sides, this has been a novelty and a luxury that gives this team great credit.  

England started Day 5 with 291 to get, all ten second innings wickets in hand and the wicket playing nice and easy. They seemed in with a chance to script history as the Indian attack looked flat and jaded the previous evening and there was no Ravichandran Ashwin to take advantage of any last day turn that might be on offer

But Jasprit Bumrah turned the match around in the company of Ravindra Jadeja as England plummeted after a very creditable century opening partnership, losing 4 wickets for 6 runs in a 5.5 over blitz that brought the team down to its knees. Hope remained so long as Joe Root was in but Shardul Thakur who wasn’t done yet with his heroics in this match, cannoned one into his stumps off an inside edge. The law of averages had finally caught up with the England captain. 

Bumrah discovered another gear to his bowling on this day. It is not often that you see an Indian pacer bowling at speeds of 89, 88, 87, 88, 90 and 89 mph in one inspired over, as he launched into a brilliant spell of fast bowling. Ollie Pope, fresh from his first innings 81, was bowled by an inswinger playing down the wrong line. And Jonny Bairstow’s stay was even shorter as a wickedly swinging yorker hit the base of his stumps. “I think you’ve got to be realistic about things and understand that  this was world-class bowling,” said Root in his post- match comment.

He was backed up by Umesh Yadav playing his first Test of the series, who bowled some telling bouncers at comparable speeds that had the English batsmen ducking for cover. Never before probably, has an Indian pace attack looked as menacing as this, ever. Jadeja and Thakur chipped in with crucial wickets, as England sank to another big defeat. 

Probably things would have been different in the first innings itself had Ashwin been bowling to Bairstow and Pope, with England reeling at 65 for 5. Both had absolutely no clue against him some months ago in India and it is possible that he would not have allowed them to settle in here too and come up with the long partnership that they did. His continued absence from the playing XI remains one of the most baffling selection decisions of recent times. 

India has now won both Test Matches played in London by almost identical margins and the fifth day of both matches turned out to be very similar, with the Indian bowling attack swarming all over a hapless English batting line up, going ruthlessly for the kill, much like the great West Indian and Australian world beating sides of the past. However to build a legacy like that a team needs to have reigned for at least 10 years which both those sides did at home and abroad. Given the depth of talent at their disposal at present, India too is capable of doing that, but they must find a way to get out of their dramatic batting collapses of recent times when the whole team just seems to evaporate in the blink of an eye. India are not a top ranked team for nothing – their batting just needs to live up to that billing a little more consistently. 

Perhaps the 466 in the second innings here marks a beginning in that direction. As things stand India has a great chance of becoming the first team to beat both England and Australia in their own backyards in the same year. 

And surely that heralds a new era in the world cricketing order.

We welcome our new correspondent from India. “Arjith Ghosh is a Veteran Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force who played First Class Cricket for the Combined Services”