England stun India with five-wicket win: first men’s cricket Test, day five – as it happened | England v India 2025
Key events
Play about to resume
The covers are going off! The dream of a thrilling finish remains intact. Forget a restart time, the players are already beginning to make their way out.
Taha Hashim
Uuuuurgh. You wait an age for these moments: day five, all four results still on offer, two proper sides going at it. And then it rains. Let us pray it goes away quickly.
Anyroad up, my watch is over, thanks for your company and comments; here’s Taha Hashim to call England home.
“I’m not having ‘Back to the Future’ bruited about as a thing no one hates,” says Bill. “I hate it. It’s weird – it has incest and cultural appropriation (Chuck Berry needed a white teenager from the future to write his best song for him?) – and it doesn’t make sense (why do his siblings disappear gradually from the photo rather than disappear completely?? They either exist in that timeline or they don’t). I have massive problems with it and much to my friends annoyance I share these frequently. I’m getting upset just thinking about it.”
The way I see it, the appropriation is a gag – of course Chuck doesn’t need rock n’ roll invented for him, that’s the joke. As for the adult themes – there’s alcoholism and voyeurism as well as incest – somehow, the whole works, and in any event, adult themes didn’t do Game of Thrones any harm.
It doesn’t look – steel yourself before I drop the dreaded term – “set in” – but we’ve done well to avoid rain until now. It doesn’t look the sort of shower to end play, and with 190 runs required and 10 second-innings wickets intact, England would fancy themselves to chase this in 20 overs if necessary, and what a finish that’d be; there are, in theory, 55 left in the day.
Rain stops play
41st over: England 181-0 (Crawley 59, Duckett 105) Target 371 Two singles, then Duckett takes a colossal yahoo and misses; Siraj takes the opportunity to share with him some sentiments, problem being he’s 104 not out, so. Two singles follow, and, absolute sake, it’s now raining so heavily the players are sent off. Hopefully it’s just a passing shower…
Since his recall in 2022, Duckett has the most runs made by any opener – as you’d expect given how much England play – only Joe only Root has scored more in any position – and, of those who’ve played 10 innings or more, his average is behind only Jaiswal and Nissanka. His strike-rate almost 10 ahead of the next best, Crawley.
Ben Duckett makes his sixth Test century!
40th over: England 177-0 (Crawley 57, Duckett 103) Target 371 The cosmos appears to be conspiring against India. First, Jadeja finally finds some turn … and the ball leaps away down the leg side, then scuttles to the fence for four. And if that wasn’t enough, Duckett then unveils sweep no 985, a reverse for four that raises a brilliant hundred! It’s been a fantastic knock and, added to the 62 he made first dig, makes him the prime candidate for POTM honours.
39th over: England 168-0 (Crawley 57, Duckett 98) Target 371 Siraj returns for a go at Bumrah’s end, running down the hill. Duckett spanks two to point, then goes for a pull, top-edges, and Jaiswal’s running in, he gets there … then, diving forward, allows the ball to pass between his hands, his third drop of the match, poor lad. If Siraj was ticking before, he’s absolutely and profoundly shaking now, oof madone.
“Alice Cooper?” asks Andy Hockley. “I bet you don’t put this in the OBO.”
38th over: England 165-0 (Crawley 57, Duckett 95) Target 371 There’s something of KL Rahul’s knock yesterday in this of Duckett today, sensible, commanding batting without being overly defensive. And have a look! With Jadeja replacing Siraj, he greets the loosener with seep no 387, a reverse for four, does similar but with greater power shortly afterwards, and though he’s shocked by a ball that leaps into his grille, he’s able to get the next delivery away for a single, in as much control as you can ever be on thispitch.
37th over: England 156-0 (Crawley 57, Duckett 86) Target 371 Having made sure not to give it away this morning, Crawley is growing into the afternoon, and when Bumrah overpitches, he clouts through midwicket and to the fence. Four dots follow, then a two when Crawley turns to deep square, and that might be end of spell. England are easing to this, at least until the inevitable collapse.
“With regards to your trees as inanimate objects musings,” begins Alex Lee, “I’ve just finished The Overstory by Richards Powers – highly recommend – and I think several of the characters would not be pleased with this. Much like test cricket, a matter of seeing on different timescale.”
I’m glad someone’s pulled me up on this. I didn’t have time to find a better word than “inanimate”, nor to talk about the way trees communicate, so thanks, I agree. I love trees.
Ah, and thanks to Bill Hargreaves, who sends in the TMS overseas link.
36th over: England 150-0 (Crawley 51, Duckett 86) Target 371 A single to Duckett, then Crawley clips off the pads to mid-on, they run one, and that’s his fifty, a really well-controlled innings – given the match-state but also given the pressure he’s under to make a score. Duckett then drives to extra, where the ball takes a skip, thereby defeating Krishna’s drive – you can imagine Siraj’s mirth – as the rain intensifies. It looks pretty grimy out there, and you’d imagine India quite fancy getting off – the ball, which they had to work so hard to change, will be getting wet and soft, they could rest their two main bowlers, and halt England’s momentum. Meantime, though, a pair of singles, then Duckett edges to where first slip isn’t, Rahul standing at one-and-a-half as Gill opts to spread his men out … and that’s four. Siraj is ticking something fierce here….
35th over: England 138-0 (Crawley 49, Duckett 77) Target 371 Stride down the ground from Duckett, and a glorious drive which sends Bumrah’s first ball through mid on and to the fence. Gosh, and when Crawley is donated a leg-stump half-volley, he doesn’t miss out, clumping four more to deep square though, in a way, the follow-up is almost as impressive, two deliveries let pass. Bumrah is two overs into his spell, he’s just conceded nine from his over, and this match is slipping away from India.
It’s later in the day than usual but is anyone able to help out with the TMS link?
34th over: England 129-0 (Crawley 45, Duckett 72) Target 371 England knock Siraj about, again taking care against the frontliners because they know there’s a drop-off after that. Oooh, but there’s one that stays low, and it kisses Pant on the inside knee; he sets off running towards square leg, looking to shake off the soreness. Well old mate, if it’s any consolation, it won’t be as sore as losing a match in which you scored two centuries. But there’s a way to go before that happens, Siraj underlining the point with another unrewarded jaffa, moving away from the powerless Crawley. This is Proper Test-Match Batting from England, who appear to have found a balance. Someone needs to get on the Bazball 2.0 t-shirts.
33rd over: England 127-0 (Crawley 44, Duckett 71) Target 371 Crawley opens the face and eases one away, then Duckett helps himself to two twos, the second pursued and hurled back the still-athletic Jadeja. That’s two Bumrah overs gone…
“Quick poll among some mates about things no one hates,” says Andrew Pechey, “and we came up with:
Weekends
Cold beer on hot days (even the non-drinkers were on board)
Eye of the Tiger
Alice Cooper
Ghostbusters
Trees.”
Trees make sense, but can we allow the inanimate? I feel we need a human quality to it though, on the other hand, no one like a smartarse:
32nd over: England 119-0 (Crawley 43, Duckett 65) Target 371 It’s Siraj from the other end – Gill is, understandably, turning to his best bowlers – and Crawley misses his first ball, an inswinger, looking to drive … then his second, moving away. Siraj has bowled really well today, but so far , fortune is favouring England. Twice in this match, India have had their foot on England’s throat, and twice they failed to apply the necessary stomp; it’s going to hurt them, badly, if they lose this; the way things are going, they could even take a hiding. One off the over, a single to Crawley.
31st over: England 119-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 65) Target 371 Bumrah has the ball, Duckett to face, and he taps into the off-side then gets down the other end. This new globule is swinging a little, certainly more than its predecessor, and after three dots it dips in, goes again off the pitch, and hammers Crawley on the pad. There’s an appeal as the batters run a leg bye, but Bumrah knows it was going down, and that’s another over of his in the books. England will feel that if they can see off this spell, by the time he returns, they’ll have put a decent dent in this chase.
There’s been drizzle during the break, and perhaps that’ll wake the pitch up for India. Lights are on, clouds are low, and this is their chance to save themselves.
“How about Back to the Future?” offers John Dalby for things no one hates. “Likeable leads, great script and editing, iconic car, utterly rewatchable. In fact, that’s what I’m going to do during the inevitable rain delay.”
The first film is almost perfect; the sequel is the first I saw in the cinema that properly knocked my spots off.
I do, though, remember by mum being extremely unhappy with Christopher Lloyd’s performance on Wogan.
Lunchtime email: “If this has been covered in the OBO just ignore me,” begins Shaun, “but if not, I make this 1417 runs right now (quick calculation, maths not my thing so could be out there) but anyway, any idea of the record number of runs from two sides’ totals in a Test?”
The most is 1981, achieved when England met South Africa at Durban in 1939, but that was timeless. The most in a five-dayer is 1968, achieved when England met Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 2022. Here’s the list of the top few.
Go well, Syd old mate.
Are England favourites now? You have to think so. Of course, Bumrah has magic balls in him, but the back-up seamers are meh, the pitch isn’t offering loads, the batters are set, and there’s absolutely loads behind them. Sensible behaviour from here, and the hosts should win.
Lunchtime email: “In my secondary school in the late 80s,” writes Tom Paternoster-Howe, “there was a girl called Candice who hated American Pie. This came up because it was played a lot on the radio around the 30th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death, and I remember being surprised that anyone could hate such a lovely song. Admittedly this was 36 years ago, and she may have changed her mind in the interim, but there certainly used to be someone who hated it.”
Can we find Candice to check in on her? I hope it’s not still raining in her heart.
30th over: England 117-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 64) Target 371 Now Siraj returns, Duckett flicks a single to square leg, and that is lunch. What a session for England, who need 254 more to win.
“It’s not quite something that everyone likes,” says Josh Robinson, but when Nick Parish mentioned the relief at hearing something everyone knew, I couldn’t help think of the (possibly apocryphal) heckle at a recent Dylan performance: ‘Oi, mate, do you know any Bob Dylan songs?’”
It’s a mad thing that, being at a Bob gig, listening your absolute hardest, having no idea what you’re hearing, then suddenly a lightbulb: “Tangled Up In Blue, I love Tangled Up In Blue!”
Otherwise, a point of order: we’re not even looking for something everyone likes, just something no one hates.
29th over: England 116-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 63) Target 371 Crowd singing his name, Bumrah snaps in again and Duckett plays his first two balls confidently, then wears the third on the pad. The bowler appeals but you could see it was going down and there’s no review, then Duckett drives three to mid-off, Siraj chasing, sliding and returning. So Bumrah goes again, Crawley drives … it’s in the air, low … Bumrah stretches down with his weaker left hand … and the ball hits his wrist then drops. Agony for India and, to grind it in, swing takes the final delivery of the over well away from Pant’s dive, adding four byes to the total. This is falling apart for the tourists, who, should they lose this one, will have a full week to stew before the second Test.
28th over: England 109-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 60) Target 371 Finally, the ball refuses to pass through the ring, so India take a different one and immediately reckons Butch, you can hear the difference, off pitch and bat. Duckett takes a single to long on then, off the final delivery, Crawley gets down on one knee to sweep, only to mistime an effort into himself … and again, England get away with it. Everything has gone in their favour this morning.
27th over: England 108-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 59) Target 371 Bumrah returns and Duckett slaps his loosener to deep backward point for one, then Siraj noises up the crowd, looking for something, anything. But this pair are batting with confidence now, Crawley seeing off five dots and, um, er … as the Bazballers playing for lunch?
“I was musing on your slightly disapproving take on Duckett’s sometimes ill-advised braggadocio,” emails John Swan. “I agree that his post-play interviews sometimes make me cram my fist into my mouth (I want to say, you do know the guys who are bowling at you tomorrow will hear this? And also they are very good?) but I wonder if that’s more an English discomfort with or distrust of a supreme self-confidence? How would he fit into, say, an Aussie or South African dressing room, for example?”
Oh, I don’t mind it at all. It’s good to see players being themselves and offered an environment in which that’s encouraged. I’d have liked the interviewer to ask that he take us through them so we could debate whether each sweep was discrete, but otherwise, all good. I really like him as a cricketer and a personality; Ias below, though, I’d just like him to make the most of his starts.
26th over: England 107-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 58) Target 371 A tighter over, Jadeja rushing through – each ball and between balls – for the cost of a single to Duckett, again via reverse. But was it a different variety of than the previous one? Or just the same thing with a different name, à la Shane Warne?
25th over: England 106-0 (Crawley 42, Duckett 57) Target 371 A no ball gets the over moving for England, then offered width, Crawley – confidence growing – clouts a square drive to the fence. Krishna, though, responds well, banging one in short, and beating the attempted pull, then Crawley goes again, yelps as it gets unexpectedly big on him … and the ball drops between the men at midwicket and deep square. They run two, then an edge adds two more, and it’s all going for the hosts at present. Ten off the over, and Gill must surely risk giving Bumrah another dart before the interval.
“I agree with you about American Pie,” emails Nick Parish. “Don McLean was headlining at a festival we went to last summer, which surprised me because I didn’t realise he was still … well let’s just say I didn’t realise he was still performing. Anyway his set was mostly dreadful, but the closing number of American Pie was absolutely epic and the crowd went wild, partly because for most of us it was a relief to finally hear a song we recognised. But it is a fantastic song, and even better played live and in full.”
There’s actually a doc on the tune – how many that have ever been written could justify that? – which I really enjoyed, Madonna’s cover less so.
24th over: England 96-0 (Crawley 33, Duckett 56) Target 371 Ah, it’s Jadeja replacing Thakur – I’m not sure we’ll be seeing him at Edgbaston – and in comms DK remembers Duckett bragging about the 57 varieties of sweep he has. Nasser doesn’t know what he’s talking about but I heard that interview and also mind him saying it. Four singles from the over, one of them a reverse from the master, and with 275 runs to get, you’d back England from here were this an ODI.
23rd over: England 92-0 (Crawley 31, Duckett 54) Target 371 A single to Crawley then a brace to Duckett, before Krishna finds a bit of extra bounce, beating the outside edge. Then, just as he thinks he’s getting away with a relatively miserly over, Duckett twizzles him to midwicket for two more. Surely Gill must try Jadeja, or give Bumrah another wave before lunch.
“I’d put forward Keanu Reeves,” says Ben Heywood as we continue our quest to find something no one hates. “Search the internet (which has been around for a while). There’s literally not bad word said about the guy since his career began in (gulp) the late 80s. I’m with you on Fleetwood Mac, by the way.”
About Post Author
