Despite the rise of shorter formats like T20 and One Day Internationals, Test cricket remains the epitome of the sport’s charm. Its enduring appeal lies in the depth, patience, and strategic mastery it demands from players.
Test matches showcase the true spirit of cricket, where endurance and mental toughness determine the outcome over five grueling days.
Fans cherish the unfolding drama, historic moments, and the unique atmosphere of a Test match. While shorter formats attract a broader audience, the legacy and prestige of Test cricket continues to captivate purists worldwide, proving that the game’s soul still lies in its longer, classical format.
Recently-concluded England-India Test series stood as a stirring reminder of the format’s enduring magic. There was so much talk about the future of Test cricket, but it is series like this that keep the format alive-they keep that fire burning.
During this pivotal moment, India’s youthful team demonstrated their ability to step up and carry forward the legacy of their illustrious predecessors.
Young Shubman Gill-led India have clinched a dramatic six-run victory over England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, levelling the series 2-2 and drawing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The unforgettable nature of India’s win proved that Test cricket still has a vibrant future.
England, India, and Australia must keep an eye on the future of Test match cricket.
Despite less than an hour’s play expected, a sell-out crowd packed The Kia Oval and witnessed one of the most dramatic finales.
India’s margin of victory (6 runs) in the fifth Test against England at The Oval, was their narrowest in Tests in terms of runs. The previous record was 13 runs while defending 107 against Australia in Mumbai in 2004. The six-run margin is also the joint-third-narrowest defeat for England in Tests.
It was Gill’s first series as India’s Test captain. There was no Kohli, Rohit or Ashwin and Pant in the last Test. Interestingly, India won both Tests when their ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah not participated.
It was the fourth consecutive Test series that England have failed to win against India. Their previous series win against India came in 2018, when they won 4-1 at home. England’s longest streak without a series win against India is five, between 1996 and 2011.
India’s win-loss record (1-10) in the fifth and sixth matches of an away Test series. Before the six-run win at The Oval, India had lost ten of 17 such matches, while seven ended in draws. At home, India has a 7-4 record in 27 such Tests.
In the England-India series, the 70-year-old record for the most centuries in the England-India Test series was equalled, with a total of 21 centuries scored in the series.
In five Tests, Shubman Gill scored 4 centuries, Joe Root scored 3 centuries, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jaiswal, Harry Brook scored 2 centuries each in the Test series. Gill lived up to the expectations of a No 4 spot occupied by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli before him, the 25-year-old has started superbly.
Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett scored a century each, Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope also scored a century each in the series.
For the first time, 50 fifty-plus scores were scored in a 5-match Test series. Earlier, 49 fifty-plus scores were scored in 5 matches of the 1920-21 Ashes series. In the 1993 Ashes series, there were 50 fifty-plus scores in 6 matches.
Mohamamd Siraj 23 wickets in the series against England, the joint-highest for an India bowler in a Test series in England, level with Jasprit Bumrah’s 23 wickets in 2021-22. Siraj equaled Bumrah’s record for an Indian in England with 23 wickets in the series After the retirement of England’s most successful bowling duo – James Anderson and Stuart Broad – the English bowling attack looks increasingly toothless. Their absence has left a glaring void in both experience and skill, which current bowlers have struggled to fill. Anderson’s mastery of swing and Broad’s knack for crucial breakthroughs were instrumental in countless victories. Without them, the attack lacks onsistency, control, and the psychological edge that once intimidated opponents. Young bowlers show promise, but they have yet to prove themselves at the highest level. England now faces a challenging transition period in rebuilding their once-feared pace battery.
The 195 runs partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook was the second-highest in the fourth innings of a Test to end in a defeat. The highest is 204, between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant against England in 2018, also at The Oval.
Root and Brook are only the seventh pair to score hundreds in the fourth innings of a Test and end on the losing side. Rahul and Pant in 2018 were the last of the previous six.
The home side missed the services of its captain Ben Stokes in the last Test. His allround performance (303 runs, 17 wickets and two awards for player of the match) may also affect England’s series leveling defeat.
Indian captain Ghubman Gill was the most successful batsman of the series with 754 runs, with a high average of 75.4 with the help of four centuries including one double hundred.
For England, former skipper Joe Root scored most 537 runs, averaging 67.12 with the help of four hundred and one fifty.
K Rahul (532) and Ravindra Jadeja (516) are the other two batters who scored over five hundred runs in the series.
On the bowling side, Oval Test hero Indian fast bowler, Mohammad Siraj has taken most 23 wickets in the series with the average of 32.43.
Joshua Charles Tongue was the most successful bowler for the host with 19 scalps at an average of 29.05.
The first Test at Headingly England won by five wickets. Duckett’s 188-run opening partnership with Zak Crawley (65) – laid the foundations for England’s s second-highest (371) successful run chase in Tests.
India had immediately leveled the series 1-1 at Edgbaston by winning the second Test by a huge margin of 336 runs. Akash Deep completed a 10-wicket match haul as India dismissed England for 271 while chasing a mammoth target of 608.
In the third Test at The Lord’s England again take the lead again, secured a thrilling 22-run victory. It was a fitting finale to what has been a thrilling Test match, made even more sentimental by being played on the six-year anniversary of England’s famous World Cup victory in 2019.
The fourth Test at Old Trafford ended a high-scoring draw. After 311 deficit, India dug in to deny England on the final day, batted over 147 overs securing a hard-fought draw that took the series into a decider.
The most exciting Test at The Oval , India secured a nerve-jangling, six-run victory over England in a staggering finish and finish the series 2-2.
It was Mohammad Siraj who was bowled in the third Test at The Lord’s and allowed the hosts take lead 2-1. But again, it was Mohammed Siraj (5-104) who cleaned up Gus Atkinson (17) to seal India’s win in the fifth Test and level the series 2-2.
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