ICC Test Championship 
India VS England Paytm Test Series 
4th Test Played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera , Ahmedabad from 4-8 February 2021
England 1st Innings 205 All Out (Ben Stokes 55, Dan Lawrence 46, Ollie Pope 29, Jonny Bairstow 28, Axar Patel 4/64, Ravichandra Ashwin 3/ 47, Mohammad Siraj 2/45)
India 1St Innings 24/1 in 12 Overs (Cheteswar Pujara 15*, Rohit Sharma 8*, Anderson 1/0) 
India Trails by 181 runs with 9 first innings wicket at hand.

The fate of England did not change much from pink to red ball. On the same ground England was humiliated losing the day night test within two days. Lot was told of the ranked turner wicket. Today the wicket turned but to that extent of the third test. Yet England could not bat much better. Yes, ball turned and Indian spinners are always a difficult proposition which ball turns. Stokes, Lawrence, Pope and Bairstow had start. But none could convert. England crawled to 205 all out. India at stumps was 24/1.

India only needs avoiding defeat to qualify for the final. An England win will let Australia going to Lords for a Trans-Tasman ICC Test Championship final. 

India rested Jasprit Bumrah and replaced him with Siraj. England dropped Archer and Broad. Instead, they strengthened batting bringing back Lawrence and brought back spinner Don Bess. 

It was good toss to win for Root. The dry looking wicket would assist more and more as the match wears on. England could not make good use of the wicket at its best. 205 may not prove sufficient for them unless India also bats poorly.

Once again Sibley, Crawley and Root failed to make contributions. Sibley was done with a Axar arm delivery, Crawley fell trying to be aggressive against Axar. Root fell to a brilliant in swinger of Siraj. Bairstow was living by the skins of the teeth. But he and Stokes added 48 for the 4th wicket before Bairstow fell to Siraj LBW. Stokes and Pope kept their cool and were playing deliveries according to merit. Stokes made 55 before Sundar brought to the attack had him LBW with a straight delivery that did not turn. 

Lawrence and Pope added patient 45 for the 6th wicket. Three Indian spinners Axar, Ashwin and Sunder kept English batsmen teasing. Lawrence scored 46 and Pope 29. England could go up to 205 before getting bundled out. Axar took another four wickets haul for 64. Ashwin took 3/47. Siraj also looked impressive taking 2/47. One must agree that English batsmen lack technique and temperament for playing spin on a turning track. 

Anderson struck in his very first over trapping Gill LBW for a duck. India at stumps was 24/1. England has to bowl and field exceedingly well in the first session of day. Or the match and the series would go out of their reach and India would go to Lords.

BDST: 1800 HRS, MAR 04, 2021
SMS