THE OVAL — As dress rehearsals for this winter’s Ashes series in Australia go, England’s performance on the second day of this final Test against India was hardly encouraging.
However, a collapse of 8 for 118 that restricted England’s lead to 23 and then a harrowing evening session with the ball that included three dropped catches and a missed run-out saw India establish a position where they should now be favourites to sign off from this memorable summer with a win and a 2-2 series draw.
England are clearly struggling having lost captain Ben Stokes to injury before the match and then gone a man down when Chris Woakes, their most experienced seamer, dislocated a shoulder on the first day.
Big chance for England as Dawson drops Jaiswal pic.twitter.com/EvV8dThrPd
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 1, 2025The injury to Woakes is likely to require surgery and rule him out of the Ashes.
Covid bubbles four years ago, players retiring mid-tour as Graeme Swann did in 2013-14 and Jonny Bairstow being falsely accused of headbutting an opponent in 2017-18 are just three examples.
square CRICKET England's mixed bag of bowlers are in big trouble against India
Read More
The number one rule for any team who want to win Test matches in that part of the world is that they must hold their catches.
Yet England look to have blown a chance to get back into this game, with Yashasvi Jaiswal spared on 20 by Harry Brook at second slip, on 40 again by substitute fielder Liam Dawson at fine leg, and Zak Crawley, at third slip, sparing Sai Sudharsan on seven shortly before the close.
But the profligacy by the hosts wasn’t just restricted to their fielding efforts.
Having got off to a flying start thanks to openers Crawley and Ben Duckett, a stunning collapse let India back into the game.
The conditions were difficult, with the ball swinging prodigiously and India’s pumped-up attack cranking up the pressure with plenty of sledging that again saw tempers spill over.
Akash Deep’s send-off of Duckett was particularly poor, the bowler having to be dragged away by teammates after he mockingly put his arm around the opener to exchange a few choice words as he walked off.
Sai Sudharsan gone for 11! pic.twitter.com/JQsdHlEA7w
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 1, 2025This, though, will be nothing compared to what this England team will be subjected to in Australia against a seam attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood that is arguably the greatest in their country’s history.
If this really is a window into England’s Ashes future, the partnership between Duckett and Crawley, who at one point looked on to threaten Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball record for the fastest England Test century, was encouraging.
Brook’s talent is undeniable but he will also have to brace himself for Aussie ire given his reputation for being one of this team’s biggest giver of on-field verbals – something that was clearly noted Down Under in their hideous overreaction to the end of the fourth Test of this series in Manchester last Sunday.
But the lbw dismissals of stand-in captain Ollie Pope, Root and Jacob Bethell, all to defensive shots, may be more worrying for the Bazball brains trust given this team’s mentality in situations such as this is that attack is the best form of defence.
Hence then, the article about australia will be licking their lips at england s almighty clangers was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Australia will be licking their lips at England’s almighty clangers )
Also on site :