The first four days of the opening Test at Headingley have been a cricket feast complete with dogged batting, searing pace, dramatic changes in momentum, and a lively pitch that’s offered the ideal stage for a tense affair. With India and England on course for what looks set to be an exciting fifth day, the sole worry now seems to be the weather.
England finished Day 4 at 21 without loss, in pursuit of a daunting 371-run target. They still require 350 runs, with India only 10 wickets away from starting the Shubman Gill era with a victory. The pitch has started to deteriorate, giving variable bounce and keeping the bowlers engaged, so all four possible outcomes a win for India, a win for England, a draw, or indeed the unlikely tie are still mathematically on the cards.
But the most volatile factor may be the weather skies over Leeds. Following relatively cooperative weather on the first four days with only slight delays on Days 2 and 3, Day 5 forecasts are much less promising.
Leeds Weather Outlook for Day 5 of the 1st Test
There is high likelihood of rain on the last day, especially during the afternoon session, as per revised forecasts by BBC Weather and AccuWeather. While no total washout is predicted, scattered showers may disrupt play and limit the overs on offer – potentially tilting the match towards a draw.
Cold and windy conditions, with temperatures ranging between 15 and 20°C, may make batting difficult, particularly against world-class operators such as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, who will enjoy exploiting the deteriorating pitch.
With both sides under intense focus and only a day to determine the result, fans can only hope the weather persists long enough to provide a fitting conclusion to what has been an intriguing Test match.
Also Read: ENG Vs IND: ‘My Role Has Been…’ KL Rahul Reflects On Batting Revival In 1st Test
