Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has tipped India as the front-runners to emerge victorious in the opening Test at Headingley, as the enthralling contest heads into a decisive fifth day. With England chasing an imposing target of 371 runs and India needing 10 wickets to begin Shubman Gill’s captaincy stint on a winning note, the match hangs finely in the balance.
Broad, speaking on Sky Sports, stressed the importance of the opening passages of play, particularly England’s ability to negotiate the new ball. “The key for England will be surviving the early burst with the new ball. On a fifth-day surface, India only need 10 breakthroughs. They just need to hold their catches and bowl in the right areas. That makes them favourites in my eyes,” he said.
India were dismissed for 364 in the third innings, setting up a steep chase for the hosts. England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, safely negotiated the six overs before stumps, with Crawley striking consecutive boundaries to take the score to 21 without loss. Despite the daunting total, Broad believes England will remain confident in their dressing room.
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“England will feel they have a real chance. They’ll see themselves as contenders, especially under Ben Stokes’ leadership. But a lot will depend on how Gill rotates his bowlers. He’s got to manage that pressure and make sure they hit the pitch hard,” Broad added.
The pitch at Headingley is expected to be a key player on the final day. Cracks have begun to appear, and India’s batting hero KL Rahul, who made a gritty 137 from 247 balls, believes conditions are set up ideally for the bowlers.
“It’s a perfect day-five surface to bowl on,” Rahul said. “At the start, it looked like it could be a draw, but the pitch has worn down a lot. We’re hoping the cracks open up more tomorrow. It’s already been unpredictable, and we’re expecting it to get even more challenging for the batters. If things go our way, it could be a blockbuster ending.”
With both teams sensing opportunity and pressure mounting, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to what has been a captivating first Test.
