England’s pacer Josh Tongue says the team is “pretty chilled” about chasing a daunting 374 runs in the final Test against India at The Oval, despite being a bowler down.
The Grand Finale at The Oval
The fifth and final Test between England and India is set for a thrilling conclusion. England needs 324 more runs to win and secure the series 3-1, while India requires eight more wickets to level the series at 2-2.
India posted a challenging target of 374, thanks to a century from Yashasvi Jaiswal and crucial half-centuries from Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.
Tongue’s Unwavering Confidence
Despite the high stakes, England’s fast bowler Josh Tongue remains remarkably calm. “It’s a replay from Headingley. I got asked the same question then so I don’t see why we can’t chase down these runs,” Tongue stated after the third day’s play.
He emphasized the team’s relaxed mindset: “We’re pretty chilled about it. There’s not much overthinking it.” Tongue highlighted England’s aggressive batting style, believing it gives them a strong chance. “How we play as a batting unit is very positive, very exciting. With the line-up we’ve got, I can’t see why we can’t give it a good go.”
Tongue, who claimed a five-wicket haul in the second innings, anticipates an exciting final day. He acknowledged the pitch still offers some assistance for bowlers but believes getting through the initial overs will be key.
Pitch Report: Adapting to Conditions
The Kennington Oval pitch, initially favorable to seamers, has reportedly become better for batting as the sun emerged on Day 3. Tongue noted, “There was a bit in it early on, but the heavy roller seemed to flatten it.”
However, he cautioned that “the odd one is jumping from length,” suggesting that batsmen will still need to be wary of unpredictable bounce even on a more placid surface.
Bowling Through Adversity
England faced a significant challenge in their bowling attack after Chris Woakes suffered a shoulder injury early in India’s first innings. This forced the three frontline pacers – Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton – to shoulder a heavy workload with minimal breaks.
Tongue praised the unit’s resilience despite the setback. “It was obviously going to be tough for us bowlers but I thought we stuck at it very well,” he reflected. Personally, Tongue admitted he didn’t always feel at his best, particularly on the first day, but was “very chuffed to get the wickets” in his impressive second-innings performance.
- England needs 324 runs to win the Test and the series 3-1.
- India requires 8 wickets to level the series at 2-2.
- Pacer Josh Tongue expressed confidence, comparing the chase to a past successful run-chase at Headingley.
- The Oval pitch has flattened out but still shows occasional variable bounce.
- England’s bowlers managed a heavy workload due to Chris Woakes’ injury.
The stage is set for a captivating final day, promising high drama as both teams vie for a memorable victory.
