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Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow lead England to victory over India after history-making run chase

Nick Hoult
·26-min read
england v india live score latest 5th test day 5 edgbaston root bairstow - Gareth Copley/Getty Images
england v india live score latest 5th test day 5 edgbaston root bairstow - Gareth Copley/Getty Images

It is not just that England chased down their highest ever target to win a Test match and level the series with India but the rampant ease with which they completed it that was the most startling element.

To win by seven wickets is a cruise, a steamrolling of India on a fifth-day pitch by a reborn Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root.

England needed only 19.4 overs to knock off the 119 they needed this morning to square the series 2-2 and reach their 378 run target with two sessions left to play. It has been such a transformation that it almost felt mundane to see Root reverse scoop a six, a shot he first unfurled against New Zealand to illustrate the change in approach.

England batsman Joe Root reverse scoops a ball for six - Stu Forster/Getty Images
England batsman Joe Root reverse scoops a ball for six - Stu Forster/Getty Images

Bairstow and Root’s centuries were superb displays of composed and authoritative top order batting, with precise shot selection and ice cool temperaments under pressure. They came together at 109 for three, after a mini-collapse of three for two including Root’s guilty part in Alex Lees’s run out, and put on 269 off 369 balls, increasing in intensity as the target hove into view.

The old England would have withered facing another 269 to win but Root produced another masterclass for his ninth hundred against India, more than any other cricketer in history - eclipsing Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting and Garfield Sobers, who scored eight.

Bairstow scored his second hundred of the Test and sixth of 2022 putting him level with Root, Michael Vaughan and Denis Compton for the most centuries in a calendar year and he still has a maximum of six Tesst to go to break the record.

For a team that had forgotten how to win just a few weeks ago and were humiliated in Australia, they now believe they can beat anyone, in any conditions and any circumstances after now chasing down four scores above 275. To knock off 379 so easily sends a message, especially to Australia for next summer’s Ashes. "It must be difficult to set plans against us and intimidating," said Root.

england v india live score latest 5th test day 5 edgbaston root bairstow - Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
england v india live score latest 5th test day 5 edgbaston root bairstow - Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Root chopped the ball over the slips to reach three figures, raising both arms in celebration for his fifth century of 2022, third since standing down as captain and second of his career in the fourth innings of a Test.

He sparked the revival with his hundred at Lord’s against New Zealand that injected belief into this England side that they can play this new way. He has relinquished the captaincy, which never suited his personality, but is influencing the team in the best possible way - with his bat.

Root’s 28th Test hundred took 136 balls with 14 fours, Bairstow was two balls slower with 12 fours and a six.

Bairstow bludgeoned New Zealand at Trent Bridge but this was more controlled, running superbly with Root to keep the score ticking. India went 29 overs without a maiden, and never really looked like taking the wicket despite changing the ball in the morning.

It was free entry at Edgbaston but barely a third of supporters turned up despite tickets going within 90 minutes of being released online on Monday. It is admirable that counties are opening the gates but for next summer’s Ashes there needs to be a better method of ensuring people actually turn up.

The atmosphere was tense as the morning started with cloudy skies and decent bowling conditions but the match was decided in the first half hour. If Bumrah could break through with Shami, India were in the game but Root and Bairstow did not give a chance, dropping the ball into the off side, rotating the strike and waiting for the bad ball to put away. They were totally focused on the end game.

Root eclipsed Bairstow, threading Bumrah through the leg side for four before moving into the 90s with consecutive fours, bringing up the 200 stand in the process. He moved to 99 with a quick single before cutting Shami to third man for his hundred.

Bairstow struck consecutive fours off Shami in the second over of the morning, was beaten twice in an over by Bumrah but shook it off and carried on. He was composed in the 90s as Ravi Jadeja lobbed the ball into the rough outside leg stump and tempted him to take him on. He just waited for his chance, clipping Jadeja for a quick single on the leg side, Root celebrating his hundred almost as enthusiastically as Bairstow.

After that it was a procession - Bairstow hammering the ball down the ground and through the leg side for fours while Root scooped Shardul Thakur for six.

India backed off and had a poor final four sessions. They had no idea what target to set England, their tail did nothing and they conceded far too many runs on the leg side as India scratched their heads.

But total credit to England for it was their approach that put the frighteners on India, arguably the strongest Test team in the world and who must now be regretting not playing that fifth Test at Old Trafford last year.

England tie the series in thrilling style as it happened

12:59 PM

The best things in life are free

12:55 PM

Bairstow's annus mirabilis

12:50 PM

The Little Master speaks

12:48 PM

A chase to remember

12:46 PM

More from Ben Stokes

There was a bit of me that wanted them to get 450 to see if we could chase it.

You think about how teams will be thinking about us now. To be in a place where we're feared because of what we've done in the fourth innings. It turns the third innings into a fourth innings and makes thenm scared about what's possible for us in the fourth.

We're going to go for it, whether it's 200 off 30. We'd have lost but we would have gone for it.

We have things we're living by and dying by as well. Seven, eight times out of 10 it will work for us.

12:40 PM

Ben Stokes speaks

It's down to the players, They've made my job easier.

When  you have clarity like we do, it makes totals like that and the game a lot easier. 378 five, six weeks ago would have been scary but [not now].

Jonny and Rooty will get the plaudits but in a run chase you set the precedent by what your openers do. It was incredible, they pulled the momentum back to us. Fastest ever hundred stand for openers against great bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

Some times teams are going to better than us, but no team is going to be braver than us - to quote Jack Leach.

We're trying to rewrite how Test cricket is played in England. It's not always about bowling top of off and drying up runs. It's about taking 10 wickets.

We know that we want to give new life to Test cricket, and the support that we've had has been incredible. We want to inspire the next generation. We want to leave a mark on Test cricket.

12:34 PM

Bumrah speaks

This is how the game of cricket goes, England kept on fighting and played better than us in the second innings. Both teams played good cricket. Rishabh takes his chances, he and Jaddu counterattacked and we were ahead of the game.

12:31 PM

India's man of the series

Is Jasprit Bumrah for 23 wickets at 22.47 and for some exuberant batting and gun fielding.

12:30 PM

Root speaks again

I love batting. The environment over the last four weeks is exceptional, clarity and belief, get out there, trust it and do it.

Stokesy has the full backing of everyone, particularly myself. Our responsibility is to keep it entertaining for everyone out there.

Each game we've had absolute clarity about what we need to do and the way we want to play.

The openers' scores are worth a lot more than what they say on the scoresheet.

12:28 PM

England's player of the series

Is Joe Root: 737 runs in nine innings, two not outs, four centuries, one half-century, at an average of 105.28 and a strike rate of 63.04.

12:26 PM

Bairstow speaks

"It's great fun at the moment, this last month has been fantastic, we can see the smile on the boys' faces. I've stripped it all back to the basics, I'm not a big fan of bubbles and sitting in rooms playing computer games, but it's great to be back, day five sold out in 90 minutes.

We are going to lose games playing the way we are but it is exciting to watch and fun to play. We'll keep giving it a crack.

It was all under control! You've got to soak up pressure. When they're on top they're difficult to shift. They've done it so long that they can intimidate you, There are times when you have to suck it up and consolidate and shift it back on to them

Two lads from Yorkshire. We've grown up playing together. We've spent a lot of time in the middle from Yorkshire Academy onwards. It was great to bat with him when he made his 28th Test century.

12:21 PM

Jonny Bairstow is man of the match

For his first-innings 106 and 114* in his second dig.

12:17 PM

This is a remarkable stat

Though, obviously, a small sample size so far:

12:12 PM

Joe Root speaks

It was pretty fun. Throughout the summer we've said whatever it is we'll chase it down. Ben said at the toss, we're going to chase. So much credit has top go to the guys at the top of the order, they deserve a huge amount of credit, it was a sublime partnership against a a world-class attack, with the ball moving around.

Whatever they get, we're going to chase it down. That;s the feeling in the dressing room all summer.

It' great to see Jonny enjoying Test cricket. he has been in and out and you can blame me for that. When he's come in at the back end of the winter, he's been playing exceptionally. He hits it so hard, you feel in danger at the other end. No way I would have got out of the way of one of them. I've known him since he was 12 and it's great to see him fulfilling his potential in this format.

I'm really enjoying my batting. I'm excited, turning up to training. I'm in a good place but I need to keep working hard to maintain it. I am at peace with one mode of dismissal now [not dwelling over them]. I accept now it's a game where you fail bu twhen you get in you've got to keep it going.

We've taken 80 wickets, you feel in the game at slip. The way Ben's got them bowling ...  always hunting wickets, and making things happen, which is what it's all about.

 

12:03 PM

OVER 76.4: ENG 378/3 (Root 142* Bairstow 114*) target 378     

Root reverse sweeps for four with wonderful wristy power, then reverses Jadeja for a single to win the fifth Test by seven wickets.

ENGLAND WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS.

It's England's record fourth innings successful chase. And it's a fourth successive Test victory for Ben Stokes' New Model England.

England square the series 2-2 with two sessions plus an hour (30 minutes before lunch, 30 minutes at the end of the third session, to spare).

12:00 PM

OVER 76: ENG 372/3 (Root 137* Bairstow 113*) target 378             

Ravis Shastri shouts with characteristic glee: 'That rocketed to the fence like a tracer bullet.' Everyone laughs in the commentary box. The cry was inspired by Bairstow's second four in his hat-trick of them, a square drive, a drilled straight drive and a pull.

Siraj his dander up, sends down a searing bouncer that trims Bairstow's nostril hair as he jerked out of the road.

11:57 AM

OVER 75: ENG 358/3 (Root 137* Bairstow 100*) target 378             

Jadeja exposes India's muddled tactics by keeping Bairstow quiet with a couple that bite and turn. Bairstow waits until the fourth ball to get to back-to-back Test centuries, a hundred in each innings, with a clip off middle and leg. Root ran to the danger end and just made it home.

That's Bairstow's 12th Test century, his sixth since his recall at Sydney in January. What an annus mirabilis for the russet run-rustler. Bairstow has never a popular man among the Telegraph's commenters, but that must have changed by now.

11:53 AM

OVER 74: ENG 356/3 (Root 135* Bairstow 99*) target 378           

Root, the strike rotator, opens the face to dab a single fine of point, Bairstow plays tip and run with a full-blooded defensive for a single then Root climbs in Thakur, pulling for two and driving through extra for four. He ends the over with a defensive to let Bairstow have the strike after clipping two more off his toes. It's milking on an industrial scale. He's Express Dairys. (Does that still exist?)

11:49 AM

OVER 73: ENG 346/3 (Root 126* Bairstow 98*) target 378           

But not yet. Jadeja gives him nothing to play with, using pace and lack of flight to target his legs. YJB kicks a couple away and defends the rest, one of them not too convincingly.

11:47 AM

OVER 72: ENG 346/3 (Root 126* Bairstow 98*) target 378         

Root is tearing up the textbook, charging Thakur to flay a lofted drive over long off for four. And then, for the third time this summer, he plays the reverse ramp over the slips for six. Audacious beyond belief. Never mind mental disintegration, get that wrong and it's dental disintegration. Bairstow is overheard on the stump mic saying, 'That's f------ ridiculous.'

Root flicks a single off his ankle and Bairstow, starved of the strike, thinks he's pinched it back off the last ball with a controlled pull for a single. But it's a no-ball so Root will have the chance of filching it back. Not off the bouncer, though, as it's too high to play and is called wide. Nor does he chance a single when he clips a straight ball to midwicket, giving Bairstow the chance to join him on three figures.

11:40 AM

OVER 71: ENG 332/3 (Root 115* Bairstow 97*) target 378         

At last India turn to Jadeja and he continues firing it in quite quick into the pads. After playing football for a while, Root tries a reverse, misses it, then goes again and takes a single to point. Bairstow boots the last ball of the over away.

11:38 AM

OVER 70: ENG 331/3 (Root 114* Bairstow 97*) target 378       

Ravi Shastri smells a defeatist attitude among India's fielders that, he says, has been present from the start of the day. Thakur strays on to Bairstow's pads and he flicks it for a single.

Root burgles a single to mid-on after a couple of defensives. Thakur isn't quick enough to bother Bairstow with a bouncer and the England batsman pulls it with some derision for four. These two have made 2350 runs in partnership, only about a hundred fewer than Root made in tandem with Alastair Cook. It won't be long until YJB becomes Root's most productive partnership.

11:31 AM

OVER 69: ENG 325/3 (Root 113* Bairstow 92*) target 378       

Siraj bounces Root, hitting a good length and firing it at the shoulder. Root takes on the hook but it's too quick for him and it sails off the top edge ... fine of fine leg who makes a food effort to sprint and dive to his left. He cannot make the ground, though and Root picks up his 16th four.

The last ball finds the edge but Root's soft hands drop it well short of slip. On come the drinks.

11:25 AM

OVER 68: ENG 321/3 (Root 109* Bairstow 92*) target 378     

Change of bowling but it's Thakur not Jadeja. A wide apart, given for a high bouncer, his line is tighter and more nagging. Root steers a defensive fine of point for a single and Bairstow plays out the over watchfully.

11:21 AM

OVER 67: ENG 319/3 (Root 108* Bairstow 92*) target 378     

Joe Root raises his 28th Test hundred with a back-cut that he hits late and into the ground so that it bounces and leaps over second slip for four. Siraj had brought third man up to save a single but it went fine of him. His third hundred of the summer and 11th since the start of 2021.

Root's bat, sponsored by New Balance but doubtless not manufactured by them in Massachusetts, makes a pleasing 'thock' sound as Root leans into a half-volley and smears it through cover for four more. Eleven Test centuries in 18 months. From the Pete Best of the Fab Four at the end of 2020, he stands alone. He's the Elvis now.

11:15 AM

OVER 66: ENG 310/3 (Root 99* Bairstow 92*) target 378   

Successive boundaries for Root off Bumrah, the first the shot he has brought into the mainstream, the open-faced late glide through third man, followed by an elegant clip off his toes through midwicket for the second. Now Bumrah has lost his length.

Root dabs a single down to third man to move to 99 and Bumrah ties Bairstow to that end with the short ball. This isn't working for India. Time to try Jadeja, over the wicket to the right-handers?

11:12 AM

OVER 65: ENG 301/3 (Root 90* Bairstow 92*) target 378   

Siraj replaces the erratic Shami, normally so accurate. Root chisels out the yorker then plays a magnificent square drive off the next ball, playing late and opening the face to drill it through cover for two. Root keeps fussing about movement behind the bowler. He has pulled away already today and a couple of times yesterday.

11:05 AM

OVER 64: ENG 298/3 (Root 87* Bairstow 92*) target 378 

Better from Bumrah, after two straight ones are clipped to midwicket who stops the single. Finally he goes back to the corridor and immediately beats Bairstow fencing outside off. Another channel ball, zips back and hits Bairstow on the back leg in front of off but above the pad. Bumrah's appeal dies halfway up his throat. Too high, as both he and Pant signal to each other. Maiden, though ... so some consolation.

11:02 AM

OVER 63: ENG 298/3 (Root 87* Bairstow 92*) target 378 

Poor over from Shami,  who can't find a consistent line. The first is another big inswingers that starts too straight on off and flies crazily past Root's buttocks for four byes. A fine diving save in the covers by Vihari prevents a boundary but, no matter, another drivable ball comes along at the end of the over and Root smears it past point for four.

India's bowling strategy has been very poor. Fifth stump is the way to go.

Jonny Bairstow of England and Joe Root of England score runs during day five of Fifth LV= Insurance Test Match between England and India at Edgbaston  - Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Jonny Bairstow of England and Joe Root of England score runs during day five of Fifth LV= Insurance Test Match between England and India at Edgbaston - Gareth Copley/Getty Images

10:55 AM

OVER 62: ENG 288/3 (Root 82* Bairstow 91*) target 378

Bunmrah, out of sorts yesterday and today, drifts on to middle and leg and Bairstow creams an on drive for four. Only one ball troubles the batsman outside off, the rest of the time the line is too straight. Bairstow does have a waft at it but instead of it being a light bulb moment, Bumrah goes back to off stump and Bairstow pats it square at the top of the bounce through cover-point for two.

10:52 AM

Warwickshire's statement on the allegations of racist abuse in the Hollies Stand yesterday

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive at Edgbaston, said: “I’m gutted by these reports as we’re working hard to make Edgbaston a safe, welcoming environment for all.

“Having seen the initial tweets, I’ve spoken personally to the gentleman who raised them and we’re now speaking to the stewards in this area to establish what happened.

“Nobody should be subject to any form of abuse at Edgbaston. So, once we’ve got all the facts, we will make sure this issue is addressed swiftly.”

10:51 AM

OVER 61: ENG 282/3 (Root 82* Bairstow 85*) target 378

India have managed to shine one side of the replacement ball and getting it to swing, orthodox style. Shami's big inswinger, though, hoops miles down the legside as he pushes it wider having seen Bairstow's feet advance. Off it flies for four byes and England's target is reduced to double figures.

10:47 AM

OVER 60: ENG 277/3 (Root 82* Bairstow 84*) target 378

Jammy lad. Joe Root bottom edges his third-man steer and drags it close to the stumps, whistling past off and scuttling past Pant's right hand for four. Bradford-born Bairstow and Sheffield's Root, from the western and southern outposts of the old West Riding, continue to play tip and run to add a couple more singles. But Bumrah was able to give Root the hurry-up once.

10:42 AM

OVER 59: ENG 271/3 (Root 77* Bairstow 83*) target 378                       

Reverse straightaway for Shami to Bairstow who defends with bat and by leaving, too. After three balls that do move, India ask for a replacement ball, one that bounces more. Seems like a gamble to me. But it fails the ordeal of the rings and India have another pill.

Shami starts by hanging the replacement ball outside off, too full, and Bairstow crashes a square drive for four. And Bairstow doubles the 'new ball' pain by leaning back, opening the face to cut with a bat halfway between vertical and horizontal for four more.

Shami ends the over with some encouragement that they made the right decision. It pitches on middle and off and then zips away as Jonny B pushes forward but refuses to let his hands follow it.

Time for captain Bumrah.

10:35 AM

OVER 58: ENG 263/3 (Root 77* Bairstow 75*) target 378                       

From the start the pitch looks livelier, perhaps due to it sweating beneath the covers. The first ball rears off a good length outside off and the next jags into Root's pads, keeping low from back of a length. It hit the top flap and therefore would still have vaulted leg stump. Wise decision not to review.

Root uses that nip back into him to glean the morning's first run, clipping it off his pads for a single. Siraj overpitches to Bairstow and they hustle two off a Pujara misfield at cover. Siraj slants one across Bairstow now. They have two midwickets and the batsman does have a tickle at it but it was too wide and the keeper dives to stop it.

Bairstow pinches the strike with a tip and run to Pujara at cover. India need a gazelle saving one there, not dear old Chet. Mohammed Shami will open the bowling from the City End.

10:28 AM

Thanks to David Cosgrove

For holding the fort. Bagchi here. What a time to be alive for an England cricket lover but let's avoid hubris. The old ball was reversing a bit last night and if Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and, especially, Jasprit Bumrah can find a better line, they still have a good chance. They were in far more perilous positions in Australia in 2021, admittedly with the bat, and at the Oval last year with the ball - and given the length of England's tail, they still have time for a fresh approach.

If England do pull it off, it will be a remarkable feat. But again, let's enjoy it for what it is rather than extrapolating what it "means for the Ashes". That's been England's problem for the past five years, focusing obsessively on the Australians and relegating the importance of everything else. Who knows what the state of the pitches and weather will be next year, never mind whether Dukes gets its act together and manages to manufacture a batch of balls that stay hard and retain their shape. It's a plea for sanity and for keeping whatever happens in perspective ... as they say, you know the difference between a pat on the back and a kick up the backside? About 18 inches.

It's overcast in Birmingham but dry. The chance of rain is put at 10 per cent until 3pm and then it reduces to five.  The lights are on.

Mohammed Siraj has the ball.

09:55 AM

Here's how WinViz sees it...

09:47 AM

Day four report

A reminder of what happened yesterday in case you need it, from our man Nick Hoult at Edgbaston:

England close in on record chase after Bairstow and Root masterclass

09:30 AM

Good morning

Plenty has been written about England's thrilling red-ball renaissance already this summer, but if Brendon McCullum's side manage to pull off a record-breaking chase at a sold-out Edgbaston today then the superlatives about 'Bazball' will start running dry.

Joe Root and the imperious Jonny Bairstow marshalled the chase superbly on Monday evening after a flurry of three quick wickets to leave England within striking distance of their mammoth 378 target.

They require another 119 to win with seven wickets in hand, and two set batsman including Bairstow who is in the form of his life.

Alex Lees claimed England's "ultimate belief" in each other helped drive them towards the history-making chase.

England have already pulled off some superb fourth-innings efforts this summer, reaching targets of 277, 299 and 296 against New Zealand, but if everything goes to plan on day five in Birmingham they will have set a new high watermark.

Their target is higher than any England side has ever managed and worthy of a place in the top 10 chases ever completed in Test cricket.

Considerable credit must go to the opening pair of Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46), who raised the roof with an agenda-setting century stand. Lees spoke for the team when he claimed that breaking an English record of 359, set by Stokes' 'miracle of Headingley' during the 2019 Ashes, never came close to daunting them.

"I just think there is ultimate belief in one another, from one to 11, that we could do this," he said.

"I think we're just very optimistic about it. You know the target is there but you just try and put it into the background. It's not something we necessarily spoke about."

Expanding on his own approach, which saw him hit the first of eight boundaries by charging his third ball of the innings, the left-hander said: "My role in a run chase is to put some pressure on the bowlers. Brendon McCullum pretty much just said: 'Go and do your thing'. We all know the brand this team wants to play. I just want to express myself."

Play gets under way at 10.30am and we will have live over-by-over updates for you throughout - plus all the post-match reaction.