Cricket: India v England, 5th Test Day Four: Five Things We Learned

England suffer a humiliating day in the field, as India and Karun Nair thrash them for 759 for seven. Here’s what we learned from day four in Chennai…

MAN OF THE DAY – Karun Nair (303*)

A special day for Karun Nair, who became only the second Indian batsman to reach 300. Not bad for a player whose previous highest Test score was 13! Perversely, he might have also been the second centurion in this India innings to find himself on the bench when the hosts welcome back the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane. But Karun Nair made full use of his life on 34, when Cook dropped him at first slip off Jake Ball, to complete an otherwise classy maiden Test hundred, from 185 deliveries. The triple was brought up from 381, which included a late dash of 81 from the last 57 deliveries he faced. Much like KL Rahul, his ascension from up-and-comer to the highest level has taken a touch longer than expected. But he looked very organised, composed and, even when England were bowling negatively to him, was able to sweep balls from outside off stump and thread the occasional shot through cover to show he cannot be tied down - a crucial trait for a lower order batsman. Considering India’s schedule in the next year, having players like Nair and Rahul in form and match-ready is invaluable.

[REPORT: NAIR ON FIRE AS INDIA SET RECORDS TUMBLING AGAINST ENGLAND]

[MAIDEN CENTURY TOOK THE PRESSURE OFF: NAIR]

USE OF STOKES

Of the questions that will be asked of Alastair Cook – and indeed the management – when the bones of this tour are picked, the use of Ben Stokes will require a considered answer. Since taking five for 73 in the third Test, Stokes bowled just 10 of the 183 overs England fielded in the fourth – coming on as the sixth bowler, no less – and then, here in Chennai, has played third fiddle behind fellow seamers Stuart Broad and Jake Ball. Maybe, given how much England have needed from him with the bat, Mumbai favouring the spinners and Chennai being a dead game, Cook just had to manage his workload. But as the only quick who got any kind of lateral movement, his absence from England’s attack for prolonged periods of time was India’s gain. He showed that in the first session, with an array of deliveries beating the outside edge and one brute of a reversing delivery that nipped away off a length that chipped the top edge of Nair’s bat.

INDIA BAT BIGGEST

A theme throughout this series has been that, no matter what England post at their best, India are more than a match for it. Just to underline that, India scored 759 – their highest score in Test match cricket & the highest ever Test innings score recorded against England. In inflicting that pain, they also became the first team to post totals of 400 or more having lost the toss four times this series. Unlike England, the hosts’ consistency with the bat has centred around individuals scoring big hundreds: Nair’s innings today was the fourth score in excess of 150 made by an Indian batsman. By contrast, none of England’s five centurions passed that figure.

ASHWIN’S “ASHES"

A near-perfect 2016 for Ravichandran Ashwin ends with an accolade that sums up his progression as one of the best allrounders in world cricket and a crucial element to this India side. With his runs today, he became only the eighth player to score more than 250 runs and take over 25 wickets in a series. To quantify his influence in India’s demolition of England, it is worth looking at the last player to achieve this feat: Ian Botham in the 1985 Ashes series. Now, Botham and Ashwin may not be kindred spirits – no doubt their ideas of a good time, especially Beefy in his pomp, differ significantly – but, both their success tallies invariably with that of their team’s. He also became the first person since 1984-85 to score four fifties and take three five-wicket hauls in a series.

WHAT NEXT

Sweet relief? Mercy? Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings reach stumps unscathed to ensure a horrendous day did not get worse. We’ll save the inquest for tomorrow. Right now, the players need to refresh overnight – they shouldn’t have too much trouble sleeping after 191 overs in the dirt. They can take solace from the fact that the pitch is still quite flat and seems to be coming on to the bat quite nicely (the third new ball went at seven an over). For those two and anyone who gets in early, there is a Test hundred on offer. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli will be sniffing a win to cap off what has been a special series and year as Test captain.