Stuart Broad Questions 'Lazy Decision' To Call Off Day 4 Of India vs England Test Early
India vs England: Like the first four Tests, the fifth game has also entered the fifth day after rain forced early stumps on Day 4
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is headed for a grand finale day. Like the first four Tests, the fifth game has also entered the fifth day after rain forced early stumps on Day 4. It meant that England would be needing 35 runs to win the match on the final day at The Oval on Monday, while India will be needing 3 (4 if the injured Chris Woakes bats). Former England pacer Stuart Broad, however, was not happy with the early end of the fourth day. "Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm, in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?” Broad wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 3, 2025
At the end of the Day 4's play, England were 339/6, with Jamie Overton (0*) and Jamie Smith (2*) unbeaten. England still need 35 runs to win, with uncertainty over whether Chris Woakes will come to bat or not after a shoulder injury.
Centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook put England in the driver's seat, while the Indian pace unit continues to give hope following a late fightback. India is four wickets away from levelling the series, and England is 35 runs shy of a 3-1 win.
Siraj has bowled 1,088 deliveries across the five Tests, in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series, the most by any player and is destined to add more to his tally on the final day. Siraj is also the highest wicket-taker in the series with 20 scalps under his belt.
Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar felt a wicket could fall at any moment due to the pressure applied by Indian seamer in the third session on England batters on Day 4 in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The Oval Test is all set to reach the final day on Monday due to rain and bad light interrupting proceedings on day four.
Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna delivered high-intensity overs, resulting in key wickets after Tea. Prasidh took two wickets in the final session, removing Jacob Bethell for five and centurion Joe Root for 105 in his following over.
"It just felt like a wicket could fall with every ball. Earlier in the middle session, nothing much seemed to be happening--but that's what pressure does. The closer you get to the target, the more difficult the final few steps of the climb become. Your mind starts to wander--to what could happen, to past mistakes--and those mental games are often decisive in sport. India pushed England into that mental space, where suddenly, even the last few runs seem very hard to get," JioHotstar expert Sanjay Bangar said.
India Cricket Team
England Cricket Team
Stuart Broad