On July 5, 2022, England’s new-look ‘Bazball’ side got the better of India in great fashion to win the fifth Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Men in Blue came into the game leading the series 2-1 back in 2021. They travelled to the English shores a year later to complete the series, only to face a completely different-looking English side with a brand new captain, coach and ideology to play Test cricket.
England, now under the leadership of Ben Stokes, believed in playing attacking cricket and not fearing any total in front of them in the fourth innings. That was in full display when India set a target of 378 for the hosts to chase down. The Three Lions did not shy away and had an incredible start to their innings, thanks to a 107-run opening partnership put on by Alex Lees and Zak Crawley.
However, they were soon 109 for 3 on Day 4, with a further 269 runs needed to chase down. In walked two Yorkshiremen in Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, who would completely turn the tables in England’s favour. The duo ended Day 4 having scored unbeaten 72 and 76 runs, respectively, with their side on 259, needing a further 119 runs on the final day.
On Day 5, on July 5, England needed only 19.4 overs to get the remaining runs, and they did so without losing a single wicket. Both Root and Bairstow went on to get their hundreds in relatively quick fashion. The former England captain got his first, reaching three figures off 136 balls, while the wicketkeeper reached his from 138 deliveries.
England reached the 378-run summit in 76.4 overs, scoring at 4.93 runs per over, something unheard of in Test cricket before this game at Edgbaston. Root and Bairstow, meanwhile, ended up scoring unbeaten 142 and 114 runs, respectively, with the latter awarded Player of the Match. The wicketkeeper-batter scored hundreds in both innings, adding to his 106 from the first innings.
To date, 378 remains England’s highest successful run chase in its illustrious Test history. They beat their previous record of 359, which they achieved during the famous Ashes Test match at Headingley in 2019 thanks to Stokes’ heroics towards the end, hitting 135 not out to take his side to victory from the jaws of defeat.
Winning at Edgbaston meant that England would go on to retain the Patuadi Trophy. It was also the last time that the two sides would compete for the trophy named after Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi. The series was renamed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ahead of India’s tour to England in 2025. The series last summer also ended 2-2 with Stokes’ side registering their second-highest run chase at Headingley in the first Test when they hunted down 371 runs in the fourth innings, this time thanks to Ben Duckett’s 149 and Root’s unbeaten half-century.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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