India found themselves in deep trouble at 1 for 2 at lunch on Day 4 of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, after conceding a daunting 311-run first-innings lead. England, resuming from an overnight score of 544/7, powered their way to 669 all out, marking their fifth-highest Test total ever and the highest at Old Trafford.
England’s Batting Masterclass
Captain Ben Stokes led the charge with a commanding 141 off 198 balls, ending a two-year century drought and becoming the first England captain to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test match. He was well supported by:
- Joe Root: 150
- Ben Duckett: 94
- Zak Crawley: 84
- Brydon Carse: 47
Stokes also crossed the 7,000-run milestone in Tests during his innings, celebrating his century with a tribute to his late father.
India’s Bowling Woes
India’s bowlers struggled throughout the innings:
- Ravindra Jadeja: 4/143
- Jasprit Bumrah: Conceded 100+ runs for the first time in his 48-Test career
- Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur failed to make significant breakthroughs
The pitch showed signs of variable bounce, adding to India’s second-innings challenge.
Woakes’ Double Blow
India’s reply began disastrously. Chris Woakes struck twice in the very first over:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: Caught by Joe Root for 0
- B Sai Sudharsan: Caught by Harry Brook for 0
India were left trailing by 310 runs, with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul at the crease, facing a steep uphill battle.
Series Context
England leads the five-match series 2–1, and a win here would seal the series with one Test remaining. With momentum firmly in England’s favor, India’s young batting lineup faces a stern test of resilience and technique.
