Stuart Broad withstood the pain from a foot injury to exemplify England’s spirit, but defeat is still the likely outcome in the second Test
George Dobell in Visakhapatnam19-Nov-20162:18
Compton: Stokes, Bairstow showed the fight England need
The Barmy Army trumpeter played The Great Escape theme several times on Saturday.Maybe it was optimistic or maybe he was simply trying to be encouraging. But when one of the supporters sitting near him pointed out that the vast majority of those who tunnelled out of Stalag Luft III in 1944 (the escape upon which the film was based) were recaptured and murdered by the Nazis, it did little to dampen spirits.That’s because most people understand that The Great Escape – as a film, at least – isn’t really about escaping. Or not entirely, anyway.It’s about spirit. It’s about a refusal to accept defeat. Even when it is seemingly inevitable.So maybe the theme was the perfect accompaniment to an absorbing day’s cricket when England gave their all and still finished facing almost certain defeat.There have been days – some of them really not so long ago – when an England side going into a day like this would have subsided with a whimper. Think of Sydney 2014 or Leeds 2009. Think of the 1990s. That band of spectators who watch every day – and no other country can replicate such travelling support – has had to put up with some dark days amid the good ones.Everything was against England here. They had conceded too large a first innings score and their top-order had failed to give them the start they required in reply. With the pitch deteriorating and several players struggling with injury or illness – Stuart Broad has a foot injury, Zafar Ansari vomited on the pitch on Friday and Jonny Bairstow rolled his ankle on his way to the crease on Saturday – they knew their chances of clawing their way back into the game were slim.But, to their immense credit, they did not buckle or bend. Instead, Ben Stokes and Bairstow stretched their overnight partnership beyond 100 and, in the process, provided a reminder of the technique and temperament England will need to demonstrate to prosper in these conditions.There were none of the indeterminate prods we saw the previous night from Alastair Cook or Ben Duckett. Instead, we saw both men use their crease and their feet. We saw them trust their defence but take the opportunity to attack. We saw them render a pitch that had appeared treacherous on the second evening look nothing more than tricky on the third morning.Stokes was especially impressive. His improvement against spin is so marked that he is suddenly looking the best player of slow bowling in the side. Such is his ability to come down the pitch or play back, that he confuses the bowler as to the length they should bowl and then punishes anything short or over-pitched.It is true that life seemed somewhat easier against the older ball. It is true that, just as it seemed the partnership was in danger of becoming dangerous, Bairstow was punished for playing across a straight one by a quick, full ball that may have reversed a little. And it is true that, without Chris Woakes, the tail – Adil Rashid apart – folded fast.But the stand between Stokes and Bairstow was just what England needed after a disappointing second day. It reminded them of the attitude, the fight and the technique they are going to have to show if they are going to get anything from this series. It reminded them how they should have played on the second day.Stuart Broad is deep in thought as England face an uphill challenge•Associated PressThat resilience was then replicated by the bowlers. Broad, despite limping heavily, produced an opening spell of 6-2-6-2 (he had figures of 4.1-4-0-2 at one stage) to put India under just a little bit of pressure, while James Anderson (who had figures of 6-1-5-1 at one stage) produced a peach of a ball to swing back through Cheteshwar Pujara’s defensive prod to leave them 40 for 3.It would have been perfectly understandable – perhaps even sensible – for Broad to sit in the dressing room with his feet up. A scan taken on Friday night had shown a strained tendon and joint in his right foot and, whatever advice the medics gave, running in and bowling as fast as he could was surely not among it.But, perhaps reasoning that he is out of the third Test already, he gave this spell everything. And, just for a few minutes, he hinted that he could replicate the sort of drama that we have seen at The Oval (2009), Durham (2013) or Jo’burg (2016). The Barmy Army’s songs increased in intensity (their song for him rhymes the words ‘Stuart Broad’ with ‘large pork sword’) and, in between urging them between deliveries to sing louder, Broad hit the pitch hard enough to gain the seam movement that accounted for both the first two wickets. Anderson, meanwhile, touched 90mph and reiterated the same message: we’re not giving up; we’re not losing belief.Maybe, had it not been for Kohli, England might have been able to creep back into the game. Increasingly, though, he is emerging as the key difference between the sides. Just as he prevented a tricky situation in Rajkot from becoming a crisis, so he prevented a wobble becoming a collapse here. Even when the ball kept low, he seemed to find it with the centre of his bat. His half-century has effectively shut the door on England in this game.His declaration will probably come around or just after lunch on day four. The lead is already 298 and is already probably enough. England will try to slow India’s progress but it is inevitable they will then be left with a minimum of five sessions of batting before them. It’s hard to see any result other than an India win. But cricket wouldn’t be half the game it is of it was predictable and if England are doomed, nobody has told them yet.Whatever happens, England’s attitude can have significance beyond this game.It should prove to them that they can prosper in these conditions. It should prove to them that Ravi Ashwin, for all his skill and control, can be combatted and that there is no place in this England dressing room for defeatism or excuses. Previous England teams (and not just England teams) may have bemoaned the conditions, the food, the climate and the loss of an important toss. This one will learn to deal with challenges or make way for players who will. This one, despite its flaws, has much to admire about it.Will there be a great escape? Probably not. But if we witness more spirit of the Great Escape this England team will receive no complaints from those watching.
