India bowling coach Morne Morkel has urged his side to keep fighting during the final day of the fifth Test against England at The Oval.India fought back late on the fourth day with the crucial wickets of centurions Joe Root and Harry Brook and Morne Morkel believes his side can still pull off an unlikely victory by claiming the final four scalps on Monday.
Indian men’s cricket team bowling coach Morne Morkel has hope yet as England closed Day 4 of the fifth Test at 339/6 at The Oval on Sunday. Jamie Smith (2) and Jamie Overton (0) were at the crease when rain and bad light stopped play, with the hosts needing just 35 more runs for a memorable victory and a 3-1 series win.
Joe Root scored his 39th Test century and Harry Brook blasted his 10th as Root (105) and Brook (111) combined for a 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, boosting England’s chase of 374.
Chris Woakes, injured on Day 1 of the match and ruled out of the Test, was seen in his whites with a sling on his left shoulder, suggesting he might still come out to bat if needed. England will have the option to use the roller on the last day if the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and they are likely to choose the heavy one before chasing the remaining runs.
Morne Morkel said the series has been characterised by highs and lows, and it was no exception on the penultimate day as well. His team managed to break an important batting partnership, giving them some control, but the game was halted due to rain. Saying so Morne Morkel also admitted the fact that There was a dilemna in Team Selection before the 5th Test which will be scrutinized if England manages to win the match.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel adressses concerns regarding Team selection policy for the 5th Test
India’s decision to persist with a three-pacer strategy and overlook Kuldeep Yadav throughout the England Test series has sparked conversations—both inside the dressing room and amongst fans. The tactical call, repeated over five matches, was a defining feature of India’s approach in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Throughout the series, India opted for a combination centred around three frontline pacers, with spin handled by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, both all-rounders. The aim was to lengthen the batting lineup, offering more depth at the cost of a specialist spinner. But as the Tests wore on and pitches began to break up, the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, India’s premier wrist-spinner, became increasingly conspicuous.
In the press conference after Day 4 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, bowling coach Morne Morkel explained the rationale behind the repeated selection calls.
“To be honest, that’s been part of our conversation before every match. Heading into the Tests, given the nature of the wickets and the overhead conditions in the early days, we felt going in with the extra batter was important,” Morkel said.
“In the last couple of games, our fourth seamer didn’t bowl too many overs anyway, and with Washi and Jadeja both capable of bowling long spells, we leaned towards strengthening the batting. But yes, these are things we will reflect on at the end of the tour—the areas we could’ve handled differently.”
Before the series, there were quiet expectations that Kuldeep Yadav would feature prominently, especially given how his left-arm wrist spin could have challenged England’s attacking middle order. Yet, the team consistently leaned on part-timers and left him out even when conditions began turning favourable for spin.
For the final Test at The Oval, India didn’t deviate from that plan—three quicks, spin from Sundar and Jadeja, and added cushion in the batting with Karun Nair coming in. However, as England closed Day 4 needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand, questions emerged about whether India had compromised too much on bowling firepower.
As the series nears its conclusion with England poised for a 3-1 victory, scrutiny around India’s selection calls—especially the continued omission of Kuldeep—will only grow louder.
India need 4 wickets to win the final Test match at Oval and level the series. England, on the other hand, need only 35 runs to win the Test match. India had the momentum in the final session of the game, before bad light stopped play. India and its fans will be hoping for yet another spirited display of bowling from the seamers in the opening session on Monday, August 4, the final day of the Test series.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball