NEW DELHI: An exciting finale to the five-match Test series between India and England is set to unfold at The Oval, with the fifth and final Test beginning on Thursday. All eyes will be on the toss—yes, it could be a crucial moment given the recent history at the venue.The last first-class match played at The Oval was a County Championship Division One game between Surrey and Durham in June, and it turned out to be a high-scoring spectacle.
Surrey, led by Rory Burns, were put into bat by Durham and went on to post a mammoth 820/9 declared in their first innings. Opener Dom Sibley starred with a monumental 305 off 475 balls, while Sam Curran (108), Dan Lawrence (178), and Will Jacks (119) also smashed centuries to propel Surrey to that enormous total.In response, Durham were bowled out for 362 in their first innings, forced to follow on, and then ended their second innings at 262 without loss.
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The match eventually ended in a draw, with a staggering 1,444 runs scored in total.The run-fest featured one triple century and six individual hundreds across both teams.
With that in mind, the big question is: Will India or England look at those numbers and opt to bat first if they win the toss? Could the fifth Test turn into another run fest?A lot will hinge on that toss when India’s Shubman Gill and England’s Ben Stokes walk out in their blazers to the middle of The Oval on Thursday morning.After four fiercely contested matches, India trail 1-2 but remain alive in the series. The visitors lost the opener at Headingley, bounced back with a dominant win at Edgbaston, and then saw England reclaim the lead at Lord’s. A gritty fightback in Manchester helped India force a draw in the fourth Test, setting the stage for a thrilling decider in London.The final Test promises high drama, and the toss might just set the tone for what lies ahead.
