The fifth and final Test match between England and India at The Oval has begun with England leading the series 2-1. On the first day, Gus Atkinson impressed, but inconsistent bowling from the rest of the English attack prevented the home side from completely capitalizing on helpful conditions. India ended the day at 204 for 6 after 64 overs, with Karun Nair not out on 52 and Washington Sundar on 19.
England won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that initially paid off. Atkinson made an immediate impact, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for 2. Chris Woakes then bowled KL Rahul for 14, leaving India at 38 for 2. Atkinson also contributed with excellent fielding, running out Indian captain Shubman Gill for 21. Gill, who has been in excellent form throughout the series, slipped while attempting a quick single, allowing Atkinson to throw down the stumps.
Despite the early breakthroughs and Atkinson's efforts, England's bowlers struggled to maintain consistent pressure. Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue, though showing glimpses of brilliance, lacked control. Tongue dismissed Sai Sudharsan for 38 and Ravindra Jadeja for 9 with impressive deliveries. Atkinson later returned to dismiss Dhruv Jurel for 19, caught at second slip by Harry Brook.
Karun Nair, playing in place of the dropped Hanuma Vihari, displayed resilience and reached his first Test fifty in 3,148 days. He and Washington Sundar put together a 50-run stand to help India recover from 153 for 6 to 204 for 6 at the close of play. However, Chris Woakes left the field with a shoulder injury after diving to save a boundary, adding to England's concerns.
Several rain interruptions impacted the day's play, resulting in an early lunch and tea. Play was initially scheduled to resume at 3:00 PM after a rain delay but was further delayed and eventually restarted at 4:45 PM.
India has already amassed 3,272 runs in this series, surpassing their previous record of 3,270 runs against the West Indies in 1978/79. Shubman Gill has been a standout performer with 743 runs in the series.
The Oval has historically favored England, with 5 wins compared to India's 2 in 14 encounters. However, India's victory in 2021 provides them with confidence. The pitch is expected to favor batters early on, before assisting spinners as the match progresses.
