The fourth day of the first Test match of India’s 2021 tour of England saw the hosts set a 209-run target. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara (12 off 13 balls) and Rohit Sharma (12 off 34 balls will resume the proceedings at 52/1 as India needs 157 runs on the final day to secure a win. 

Except for Jasprit Bumrah’s stunning five-wicket haul, a promising Ollie Robinson and English skipper Joe Root’s solid 109 runs, the Test match has been a presentation of some sloppy fielding from the home side. 

England let down as many as three catches in India’s first innings. They missed four run-out chances. All these missed opportunities can come to bite Joe Root, if his side loses and that too by a narrow margin. According to ESPNcricinfo, this is the fifth time in 2021 England had put down three or more catches in an innings. 

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The English side was ranked among the Test nations on a Sky Sports table when slip catching was a criterion. Joe Root and Domonoc Sibeley dropping chances in the cordon against India just showed why. As per ESPNcricinfo, England takes just under 75% of the chances offered to them in the slips. 

Who suffers?

James Anderson might be floating in the higher 630s if 22 chances were not put down off his bowling since 2018. 

Also read: After scoring 84, KL Rahul says learnt from 2018 England tour

As the Indians start batting on Day 5, England’s slip cordon will again be under the scan. Stuart Broad had dismissed KL Rahul (26 off 38 balls). The hosts need nine more wickets. 

On the final day, if weather permits, India will need another 157 runs but in these conditions, it could prove to be more than a handful with James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson making the ball talk. Sam Curran is also expected to play a decent supporting role.