• Cook unbeaten, on 46, in final innings of his Test career
This Test is a slow burner, which may well ignite by Tuesday night but in the meantime there have been enough subplots to keep everyone diverted. The match is progressing fast enough to avoid that modern rarity, a draw – in the 20 Tests when Joe Root has been in charge there have been only two of those. With two days remaining England lead by 154 with eight wickets in hand and the pitch is becoming ever more worn: a slow burner is becoming a slow turner.
The subplots, at least for English followers, centred on the opening batsmen. For a start Alastair Cook is playing his final Test match, though one would not have guessed it from watching him play; there is no sign of any demob-happiness. He batted in exactly the same way as in his previous 291 innings and that was very handy for England. He was still there at the end on 46.
Written by Vic Marks at the Kia Oval
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/09/alastair-cook-in-control-for-england-keaton-jennings-flop-india-fifth-test under the title “Alastair Cook in control for England after fresh Keaton Jennings flop”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
