Statistical Preview, The Oval Test: India face an uphill task

London’s Kennington Oval is one of England’s most favourite grounds. Among all home venues where they have played 10 or more Tests, England have enjoyed a better win-loss record at only Edgbaston (Birmingham).

Even though they have won only one Test here, India have some good memories of the venue. It was only here that India beat England for the first time in their own backyard (in 1971). In 1979 India- chasing a mammoth fourth innings target of 437 runs- fell short by just 9 runs. Sunil Gavaskar played a herculean knock of 221 in that Test which till date is the highest innings by an Indian in England and also the highest individual score by an Indian in the fourth innings of a Test. After the win in 1971 the next five consecutive Tests between India and England here ended in draw before England thrashed India by innings margin in 2011.

Note: England have won all five Tests played at Riverside Ground (Chester-le-Street).

Bat first / second at The Oval Overall: Matches – 96 Bat 1st won- 33 (34.38%) Bat 2nd won- 26 (27.08%) Drawn- 37 (38.54%)

Since 2000: Matches – 14 Bat 1st won- 6 (42.86%) Bat 2nd won- 4 (28.57 %) Drawn- 4 (28.57%)

Vital stats at The Oval Highest team totals : 903-7d by England v Australia in 1938 Highest by India : 664 in 2007 (India’s highest in England)

Lowest team totals : 44 by Australia v England in 1896 Lowest by England : 52 v Australia in 1948 Lowest by India: 98 in 1952

Highest Individual Innings: 364 by Len Hutton v Australia in 1938 Highest for India:221 by Sunil Gavaskar in 1979 (Highest by an Indian in England)

Best innings bowling: 8-34 by Ian Botham v Pakistan in 1978 Best for India: 6-38 by Bhagwat Chandrasekhar in 1971

Best match bowling: 16-220 by Muttiah Muralitharan for Sri Lanka in 1998 Best for England: 13-57 by Syd Barnes v South Africa in 1912 Best for India: 8-114 by Bhagwat Chandrasekhar in 1971

Most runs: 1521 (avg 89.47) by Len Hutton in 12 Tests Most for India: 443 (avg 110.75) by Rahul Dravid in 3 Tests

Most wickets: 52 (avg 26.52) by Ian Botham in 11 Tests Most for India: 10 (avg 47.00) by Kapil Dev in 3 Tests

India were ahead in the series after winning the second Test at Lord’s. They are now trailing behind in the series. India can now at best level the series. There have been four instances when India wrested away the advantage of taking an early lead and went on to lose the series. Interestingly two of the four instances have come against England- both at home!

Far too often in the series India have lost wickets in a heap, sometimes twice in the same innings! Surely, no team can even think of winning with such a batting display.

This is how pacers and spinners of two teams have performed in the series so far.

That England pacers will outshine Indian pacers was a foregone conclusion. But what has surprised all and sundry is the manner in which Indians have struggled against Moeen Ali. Usually the very good players against the spin, Indians have either attacked him too much or played too defensively against Moeen, with the result that in successive Tests Moeen has run through Indian batting line-up. Only Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni (and R Ashwin upto some extent) have played Moeen with some confidence.