An Unforgettable Thriller Test Match

You’re nervous and concerned, but the team needs you to stand no matter what: that’s the pure grit of Siraj. And to get out in a fashion that could only be described as unlucky was the end to what could be a fairy-tale ending for Team India.

At the start of the day, everyone was worried about the collapse, with the unpredictable and balls coming right at the stumps from seemingly nowhere, and the English bowlers really made that fear come true. A nightmarish bowling spell by the English attack left India breathless for a good 30 minutes.

But then came the golden innings. The ball started wearing out, offering little even to the skilled bowlers like Woakes and Archer. Jadeja and Reddy stood strong, getting comfortable on the pitch, bringing back hope for us Indian fans.

But just as the silver lining appeared, the team was devastated: the wicket of Nitesh Kumar Reddy. Hopes shattered before lunch, leaving nothing more to cling to.

But little did we know, Jadeja would be the lone sturdy wheel of a chariot whose other wheel was damaged and frail. Distributing the weight mindfully and cautiously to his counterpart, the target was trickling down inch by inch, only to find the finish line ever so far away.

But this didn’t stop the determined and resilient pair of Bumrah and the sturdy wheel. But the fickle wheel broke just as it was meant to - Bumrah lost his patience and gave his wicket. The last backup wheel was put up, again even weaker than the previous, yet more determined than any wheel ever seen in this devastating, soul-wrenching journey.

Siraj knew what to do and was up for it, ready to do anything to reach to emerge victorious. But why were we so behind the race with such poor planning? It was because the previously strong, mighty wheels had been torn apart like paper due to their need for speed — as if it were a desperate chariot race — performing risky manoeuvres just to make it to the end. Well aware of the consequences, they let it happen, and only the last two were left standing. However, the strong-willed pair couldn’t hold themselves till the finish line due to an error no one could have foreseen: a well-defended ball by Siraj rolling back onto the stumps.

All of that, just for it to end like this.

You can find a more detailed version with the details in this The Guardian post about the last day.