India Achieves Historic 1,000 Runs in Test Match Against England
Historic Milestone for Team India
Birmingham [UK], July 5: In a remarkable achievement, Team India reached a significant milestone by amassing a total of 1,000 runs in a Test match during their second Test against England in Birmingham.
With an impressive performance, India scored 587 all out and declared at 427/6 in their two innings, marking only the sixth occasion in Test history where a team has surpassed the 1,000-run mark combined.
The record for the highest aggregate is held by England, who scored 1,131 runs against the West Indies in 1930 at Kingston, where they posted 849 and 272/9 declared in a match that ended in a draw. The series concluded with a 1-1 draw.
In this match, England chose to field first. After dismissing KL Rahul for just 2 runs, a solid partnership of 80 runs between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87 runs off 107 balls, including 13 fours) and Karun Nair (31 runs off 50 balls, with five fours) helped India stabilize their innings. Captain Shubman Gill formed crucial partnerships, scoring 269 runs off 387 balls, featuring 30 fours and three sixes, including a 203-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (89 runs off 137 balls, with 10 fours and a six) and a 144-run stand with Washington Sundar (42 runs off 103 balls, with three fours and a six).
Shoaib Bashir was the standout bowler for England, taking 3 wickets for 167 runs, while Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue each claimed two wickets.
In England's first innings, India had them struggling at 84/5. However, a remarkable 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158 runs off 234 balls, with 17 fours and a six) and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (184* runs off 207 balls, with 21 fours and four sixes) turned the tide. Despite this, Siraj (6 wickets for 70 runs) and Akash Deep (4 wickets for 88 runs) capitalized on the new ball, taking the last five wickets for just 20 runs, restricting England to 407 runs and gaining a 180-run lead.
India's response featured a quick half-century partnership between Jaiswal (28 runs off 22 balls, with six fours) and KL Rahul, who continued his form with a 55 runs off 84 balls, hitting 10 boundaries. A 110-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Rishabh Pant (65 runs off 58 balls, with eight fours and three sixes) and Gill intensified the scoring, while Gill also formed a 175-run partnership with Jadeja, scoring 161 runs off 162 balls, including 13 fours and eight sixes. Jadeja remained unbeaten at 69* runs off 118 balls, with five fours. India declared at 427/6, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs to win.
This fourth innings target is only the second highest India has ever set in a Test match, following their 616 runs against New Zealand in Wellington in 2009. Additionally, it is the highest target England has faced at home, with the previous record being 707 runs set by Australia at the Oval in a timeless Test in 1934.