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Sunburn England's only return for toil

The tourists baked under the Chennai sun as India's batsmen cashed in on a pitch with few demons

England’s chances of recording a consolation win in this final Test against India foundered on a pitch that not only sapped the spirit of the fielding side but most of those watching.

This surface in Chennai may still produce a result. England’s confidence is so fragile after three successive defeats and energy so low after seven Tests on the sub-continent in nine weeks that India will fancy their chances of conjuring up a win after closing this third day on 4-391, just 86 runs behind on first innings.


However, anyone who believes there has been a fair contest between bat and ball so far must have been watching a different match.

The cyclone that swept through Chennai last Monday possibly had an effect on the pitch. After all ground staff were seen drying the surface with hot coals in the days afterwards.


But whatever the reason, this is the kind of pitch that does the future health of Test cricket no good. The fact Ravichandran Ashwin, the world’s No1 Test bowler and a man who took 12 wickets in the previous match in Mumbai, returned figures of 1-151 during England’s first innings says it all.

Just four wickets fell on day three as England spent 88 overs chasing shadows under the strength-sapping Indian sun.

Day three report: Rahul puts England to the sword with 199

Ben Stokes, asked what England could take from the day, summed up the mood best when he said: “A bit of sunburn probably to be honest.

“We tried a lot but sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up say they played really, really well. Maybe we didn’t get the rewards we deserved.

“We knew it was going to be tough. It’s about creating energy in the field. I guess that’s all you can do – try, try, try and take you chances when they come.”

Image Id: 5663627A1E16492AB5F4C091FB357DE9 Image Caption: Stokes congratulates India's Lokesh Rahul on his century in Chennai // BCCI

Lokesh Rahul, agonisingly dismissed by Adil Rashid after a loose shot on 199, played brilliantly as he compiled a 161-run stand with Karun Nair.

Stokes, though, admitted England’s inability to find reverse swing throughout this series has been a shock.

Rahul falls agonisingly short of a double ton

“I think that’s probably been the most surprising thing, especially with how abrasive the surfaces have been,” the Durham all-rounder said. “We’ve kept the ball in really good condition but they go really soft easily out here compared to the Kookaburra in Bangladesh where we managed to get reverse quite a lot.

“It’s probably been a little bit of a shock we haven’t managed to find any but as a seam unit we have done really well in trying to hold an end up and build some pressure.”

Quick Single: 'Gutted' Rahul falls to double-ton desire

England, 3-0 down heading into this final Test, have shown how hard it is for overseas teams to compete in Indian conditions.

Nobody has won a single Test here since England’s win in Kolkata four years ago.

Australia, who travel to India for a four-Test series in February, will need to take a long, hard look at where England have gone wrong.

The inability of the English bowlers to generate reverse swing, though, with the SG ball will set alarm bells ringing for Steve Smith’s team.

Nathan Lyon may well be a better spinner than anything currently at England’s disposal.

Day one: Moeen's unbeaten ton lifts England

Yet other than him, Australia’s best shot at unsettling India will be through the seam of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood.

They may find they have little to work with if the experience of Stokes and his team-mates on this tour is anything to go by.

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