After this the script changed. Suddenly it was decided not to play the last test of the series and transferred it to 2022. When played, England chased the series 2-2, chasing a target of 378 runs with the help of Johnny Bairstow and Joe Root in the ‘Buzzball’ style.
The biggest story is the fifth and final test of the 2021 series not to play in a controversial manner. The official story is that after some people infected from Covid-19 at Team India’s camp, some senior players of the team refused to play Tests in Manchester. In the release of the Indian camp, it was written that some of the Chief Coach Ravi Shastri and some of his support staff, including bowling coaches Bharat Arun, Fielding Coach R Sridhar and Fijio Nitin Patel, came out positive for this dangerous virus. That is why the series suddenly stopped in the middle. At that time there was news that the match was canceled and will play it later. When- it was not decided.
In the media, usually, a few hours ago, privately held, Ravi Shastri’s book release program was attributed to the spectacle of the cancellation of this test to spread the virus. There, the protocol of bio-system bubble was broken openly and did not take any precautions. Many senior players of Team India including captain Virat Kohli were also present in this program. All these were seen moving without masks and were also seen meeting the guests. This sensational news in the English media was also there was a hurry for Indian players to join the camp of their IPL team in the UAE so that the teams would be happy and they did not play in the Test in this affair. In response, in the discussion, it was the theory that the Indian players and the famous IPL in the entire cricket world are being maligned.
However, cannot deny the truth that if the series had played the fifth Test in Manchester according to the program in the series, India had a great chance to win their first mutual Test series against England since 2007. Nothing like this happened and on the morning of 10 September 2021, ECB declared the test ‘canceled’, less than two hours before the toss. From India, the first release about this came about two hours later, in which it was written that it was a ‘decision taken together’ and will talk among themselves later on schedule of the test again.
In this way, India lost the psychological advantage of 2–1 in the series, due to cancellation of the test. In October 2021, it was decided that the fifth and last Test of the series has not been played yet, it would play it in July next year. Also, the test was transferred from Manchester to Edgbaston. India had to play the series of white-ball cricket matches in 2022 and became part of this Test.
Finally played the test from 1 July 2022. Those who had kept tickets purchased for the fifth Test of 2021 so far, despite changing the stadium, could see the test from the same. It was clearly visible that in this new program, India had lost the advantage of being ahead in the series. India had accepted the ECB’s fact that this new program test would be part of the same last year’s series and will still count the fifth Test of the series, not a standalone test in the 2022 tour. Initially, India wanted that India should be declared a 2–1 winner in the series, but England did not accept this.
In this way, England moved the right card and persuaded India to come back in 2022 and play the fifth Test of that incomplete series after nine months and 26 days and persuaded the series. Anyway, playing the same series test after 299 days was a long wait. This delay spoiled the rhythm of India’s victory. India was a better team in 2021 and was entitled to win the series at least 2–1. The BCCI neither benefited from this nor could he become the trophy winner. Apart from this, England also benefited that his record in Edgbaston has been very good. Due to the big stadium, the audience could see the test more, which would also give more revionu.
By the way, let us tell you that as soon as the official announcement of the cancellation of that test of Manchester, almost all Indian players fled to UAE to complete the unfinished IPL season, to join their IPL teams. The IPL was also stopped in the middle due to Kovid that year and now to complete it before the T20 World Cup, the incomplete part of the tournament was transferred to the UAE. Within a few hours of the cancellation of the match, a chartered plane had also come to take Rohit Sharma, Surya Kumar Yadav and Jaspreet Bumrah and it did not take long for them to attend the Mumbai Indians camp in Dubai.
Former England captain and cricket Pandit Michael Vaughan wrote clearly in one of his columns in The Telegraph newspaper, ‘The truth is that all this happened for money and IPL. The test was canceled because the players were afraid that the IPL would be missed if Kovid was hit. In a week or two, we must be watching the IPL and the players will be smiling and running happy. He should have rely on the PCR Test being held in England. Now we know a lot about this virus. They have also come to know how to manage and handle it better. Players are applied double vaccine, and could have done bioscurita very quickly and better. ,
Von further wrote, ‘Surprisingly, India could not find 11 such players from their 20 players who would play Tests. This test should have been played.
When in 2022, a lot had changed, playing the remaining Test series of the incomplete Test series. Most importantly, the passion that was seen in Team India in 2021 was missing this time. Indian players still did not come out completely from the mood of the IPL of that season. Overall, he was not physically and mentally prepared for this alone Test to be held in England. On the other hand, England made a clean sweep in the series of three Tests against New Zealand, making them a favorite for the Test against India.
The last morning of the fifth Test in Edgbaston, England achieved a record target of 378 runs to defeat India. With the help of Joe Root and Johnny Bairstow 100, England achieved their biggest target to win the Test and set a record of the biggest target achieved in the Test. It is considered one of England’s most spectacular victory.
Some special things:
* India played 8 Tests with England in 2021 – 4-4 Tests in India and England.
* Keeping in mind the audience of India, ECB changed the time of starting the game everyday in the Test from 11 am from 10:30 pm.
* There was a change in management in both teams: Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have come to Chris Silverwood and Joe Root as coaches and captains respectively. Similarly, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid replaced Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. However, in the absence of Rohit Sharma, India’s captain Jaspreet Bumrah was. In this way, he became the 8th captain of India in international cricket since he became India’s first bowler captain, India’s first fast bowler, India’s first fast bowler, India’s first fast bowler, after Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and Rahul Dravid’s coach.
* Ravindra Jadeja (104 off 194 balls) took his first Test 100 out of India and the third Test 100 in total.
* Rishabh Pant hit 100 in 89 balls and scored 146 runs in 111 balls with the help of 19 fours and four sixes. Also scored 133 runs in a partnership of 222 runs off 239 balls for the sixth wicket with Jadeja.
