An Oval Rollercoaster: How Siraj's Fiery Spell Turned the Tide

What a wild, unpredictable day of Test cricket! If you ever need a perfect example of how quickly fortunes can change in this format, Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval was it. We saw everything from a batting collapse and a blistering counter-attack to a spirited bowling fightback and some seriously nervy moments in the field. It was a classic tug-of-war, with momentum swinging so violently it probably gave everyone whiplash.

Key Highlights

• ✓ A whopping 15 wickets tumbled on a chaotic and thrilling Day 2 at The Oval.
• ✓ Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna led a fierce Indian comeback, sharing eight wickets to trigger a dramatic England collapse.
• ✓ England’s openers, Zak Crawley (64) and Ben Duckett (43), launched a blistering 'Bazball' assault, putting on 92 in just 13 overs.
• ✓ A gutsy Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a quickfire 51*, surviving two dropped catches, to put India back in front.
• ✓ India finished the day on 75/2, holding a crucial 52-run lead in a match that’s swinging back and forth.

The Morning Mayhem: England's Bazball Blitz

The day started with India hoping to build on their overnight score, but it all went south very quickly. England's bowlers needed just 34 deliveries to clean up the tail. India’s last four wickets fell for a mere 20 runs, with Gus Atkinson wrapping things up to claim a brilliant five-wicket haul. India were bundled out for 224, and you could feel the momentum was firmly in England's camp.

Then came the real fireworks. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett walked out and played like they were in a different match altogether. They launched a furious assault on the Indian pacers, making the pitch look like an absolute road. It was pure 'Bazball' in action, with drives, flicks, and even an audacious reverse-scoop from Duckett that flew over the slips. They brought up England's fifty in just seven overs and raced past 100 in under 15 overs, a truly blistering pace.

By lunch, England were cruising at 109 for 1. India had managed just one breakthrough, with Akash Deep getting Duckett caught behind for a fiery 43 off 38 balls. The dismissal came with a bit of spice, as Akash Deep gave Duckett an animated send-off that required a few calming words from the umpires. But with Crawley looking imperious on his way to a 42-ball fifty, it felt like England were about to run away with the game.

💡 What's Interesting: England's charge to 101 in just 14.4 overs was the third-fastest team hundred ever scored against India in Test cricket. It truly felt like India had been blown away in that morning session.

The Tides Turn: Siraj's Lion-Hearted Spell

Whatever was said in the Indian dressing room during lunch clearly worked wonders. The post-lunch session was a completely different story. India's bowlers, who looked rattled in the morning, came out with renewed purpose. They pitched the ball fuller, bowled straighter lines, and suddenly, the game was on.

The fightback was led by the incredible Mohammed Siraj. He bowled a sensational, lion-hearted eight-over spell that completely ripped through England's middle order. He first trapped Ollie Pope LBW with a classic nip-backer, a decision confirmed after a confident review. Then came the massive wicket of Joe Root, who was also caught on the crease by another sharp inswinger, sending the Indian team into wild celebrations. The tension was palpable, especially after Root had earlier exchanged some heated words with Prasidh Krishna.

Siraj wasn't done. He produced an absolute beauty—a brutal, inswinging yorker—to clean up the debutant Jacob Bethell. It was a spell of pure fire, aggression, and precision that single-handedly dragged India right back into the contest. From a position of absolute dominance, England were suddenly wobbling, having lost 6 wickets for just 87 runs in the afternoon session.

Krishna's Crucial Strikes and a Fragile Lead

While Siraj was the main architect of the collapse, Prasidh Krishna played a massive supporting role. In fact, he was the one who got the ball rolling after lunch by dismissing the dangerous Crawley for 64. A well-directed short ball climbed on Crawley, who could only miscue a pull straight to Ravindra Jadeja. It was a smart piece of bowling that came after building pressure with a string of dot balls.

Krishna then returned just before tea to land a double blow. He had Jamie Smith caught at slip with a rising delivery and then, just four balls later, trapped Jamie Overton plumb LBW for a duck. It was a brilliant over that capped off a dominant session for India. Amidst the chaos, Harry Brook stood tall, playing a superb, composed innings. His crucial knock of 53 was the only thing that kept England afloat, eventually helping them scrape past India's total to be all out for 247, taking a slender 23-run lead.

A Jittery Finish: Jaiswal's Luck and England's Fumbles

With a small deficit to erase, India's second innings was always going to be a nervy affair. Yashasvi Jaiswal, however, came out with positive intent, dealing almost exclusively in boundaries. But boy, did he live dangerously. He was dropped not once, but twice! First, Harry Brook shelled a chance at second slip when Jaiswal was on 20. Then, in a massive let-off, Liam Dawson put down an absolute sitter at long leg when Jaiswal was on 40. You could see the disbelief on Dawson's face.

England's fielding woes continued as Zak Crawley also dropped Sai Sudharsan, but they did manage to make a couple of breakthroughs. KL Rahul was dismissed for 7 by Josh Tongue, poking tentatively at a ball he probably should have left alone. Sudharsan was then trapped LBW for 11 by a skiddy delivery from Gus Atkinson. Jaiswal, however, made the most of his luck, racing to his fifty in style with a stunning upper-cut six. When bad light finally stopped play, India were 75/2, leading by 52 runs, and the match was hanging on a knife's edge.

Conclusion

What an absolutely riveting day of Test cricket. It was a day that showcased the very best of this format: the dramatic collapses, the blistering counter-attacks, and the sheer grit of a bowling unit refusing to give up. From England's morning dominance to India’s incredible post-lunch fightback led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, it was a true rollercoaster. With India holding a 52-run lead but two wickets down, and with Jaiswal riding his luck, this Test is beautifully, tantalizingly poised heading into Day 3. You just can't take your eyes off it.