Heavy Roller Added Final Twist but India Prevail in England with Historic Win

The final Oval Test saw a perfect, dramatic end to a highly competitive five-match Test battle as a Shubman Gill-led India secured a historic win in South London. The final day of regulation began with England needing only 35 runs and four wickets

Before the game began, a heavy roller was used to smooth out the pitch. It was claimed that the heavy rolling might have significantly influenced the pitch, adding intrigue to the match's outcome. The final day of the Test led to a new debate that is rising and drawing attention. Several fans feel the humble roller ended up playing a decisive role in the outcome of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy.

Heavy Roller in Oval Test Added Final Layer of Twist in IND vs ENG 5th Test

The pitch at The Oval had taken a beating over the last four days. Cracks had opened up, and the bounce was inconsistent. There was also visible wear and tear during the game. This is where the heavy roller entered the picture. Its job was to flatten the surface before play started, possibly making batting a little easier, at least for a short while. While it could have significantly helped the hosts in the batting department, India didn't let it develop into an advantage for their opponents.
If the chasing team, say England, opted to use the heavy roller, it could have helped them reduce the uneven bounce early in the day. It meant the batter would find it easier to settle in and score runs before the pitch starts misbehaving again. It, however, wasn't all good news.

While the heavy roller in Oval Test can smooth out the surface temporarily, it could also loosen the top layer of the pitch. That meant once the effect goes off, the pitch could break up even more, making it tougher to bat on as the day went on. Bowlers, especially spinners, often benefit from this late deterioration, which led to pressure for English batters as the fans witnessed.

This quiet debate over the roller has played out many times in Test cricket, and Day 5 at The Oval was no different. The fielding side, India, in this case, were watching closely, knowing time and pitch conditions were in their favour.
England, on the other hand, hoped to survive the pressure, perhaps with the roller’s help. The heavy roller, usually weighing between 1500 to 2500 kilograms, has pressure and can impact the pitch deeply in comparison to the light roller, which is typically weighing between 500 and 1000 kilograms, and is used to make minor adjustments, and it did not impact the pitch overall. The IND vs ENG 5th eventually ended in the visiting side's favour.

The decision to flatten the pitch eventually proved a double-edged sword as England hit a few confident shots early in the session. Towards the end, however, India rallied back with precise deliveries from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to win the match by six runs. England skipper Ben Stokes, one of the best Test captains in the world, had to watch his team suffer a heartbreaking loss from the sidelines.

Joe Root: Heavy Rolling has Affected the Game

Joe Root, one of the best Test batters in the world, said that the rolling has had an effect on the game so far and is hoping things will work out in their favour if the heavy one is used. "In terms of the roller, we'll see. I haven't got a crystal ball, unfortunately, but it has made an impact so far throughout this game. Whether that changes on day five, we'll see, but hopefully it works well in our favour in flattening things out," said Root during the press conference before the game.
On the other hand, India's bowling coach Morne Morkel did not believe in it. In the press conference, he said, "Tomorrow we can just focus on doing a good warm-up and get the boys ready to hopefully get the ball in the right area and yeah, create a little bit of excitement again."

In a match where every small detail could matter, even a piece of ground equipment could have shaped the final session. India, however, remained alert throughout the session, not allowing the English batters to get comfortable. An impactful spell from Mohammed Siraj made all the difference at The Oval. He scalped crucial wickets to seal a 2-2 series draw for India in England.