At 5.35pm on the fourth day of what can already be dubbed Shubman Gill’s Test match, the raucous Hollies Stand at Edgbaston broke out into a chant of “stand up if you still believe”. England were 30 for one, having been set a fanciful 608 to win, and General Melchett’s pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face sprung to mind.
Not that they were stood up for long. Within moments Ben Duckett was the second English batter trudging back to the pavilion, eyes down, after his stumps had been rearranged by Akash Deep. This was the latest gut punch for the hosts on a day that had plenty to choose from, Gill’s earlier 161 – a dream-like follow-up to his first innings 269 – having racked up 427 for six declared before his seamers got to work.
