New Delhi: India needs to stipulate a minimum of 300 England run as a target if they feel comfortable to defend in a good bat condition in the Oval, feels former British batsman Michael Atherton.
The Virat Kohli LED side continued their second round at 270 for 3 with 171-run tin in their bags after the dominant batting show on Saturday in the fourth test.
The former Cricketer British said the tone on the oval had not seen a lot of sunlight and was still good for jasmine.
“India has their nose ahead, there is no doubt about.
But I think they will need a decent score to be maintained.
The pitch is pretty good and it’s more like the day 3 pitch.
We haven’t gotten it you usually hope from pitch a day 4 because of lack of Sunlight.
It’s cloudy and cloudy, “Atherton said as quoted by Sony Sports.
“The Indian attack does not clearly have R Ashwin and looks very threatening to the attack without Shami Muhammad.
I think India needs 300-plus to stay here.” 300 Mark is a bit minimum for India.
If you defend 250 in the 4th round, you still have to believe that you have a reasonable opportunity.
But I think the combination of conditions and ways of Indian attacks form, they will not feel comfortable in their minds unless they get 300 or 350.
The lead now is 171, which is still far from 300.
So England will feel they have a chance, “he added.