Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow have England dreaming of record run-chase

Another run chase taken on at warp speed will reach its thrilling conclusion at Edgbaston on Tuesday as England, powered by their Yorkshire engine room of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, look to boldly go where no England team has gone before. Set 378 to win this fifth Test against India, England will, quite remarkably, resume on 259 for three from 57 overs, needing 119 more runs to draw a series that began nearly a year ago.

Root is 76 not out, Bairstow 72, and the heroics of Ben Stokes at Headingley in 2019 could well be surpassed for England’s highest successful chase of all time. A bumper crowd is expected for what could amount to a mere hour of cricket given the way the hosts have already approached this target.

Warwickshire followed the recent trend set by Nottinghamshire this summer and at 5pm on the fourth evening made tickets available for free; just an hour later, the last had been snapped up. Those fortunate enough to have secured them must remember a 10.30am start and may well see a day they will never forget.

England have already knocked off 279, 299 and 296 against New Zealand but to complete this latest challenge, against an attack as vibrant and hostile as the one led by Jasprit Bumrah, will go down as otherworldly. The tourists, refreshed overnight, know an early strike could change things dramatically.

It follows the latest rollercoaster day under the new leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England bowling out India for 245 first thing and then setting off like a freight train. Not even a wobble either side of tea, when from 107 for one they lost three wickets for two runs, could dent their ambitions, Root and Bairstow combining for an unbroken stand of 150 from 197 balls that had Edgbaston