Oval Test: Akash Deep, the gutsy night watchman, proves his worth

There is something gratifying about a working class hero stealing the spotlight in one of the historic venues of the game. The likes of a Yashavi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill or KL Rahul are supposed to deliver anyway, but when Akash Deep exceeded the expectations from a night watchman to help in possibly changing the course of the game – it’s a huge bonus.

 When the feisty pace bowler eventually fell after a career-best 66, his only half-century in a short international career, it was the only Indian wicket to fall in the first session after his 107-run partnership with Jaiswal frustrated the hosts. The left-handed opener went on to keep his date with his sixth Test century after tea, his second of the series, albeit with a slice of luck.

Akash looked set to overall Amit Mishra’s 84, the best-ever effort by a Indian nightwatchman at The Oval in 2011, when he got a leading edge to a Jamie Overton delivery which climbed on him and was caught at backward point.

 However, when the third day began with India poised on 70 for two, the situation was tricky despite the wicket playing easier on Day I when the visitors were sent into bat. Akash, who showed during the drawn Brisbane Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December that he is well equipped to play with a straight bat as well as capable of dealing a few lusty blows, looked focused – keen to do his bit after managing just one wicket in England innings.  

Speaking after scoring a match-saving 31 off 44 balls, with Jasprit Bumrah for company, Akash Deep told the media: ‘’The number at which I came out to bat is very low so my mindset is to score 25-30 valuable runs for the side. My mindset while batting is always to contribute for the side and that day also in the Brisbane Test, I came out with the same mindset. During that time, I was not thinking about the follow-on, the maiden idea was to remain on the crease. Everyone in the dressing room were confident after we saved the follow-on and were enjoying that moment.''

 At The Oval, the pace bowler who plies his trade for Bengal, reached his maiden fifty in style with a boundary off Gus Atkinson, pumping his feet in delight – something which even had the taciturn coach Gautam Gambhir breaking into a smile at the pavilion.

He made his intentions clear on just the third ball of the day as he cleared his front leg to whack Jacob Bethell towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary. He further took on Gus Atkinson for another boundary two overs later as the runs began to flow for India. The rub of the green was also on Akash’s side as he survived an lbw appeal on umpire’s call against Josh Tongue and was dropped by Zak Crawley on the very next ball.

  It’s a depleted England pace attack which is without Chris Woakes, ruled out of the Test due to a shoulder injury sustained while trying to stop a boundary at the ropes. The onus is now on the regular batters to create a situation which could help them throw the gauntlet at England.