ENG vs IND 5th Test: Oval pitch report, highest score, key toss stats

The fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval has kicked off today under a swirl of drama—both meteorological and selection-related. The stakes are monumental, with India eyeing a series-levelling win and England grappling with a major blow to their leadership. As dark clouds hover—literally and figuratively—the tension at The Oval is palpable.  Check India vs England 5th Test live score, full scorecard and match updates here

 

India vs England 5th Test - Oval Pitch report: Green and untouched after curator controversy

 

“Captains traditionally opt to bowl first at this venue, and even Surrey, the home team, rarely field a frontline spinner here,” said Nasser Hussain ahead of the start of the match. “There’s a healthy covering of grass, though some bare patches are also visible. This is the first time in the series we’re seeing live grass on the surface, but seamers must be careful not to get carried away.”  Following a high-voltage uproar over pitch access, two days before the start of the Test match, no one has dared tread too close to the centre square for a proper assessment. What is visible, however, is a green-tinged surface that promises help for the pacers. Historically, The Oval favours third-innings batting, but recent County Championship games suggest an unpredictable narrative.

 

A heatwave scorched London weeks ago. Today, it has been pouring at the Oval, with further interruptions expected towards the back end of the day. 

 

England in Crisis: Stokes sidelined with shoulder tear

 

England’s campaign has been rocked by a significant setback. Skipper Ben Stokes, the team’s most potent weapon this series—with 304 runs and 17 wickets—is out with a Grade 3 tear in his right shoulder.

 

“Pain is just an emotion,” he had famously quipped after the fourth Test. But the tear speaks louder.

 

Ollie Pope takes over as captain. The local Surrey batter knows this turf well, having scored 322 runs in six innings here at a stellar average of 64.40. Yet, England's record at The Oval under his leadership remains shaky, including a notable loss to Sri Lanka.

 

Bethell comes in for his first match of the series, with England opting to bolster their seam attack by dropping their lone frontline spinner, Liam Dawson. The pace unit has undergone a full revamp—Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer are out, while Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue join the XI.

 

India’s Conundrum: Bumrah Rested, Jurel Steps In

 

India are also facing critical calls. Spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has sat out due to workload concerns, having bowled 33 overs and conceded 100+ runs in a single innings for the first time during the Manchester Test. Praisidh Krishna has replaced him in the playing 11.

 

Debutant Anshul Kamboj is also axed after an unconvincing performance. Akash Deep has replaced him in the squad.

 

Shardul Thakur is other unforced change for India having replaced by Karun Nair in the squad. 

 

Pope’s Oval Love Affair vs Captaincy Struggles

 

The spotlight will also shine brightly on Ollie Pope, who returns to captain his side on home soil. While his individual stats at The Oval are impressive, his overall record as skipper has been less convincing—just 191 runs in four Tests, with a lion's share of those coming in a single innings.

 

Pope’s numbers at No. 3, however, cement his reliability: 2,281 runs in 55 innings at an average of 42.24, with eight hundreds to his name.

 

England vs India head-to-head stats at The Oval

 

India vs England head-to-head in Test at the Oval
England	India	India	157 runs	Sep 2-6, 2021
England	India	England	118 runs	Sep 7-11, 2018
England	India	England	inns & 244 runs	Aug 15-17, 2014
England	India	England	inns & 8 runs	Aug 18-22, 2011
England	India	drawn	-	Aug 9-13, 2007
England	India	drawn	-	Sep 5-9, 2002
England	India	drawn	-	Aug 23-28, 1990
England	India	drawn	-	Jul 8-13, 1982
England	India	drawn	-	Aug 30-Sep 4, 1979
England	India	India	4 wickets	Aug 19-24, 1971
England	India	England	inns & 27 runs	Aug 20-24, 1959
England	India	drawn	-	Aug 14-19, 1952
England	India	drawn	-	Aug 17-20, 1946
England	India	England	9 wickets	Aug 15-18, 1936

 

Highest totals in Tests at the Oval in India vs England Tests
Team	Score	Overs	RR	Inns	Opposition	Ground	Result	Match Date
England	903/7d	335.2	2.69	1	v Australia	The Oval	won	20 Aug 1938
India	664	170	3.9	1	v England	The Oval	draw	9 Aug 2007
India	606/9d	173	3.5	1	v England	The Oval	draw	23 Aug 1990
England	604/9d	162	3.72	2	v South Africa	The Oval	won	4 Sep 2003
England	594	173.3	3.42	1	v India	The Oval	draw	8 Jul 1982
England	591/6d	153	3.86	1	v India	The Oval	won	18 Aug 2011
England	576	193.4x5	3.56	1	v Australia	The Oval	draw	14 Aug 1899
England	545	225.4	2.41	2	v Pakistan	The Oval	draw	22 Aug 1974
England	538	233.5	2.3	3	v Australia	The Oval	draw	28 Aug 1975
England	534/6d	132	4.04	2	v South Africa	The Oval	draw	17 Aug 1935
England	527	199.5	2.63	2	v West Indies	The Oval	won	18 Aug 1966
England	515	155.4	3.3	1	v India	The Oval	draw	5 Sep 2002
India	508	170	2.98	2	v England	The Oval	draw	5 Sep 2002
England	494	201.2	2.45	1	v Australia	The Oval	won	22 Aug 1968
England	486	116.3	4.17	2	v India	The Oval	won	15 Aug 2014
England	483	187.0x5	3.09	1	v Australia	The Oval	won	14 Aug 1893
England	482	117.2	4.1	2	v New Zealand	The Oval	draw	13 Aug 1949
England	480/5d	140	3.42	1	v Pakistan	The Oval	won	16 Aug 1962
England	479/9d	157	3.05	3	v South Africa	The Oval	draw	18 Aug 1960
England	477/4d	154	3.09	3	v India	The Oval	draw	23 Aug 1990
England	471/8d	129	3.65	1	v India	The Oval	won	15 Aug 1936
England	470	123.2	3.81	1	v West Indies	The Oval	won	19 Aug 2004
India	466	148.2	3.14	3	v England	The Oval	won	2 Sep 2021
England	464	118.2	3.92	1	v Australia	The Oval	won	29 Aug 1985
England	454	159	2.85	1	v West Indies	The Oval	draw	24 Aug 1995
England	446/6d	189.2	2.35	3	v New Zealand	The Oval	won	14 Jul 1983
England	445	158.3	2.8	1	v Sri Lanka	The Oval	lost	27 Aug 1998
England	440	167.4	2.62	2	v Pakistan	The Oval	won	24 Aug 1967
England	438	103.5	4.21	2	v West Indies	The Oval	won	11 Aug 1928
England	436	182.5	2.38	3	v Australia	The Oval	won	14 Aug 1926
England	435	129.5	3.35	2	v West Indies	The Oval	lost	12 Aug 1976
England	434	304.1x4	2.13	1	v Australia	The Oval	won	12 Aug 1886
England	432	118.2	3.65	2	v Australia	The Oval	lost	23 Aug 2001
England	430	130	3.3	1	v Australia	The Oval	draw	14 Aug 1905
India	429/8	150.5	2.84	4	v England	The Oval	draw	30 Aug 1979
England	427	190	2.24	1	v South Africa	The Oval	draw	16 Aug 1947
England	423/8d	112.3	3.76	3	v India	The Oval	won	7 Sep 2018
England	421/8	131	3.21	2	v South Africa