Dead pitch sucks the life out of England

COME back Bazball, all is forgiven — win or bust still knocks spots off euthanasia.

- By Mike Walters

Ben Stokes has drawn only two of his 37 Tests as England captain — and both were at Old Trafford.

Two years ago he was frustrated by rain handing the Ashes to Australia, and as India ground their way to safety on a strip of road on loan from Manchester’s highways department, the fourth Test petered out like a dirt track in the mountains.

Ultimately, England lacked the firepower to clinch the series. They took just two wickets in the last five sessions of the match.

The scorebook tells us India made 425-4, leading by 114 runs, when the curtain fell.