Cricketer-turned-expert Stuart Broad stated that India are favorites going into the fifth Day of the first Test against England in Leeds. India scored 364 runs in the second innings and set hosts a target of 371 to chase in the fourth innings. England have scored 21 runs of those and needs 350 runs to win the first Test and go 1-0 up in the five-match Test series.
While the hosts are capable of hunting any target down due to their Bazball approach, history suggests that such a big target has never been chased down in the history of a 5-day Test match in Leeds. The highest successful chase on this ground came way back in 1948 by Don Bradman's Australia team, when they chased a mammoth target of 404 runs in a 6-day Test match.
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In the modern era, England set the record for the highest chase in a 5-day Test match when they got the better of Australia's 359-run target in the Ashes 2019 series. Skipper Ben Stokes was the hero in that game, as he single-handedly took the hosts to the magical target by scoring an epic hundred.
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Stuart Broad believes India bowlers just need 10 good balls to seal the game
Speaking on Day four of the 1st Test, the former England pacer signaled India as the favorites and said that on Day Five pitch, the visitors just needed 10 good balls to seal the Test.
"Getting through that new ball period is going to be key for England tomorrow. I think India have to be favorites on a Day 5 pitch. They only need to create 10 opportunities, and they need to take their catches," Stuart Broad said on Sky Sports.
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"They have to be favorites, but England will be talking themselves up in the dressing room and thinking they are favorites. Gill has a responsibility to use the bowlers well. They need to come in and whack the pitch as hard as they can," he concluded.
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