India captain also said they wanted to get another 20-25 runs to give the bowlers cushion when bowling with the wet ball

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2025Not long after India were unable to defend a massive score of 358 against South Africa in the second ODI, captain KL Rahul said the toss “plays a huge part” and makes a “huge difference” in matches where dew heavily skews the match in the favour of chasing sides. India lost their 20th toss in a row in ODIs, and South Africa opted to bowl and sealed a four-wicket victory with four balls to spare to level the series 1-1.”Not really, considering everything – how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul said at the presentation when asked if the defeat was a tough pill to swallow. “The last game, we did really well, considering everything. All the difficulties for bowlers bowling with a wet ball, and the umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but still I think toss plays a huge part. So I’m kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row. It’s obviously making a huge difference.”India were asked to bat for a second game in a row under Rahul’s captaincy this series. While India managed a narrow 17-run win in the opening match in Ranchi after posting 349, this time a bigger target didn’t prove to be enough.Related

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“To reflect back there’s always things that we could have done better,” Rahul said. “With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that’s also been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game [about] how can we get that extra 20-25 runs, so that the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball.”Bowlers obviously are trying their heart out, but there are areas to improve. There are a few soft boundaries that we gave away, even in the field. If we can tighten up all three aspects of the game and get a bit more sharper, then maybe those 20-25 runs will go our way and we’ll be on the other side.”India’s tall total was built on the back of centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. This was the 11th time Kohli hit hundreds in back-to-back ODIs, while it was Gaikwad’s maiden century in the format – the pair adding 195 runs in just 156 balls together for the third wicket.”It was beautiful to watch – Virat, the way he batted. Obviously, we have seen him do this for 53 times now,” Rahul said. “He goes on about doing his job, we’re used to seeing it. Just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. [He] took on the spinners, hit his gaps. Once he got past that 50, the tempo that he batted with is I think what gave us that extra 20 runs.”Despite the strong base, India could not finish strong: they added only 103 runs in the last 15 overs with eight wickets in hand; just 74 in the last ten overs. Rahul scored an enterprising 66 not out off 43 at No. 5 after being carded at No.6 in the team sheet at the toss. Washington Sundar made 1 off eight balls while Ravindra Jadeja batted 27 balls and scored an unbeaten 24 with just two fours.”Obviously batting at 5-6-7 [could be looked at],” Rahul said. “If the lower order could contribute a little bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries, then maybe that’s the 20 runs that we would have been happy with.”Today is the first time I’ve been slotted at No. 6 and I’ve walked in at 5. Otherwise, it’s always a decision before the game. The way Rutu and Virat’s partnership was going on, they set a good tempo. So GG [Gautam Gambhir, head coach] and me felt like it would be the right time for me to walk in and keep that tempo going. Obviously [I] got a fifty last game, so, there’s a bit of confidence. Someone who’s batted in the middle, someone who’s high on confidence is probably the right person to go in and take on the bowling and keep that tempo going. That was the plan.

Justin Greaves called it a “special, special day” for him and the team as he and Kemar Roach helped West Indies pull off an epic draw against New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval.After New Zealand set a never-chased-before target of 531, Greaves and Roach added 180 in 68.1 overs in an unbroken stand for the seventh wicket. Greaves scored 202 not out off 388 balls and Roach 58 not out off 233 as West Indies batted out 163.3 overs. Their 457 for 6 was the second-highest fourth-innings total in Test cricket, behind only England’s 654 for 5 in the timeless Test against South Africa in Durban in 1939.”[It was] just pretty much being resilient – the word we’ve thrown around in the dressing room a lot,” said Greaves, who also battled cramps towards the end of his innings. “So for me, to be there at the end was really important. So anything for the team at the end of the day.Related

• Justin Greaves: 'Test cricket a massive step up from first-class cricket in Caribbean'

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• Stats – Greaves' fourth-innings double and West Indies' marathon

• Greaves 202*, Roach 58* anchor West Indies to epic draw

“I had a really long chat with coach Floyd Reifer. And he was saying, once you get in, stay in; it’s a good pitch. Rachin [Ravindra] and [Tom] Latham showed us in the second innings. So it was just for us to go out there and play ourselves.”It was not only Greaves’ highest Test score but also his best in first-class cricket. He became only the seventh batter to make a double-hundred in the fourth innings of a Test. Roach, who went 72 balls without scoring a run at one point, also registered his first-class best.”Special, special day for me; special day for the team,” Greaves said. “We were pretty much up against it. So, to come out here, batting the whole day after losing Shai [Hope]… We thought we would have probably pushed for a win. But then Kemar, the senior pro, guided me all the way. So pretty much happy for him being there at the end as well.”To be a part of history is ecstatic. But for me, one day at a time, continue to enjoy it. Probably it hasn’t sunk in just yet. Hopefully, over the next couple of days, it can.”West Indies were 72 for 4 at one point, before Shai Hope, who scored 140, and Greaves revived the innings. Hope and Tevin Imlach’s wickets in quick succession left them on 277 for 6, but when they entered the final session, needing 132 from a minimum of 33 overs, a win was not out of the realm of possibility. Eventually, they did not go for it.1:01

Chase: Roach is a modern-day legend

“For us, it was just about getting to the last session,” Greaves said. “We always spoke about 100 runs in the last session, probably with a few more wickets in hand. Obviously, losing Shai and then losing Imlach shortly after was a big thing. But I think we did really well in the end to come up with a draw.”West Indies captain Roston Chase later revealed that they took the final call when the last hour commenced, when West Indies needed 96 from 15 overs.”Going back at tea, the guys wanted to see if they could push for the runs,” Chase said. “But it didn’t quite work out the way they wanted. When the last hour came, when they came off for the water break, we had a discussion. They said they would just play out. And we didn’t think that was a bad idea at that time. So we were happy for them to just straight up play out and that’s what they did.”While West Indies put in an admirable effort, they were helped by the fact that New Zealand had lost Matt Henry and Nathan Smith to injuries. Henry bowled just 11 overs in the second innings and Smith none at all.”It was a Test match that sort of had it all, really,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said. “I think the way we were able to put ourselves in a position to win a Test match was what we were after and for it to head down to the final hour with kind of all three [four] results on the cards.”When you have two of your seamers go down during a Test match, it’s never ideal. I think the way the work that especially Zak [Foulkes] and Jacob [Duffy] put in throughout that innings, the amount of overs that they bowled, the way they kept coming, certainly never complained and just got on with it and threw everything that they could at West Indies. And also Michael Bracewell bowling 50-odd [55] overs.”We managed to create some opportunities, which is obviously what you want to do, but we couldn’t take them, unfortunately. Sometimes you have to give a little bit of credit where credit’s due, and the way that West Indies played in this fourth innings was pretty outstanding.”New Zealand dropped Roach twice off Bracewell. Still, Bracewell should have dismissed twice more – first lbw and then caught behind. On both occasions, the on-field umpire ruled it not out. Had New Zealand not burnt their reviews, they could have got those decisions overturned.”I guess [it was] one of those things that you have to deal with,” Latham said. “You look at many times before you’ve finished a game, and you’ve had lots of reviews left. You see your way out, what you think the best option is, and I guess at the time that’s what we thought was the best option.”

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has left the door open to a potential future move to Liverpool, admitting that while he is focused on his current role, "you never know what can happen" in football, amid intense speculation linking him with a return to Anfield. The coach's response comes amid claims he is in danger of being sacked, while questions have been asked of Arne Slot's future at the Merseyside club.

• Alonso and Slot under pressure

  The former Reds midfielder has found himself at the centre of a managerial merry-go-round rumour mill. While Slot is currently feeling the heat at Liverpool due to his side languishing in 10th place in the Premier League despite significant summer investment, Alonso is navigating his own storm at the Santiago Bernabeu. Following a chaotic 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo, the Spaniard is facing a defining week, with a Champions League clash against Manchester City looming.

  However, despite the immediate pressure in the Spanish capital, questions about a potential switch to the Premier League have persisted. Alonso reportedly turned down the chance to replace Jurgen Klopp in order to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, before eventually taking the Madrid job in the summer.

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  Madrid boss addresses his future

  When asked directly about the possibility of managing in England, specifically regarding a return to his former club Liverpool, Alonso offered a tantalising response that stopped short of a full denial.

  "For sure, it's something to consider with the English clubs, with my former club," Alonso admitted. "But for now, this is the place that I want to be, and in the future, you never know what can happen."

  Slot's situation grew even worse as the coach finds himself in a dressing room rift involving talisman Mohamed Salah, who sensationally criticised the Dutchman after their 3-3 draw against Leeds at the weekend. Alonso remained diplomatic, however, when asked about the situation.

  "Those are decisions they have made at Liverpool. No doubt we're missing a lot of details. So it's not for me to give an opinion on that," he said.

• Two giants in crisis

  The comments come at a fascinating juncture for both clubs. Liverpool's title defence has crumbled spectacularly, leaving Slot on the brink. The Dutchman's relationship with Salah has fractured, with the Egyptian forward omitted from the squad to face Inter this week.

  Meanwhile, at Madrid, Alonso is fighting to keep his own tenure on track. The defeat to Celta has left Los Blancos trailing leaders Barcelona by four points, and reports suggest a heavy defeat to Manchester City could be fatal for his prospects.

  "The next one is the best one. I think I know myself, and the fans know Manchester City very well from facing them many times in recent years, but I see it as an opportunity more than anything," Alonso said.

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  What comes next?

  Alonso also touched upon his own player management challenges, drawing a parallel between the Salah situation and his handling of Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward reacted poorly to being substituted against Barcelona earlier in the season, a flashpoint that Alonso insisted he would not handle differently in hindsight.

  "I would not change anything," he noted, reinforcing his stance on discipline – a trait that German legend Lothar Matthaus recently highlighted as a potential point of friction with Madrid's creative stars.

  "It’s not about changing, it’s about adapting. I knew pretty much what it was, that’s why Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world. You need to adapt to it, to learn from it. After you have to perform, you have to have that interaction with the players. Some days are good, some days are not so good. But from every game, we take steps, and we are in this position now, and we have to face it with good energy, positivity, that’s the only way to turn it around."

Tottenham kept their Champions League campaign on track with a resounding 3-0 win over Czech side Slavia Prague. Spurs deservedly took the lead through a David Zima own goal in the 26th minute in a frenetic first half that saw the visitors deploy a risky man-to-man setup in defence. The hosts made their dominance tell in the second half, as Xavi Simons and Mohamed Kudus both scored from the penalty spot.

Spurs should have taken the lead in the first minute, as Richarlison turned Wilson Odobert's cross towards goal. His effort was brilliantly denied, however, by the shoulder of Slavia goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek. 

That early sight of goal was a sign of things to come in a frantic opening 45 minutes. The visitors opted to go one-on-one across the park, creating acres of space for Tottenham to exploit. While the runs of Kudus, Simons and Odobert created some threatening situations, Spurs were unable to create any clear cut chances. Slavia, meanwhile, did fashion some sights of goal of their own, as they got in behind Tottenham's high line, though Gugilelmo Vicario was able to rebuff the visitors' efforts with minimal fuss. 

Spurs took the lead halfway through the first half when Cristian Romero flicked on a fizzing Pedro Porro corner. The Spurs' captain's header was on Zima in flash, forcing the centre-half to awkwardly deflect the ball into his own net past a helpless Stanek. While the Czech champions continued to track their opposite numbers in defence, leaving wide open spaces across the park, Tottenham struggled to create another meaningful chance before the half. 

Those first-half frustrations were quickly dispelled, as Porro won a penalty after suffering a late challenge from David Moses. Kudus stepped up to fire his spot kick down the middle past the despairing outstretched foot of a diving Stanek.

As Slavia's legs began to tire, Spurs finally garnered a level of control. Mathys Tel and Pape Matar Sarr both could have scored shortly after entering the game. Eventually, the pressure told on the visitors once again, as Simons won another penalty when he was felled by Igboh Obu, and the Dutchman capped a fine performance as he snuck his penalty past the keeper into the bottom right corner of the net. 

Tottenham's third home win of this Champions League season positions them to take a real shot at automatic qualification for the round of 16. Thomas Frank's side currently sit nihth in the table ahead of a tricky clash against Borussia Dortmund in the New Year. 

GOAL rates Tottenham's players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Guiglielmo Vicario (7/10):

Made two comfortable parries on long-range efforts in the first half, as well as one sharper stop from close range. Some questionable decisions with his distribution. 

Pedro Porro (6/10):

Made up for some poor set-piece deliveries with the fizzing cross that brought about the own goal from Zima. Won the penalty to double the lead. 

Cristian Romero (7/10):

Won the header that forced the opening own goal. Delivered some raking passes behind Slavia's surprisingly high line. Forced into some timely interceptions to deny the occasional foray forward by the visitors. 

Micky van de Ven (6/10):

Got unnecessarily caught up in a personal battle with Slavia striker Chytil. A 13th-minute booking for a stray elbow rules him out of the Dortmund match in January. 

Djed Spence (6/10):

Given the license to step into midfield, popping up as a number 10 frequently. 

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Joao Pahlinha (5/10):

Booked for a hard tackle that he would argue was fair. Always looking for a set to in the middle of the park, but did not provide much control in a wide open game. 

Archie Gray (6/10):

Broke up play well, could have done better to hold onto the ball once he won it.

Xavi Simons (9/10):

Some tidy touches in tight spaces, always willing to pick up the ball and drive his side forward despite getting knocked about by the opposition. Dispatching his penalty was a just reward for a brave and polished performance.

AFPAttack

Mohamed Kudus (8/10):

Given acres of space to run with the ball in a wide open game. Coolly sent his penalty down the middle as Stanek dove to his right. 

Richarlison (7/10):

Denied by an unbelievable save in the opening minutes. Bright and energetic without sacrificing control in his linkup play.

Wilson Odobert (7/10):

Looked dangerous in the frenetic opening 10 minutes. Forced another top save out of the Czech 'keeper. Sometimes lacking with his final ball, but threatening throughout nonetheless. 

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Mathys Tel (6/10):

Had a good understanding with Spence that was cut short following Davies' introduction. Fashioned a chance for himself moments after coming on the pitch, but was denied by Stanek. 

Pape Matar Sarr (5/10):

Probably should have scored from Tel's rebounded shot. 

Ben Davies (5/10):

First minutes of the season for the long-serving Welshman. Hints of a handball in his own box, but not enough for the referee to penalise him. A comfortable reintroduction after a lengthy layoff. 

Randal Kolo Muani (6/10):

Cushioned touch with his chest set up Simons to win the second penalty. 

Lucas Bergvall (N/A):

Entered the game with the contest sewn up. 

Thomas Frank (6/10):

Any home win is a positive for the former Brentford boss. However, he will be worried about the chances his side gave up, and perhaps question if they should have scored more in such a wide open affair. 

Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, the two starting pitchers for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, were on fire in their brief appearances on the mound on Tuesday night. And, the stats recorded prove this point further.

Skenes started for the National League and pitched a quick one-two-three to open up the game. He faced Gleyber Torres, Riley Green and Aaron Judge, striking out the first two batters. The Pittsburgh Pirates star ended up notching the two fastest strikeout pitches thrown at the All-Star Game since 2008 when the pitch-tracking era began, according to MLB's Sarah Langs. He threw a 100.3 mph fastball to Greene, and threw a 99.7 fastball to Torres before that.

Skubal added his name to this list, too, when he took to the mound at the bottom of the first inning for the American League. Skubal's outing started out rough as he gave up a single to Shohei Ohtani, another single to Ronald Acuna Jr. and then a double to Ketel Marte. Skubal secured the next three outs, with his final out logging as a strikeout to Will Smith. He threw the third-fastest strikeout pitch recorded in the list mentioned above at 99.6 mph.

The previous record before Tuesday night was a long-standing one held by Max Scherzer from the 2013 All-Star Game. He threw a 99.5 mph fastball to strike a player out.

It's not surprising that Skubal made this list as he recently jumped to the top of another strikeout speed list. Earlier this season, the Detroit Tigerst starter logged a 102.6 mph strikeout, which is the fastest strikeout pitch thrown by a starter since tracking began in '08, according to MLB.

Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, having made his first pitching appearance since 2023 earlier in the week. He only went one inning in his Dodgers debut on the mound, but he was toeing the rubber again on Sunday against the Washington Nationals.

After failing to record a strikeout in his season pitching debut against the San Diego Padres, he fanned two Nationals batters in the top of the first inning on Sunday, and as such, recorded the first two strikeouts of his pitching career with the Dodgers.

Here's a look at his first punch-out, in which he sat down Luis Garcia Jr. with a nasty breaking pitch:

Garcia wasn't able to check his swing as the pitch from Ohtani dropped down and in on the left-handed batter. Ohtani then ended the inning by striking out Washington first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.

The first strikeout of his career with the Dodgers was a long time coming. Ohtani served exclusively as the team's DH in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He continued as the DH for the first two months of the season and is now in the process of being stretched out on the mound in order to fully return to his duties as a two-way star.

His first inning on Sunday was certainly an encouraging sign for what's to come.

Rahul Dravid playing the lead as India beat Australia in Adelaide back in 2003 or Rangana Herath battling aches and pains to conquer India in Galle in 2015?

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The AUS-IND 2003 Adelaide Test moves into the quarter-finals.Dravid conquers Adelaide – Adelaide 2003It was Kolkata 2001 all over again, except the support act took over the lead role this time.Instead of 445, Australia scored 556 batting first here, with Ricky Ponting hitting 242 at a strike rate of 68.75. But unlike their 171 in Kolkata, India scored 523, keeping the match on an even keel, and it was the Rahul Dravid-VVS Laxman partnership for the fifth wicket, worth 303 runs, that made it possible. Here, Dravid scored 233 from No. 3, and Laxman 148 from No. 6. Their batting positions another change from Kolkata.Australia’s second innings was a letdown; all they got was 196, setting India 230 to win, and the star of the show, which gave India the upper hand, was Ajit Agarkar, whose 6 for 41 thwarted Australia.Dravid had scored that many in the first innings alone, but this time he only had to make 72, hitting the winning runs when he cut Stuart MacGill through the off-side infield. It remains one of India’s great victories in Australia, achieved at a time when they didn’t come as often as they have since.Herath chokes India – Galle, 2015
In the opening match of the series in Galle, India needed only 153 to win with nine wickets in hand at the start of the fourth day. A rearguard by Dinesh Chandimal, who followed up his 59 in the first innings with a 162 not out in the second, had given Sri Lanka a second-innings total of 367, and set India a target of 176 – they had taken a sizeable first-innings lead.The in-transition Sri Lanka turned to their veteran Rangana Herath, who was struggling with sore knees and a dodgy back. And Sri Lanka made the target look much bigger than what it was as they choked the life out of India’s chase.They made India work hard for every run on a turning pitch, and India couldn’t get past the then 37-year old Herath and young offspinner Tharindu Kaushal, as they folded for their lowest total against Sri Lanka. The only form of resistance after Shikhar Dhawan fell for 28 came from Ajinkya Rahane, who made 36 and was the penultimate man to fall with India at 102 for 9. India could add only ten more as they folded for 112.Herath finished with 7 for 48, as Sri Lanka won by 63 runs in a memorable start to Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell series.

India batted for just 52 overs in Kanpur, but just as crucial to their against-the-clock win was the fact that their bowlers picked up 20 wickets in just 121.2 overs

Alagappan Muthu01-Oct-20241:26

Manjrekar: India dished out ‘fair pitches’ and came out on top

There is always noise at a cricket ground. Horns blaring. Drums beating. The occasional flirting. “!” A lot of this is just the fans having fun. Often enough, it has no connection to what’s going on in the middle.And then he gets the ball.All of a sudden there is a hush around Green Park. They wait for him to reach the top of his mark. Tap, tap, tap comes the sound of the bat hitting the ground as Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes strike. Twenty-thousand pairs of eyes turn towards Jasprit Bumrah as he starts his run-up. The silence is about to shatter. And this time it’s not just noise. It’s music.”Whoooooohhhhhhhh” goes the crowd as Bumrah begins to accelerate. “Oooooooohhhhhh” they sigh as Mehidy reacts well and dabs the ball to point. They don’t need distractions to keep themselves occupied now. Gautam Gambhir is right. This guy has become a cultural phenomenon.Related

• Bangladesh walked into India's trap and couldn't find a way out

• Stats – India extend dominance at home, at breakneck speed

• India beat the weather and the clock to sweep Bangladesh 2-0

• Rohit: 'We were ready to get bowled out for a low score if it meant forcing a result'

Five weeks ago, Bumrah was at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai for freshers day and they cooked for him. His reveal on stage was pretty much on par with anything the movies do with mass heroes. He was sat on a throne. It faced the wrong way. The whole place went dark. The number 93 started flashing. The whole place started to shake. The throne spun, in slow motion, and there he was, sat like a king. A sheepish one.It is because of people like Bumrah that India could believe a result was possible in Kanpur. At the start of the fourth day, the first innings was still going on. India had laid out plans to push the game forward but there were no guarantees that it would all work out. Rohit Sharma, at the post-match presentation, said they were prepared to be 200 all out. They weren’t, of course. They scored 285 and declared in 34.4 overs. Then they picked up two second-innings wickets before stumps, to add to the seven from earlier in the day. India played the fourth day full throttle. The fifth – towards the end especially – became about soaking in all that they had managed to do.R Ashwin leaves his post at mid-on to come over and put his arm around Bumrah as he returns to his mark. It looks like a very one-sided exchange. In order to make it end, Bumrah brings both his hands up, palms pressed to each other rather like how people say hello or goodbye. Ashwin doesn’t listen. He continues to hype his bowling partner. From mid-off, Axar Patel chimes in as well. Both of them clap Bumrah on right through the 37th over when it’s becoming very clear that the improbable result India had set their sights on was within reach.”Whoooooohhhhhhhh” goes the crowd as Bumrah begins to accelerate again. Mehidy is unable to deal with this one and ends up caught behind. Bumrah tests the newcomer Taijul Islam with a couple of short ones and sneaks a full one in between, and then collects his cap to walk back to his fielding position. As he looks up, he sees Ashwin slow-clapping him. He offers him a salute in return. This is a special day for India. They are doing special things. The extent to which they had beat the odds makes it all the more fun for them. They seem joyous. Mischievous.Jasprit Bumrah finished Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s resistance•Getty ImagesRishabh Pant spends the final few seconds of the drinks break hanging around by the stumps, fiddling with something. A little red light flashes. He was fiddling with the bails. He had flipped them to see if that might change India’s luck. The first hour of play had only offered one wicket. The next one yields seven. Perhaps it’s the bails that did it. Or perhaps it has something to do with Ravindra Jadeja’s introduction to the attack.He was the last bowler India turned to in every innings of this series. Bangladesh being a left-hander-heavy side might have had something to do with it. Jadeja takes one of them out with his second ball. It breaks a period of play where Bangladesh made 55 runs in 13.4 overs and heralds one where Bangladesh lose seven wickets for 55 runs. India are doing so many amazing things in this game. Scoring at almost 9 runs an over. Taking a first-innings lead in three hours of batting. Breaking the taboo of bowler vs batter match-ups.Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets in three overs•AFP/Getty ImagesJadeja goes on to dismiss another left-hander, Shakib Al Hasan out tamely, caught and bowled. But see, that ball, it has all the hallmarks that make it hard to face Jadeja, no matter your orientation. Sure, you’re able to hit with the turn if you’re left-handed, but he complicates that by bowling around the wicket. He creates an angle that is going against you. Also here, he managed to get the ball to dip on Shakib so all of a sudden there’s distance between a bat that is pushing forward to milk a single to long-on and the ball. That’s where all the magic happens. The dip allows for the grip that turns a shot without no risk into one that will now attract ridicule. Shakib is left in utter disbelief at what he has done; or maybe what he has been made to do. The rest of Kanpur erupts. Horns blaring. Drums beating.A Test-match win after only 52 overs of batting and 121.2 overs of bowling. That’s something to savour and savour they do.