After four Test matches, one of the teams generally pulls away decisively or at least proves to be markedly better. But not in this England-India Test series.
After 20 days of incredible fightbacks and drama, there is very little to differentiate between the sides apart from the scoreline which reads 2-1 in England's favour.
It could easily have been 3-0 or 2-2, such have been the margins in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. While it was India who came within touching distance of completing a stunning win in the Lord's Test, England seemed to have the Manchester Test in the bag when they had the visitors 0-2 and trailing by 311 in the second innings.
However, an epic fightback by India over five sessions earned them a respectable draw and an opportunity to square the series in the fifth Test that begins at the Oval on Thursday.
With a short turnaround between the last two matches, both sides will have very little time to draw up plans or run any repairs before getting back on the field. The stakes will be high as all three results will have a big impact on standings in the World Test Championship table.
Will Archer and Bumrah play?
Haven't we been here before? How many matches should pace spearheads Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah play has been a running theme of the five-match series.
Bumrah was pencilled in to play only three out of the five matches, which he has already done. According to India's own plans, Bumrah should not feature in the final match, especially after hurting his ankle in Manchester.
But Mohammad Siraj has played four Tests on the bounce and deserves a rest more than any other Indian bowler. Also, India coach Gautam Gambhir said no decision has been made on Bumrah's participation. Captain Shubman Gill said the decision might be left to Bumrah.
“If he feels like he's fully fit and available for us, I think it would be a great deal for us,” Gill told the BBC.
With India having a decent chance to square the series, which would be a huge result for new captain Gill and the embattled Gambhir who is fighting to save his Test job, the temptation is to play 'Boom'.
However, the signs are not good. Bumrah's pace was down in the fourth Test and he was negotiated fairly comfortably. His ankle issues can only complicate matters and if he tweaks something on the first day, who will pick up the workload?
Ideally, Arshdeep Singh, if fully fit after his hand injury, and Prasidh Krishna should play in place of Bumrah and Siraj as both veterans have been pushed beyond their limit and there are big assignments ahead. But it is never so simple with the Indian team management.
England are facing a similar conundrum. Fast bowler Archer made a stupendous comeback to Test cricket by bowling a match-winning spell in the Lord's Test. He pushed hard in the fourth Test at Old Trafford but was thwarted by centuries from Gill, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja.
That Archer played successive Tests despite not playing first-class matches over the last four seasons is praiseworthy. However, he is flirting with danger.
The right-arm quick, who has been on the sidelines for much of his recent career due to multiple injuries, is keen to play the final Test and prove his match fitness for the Ashes.
But former seamer Stuart Broad and captain Nasser Hussain believe England will be risking another injury to Archer if they select him for the Oval Test.
“We can't not have Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years,” Broad told Sky Sports.
“(Josh) Tongue started the series, and I know he mainly got lower-order players out, but you probably have a natural replacement for Archer.”
Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes have played all four Tests and are due a rest, while captain Ben Stokes bowled in Manchester despite hamstring and shoulder niggles.
England recalled Jamie Overton to the squad, while Gus Atkinson and Tongue are also in contention to play.
“I don't think you can have Archer playing three on the bounce coming back after four years,” former captain Hussain told Sky Sports.
“Atkinson coming back after a long time, and then Stokes with a niggle as three of your four seamers – but I would definitely play Atkinson on his home ground if fit.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Andor
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
