Stats: Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad share a 98-run partnership for the 9th wicket

The Indian team’s troubles of dismissing England’s lower-order in the Pataudi Trophy continued in the final Test at The Oval as well where they spilled the opportunity of dismissing the hosts for a low total in the first innings. England, who were going strong at 133/1, lost six wickets in the final session on the first day and were reduced to 181. However, Jos Buttler put on crucial partnerships for the last three wickets as England finished on a respectable total of 332.

Buttler and Adil Rashid added 33 runs for the 8th wicket before Jasprit Bumrah trapped Rashid in front on the second morning. Then began the marathon 9th wicket stand between Buttler and Stuart Broad which neutralized all the good work by the Indian bowlers on Friday. The pair added 98 runs in only 122 balls to take England past the 300-run mark. After Broad’s dismissal, the birthday boy Buttler added 20 more runs with the last man James Anderson before getting out on 89.

Highest 9th wicket partnerships for England in Test cricket against India:

The 98-run partnership between Buttler and Broad is England’s 2nd highest partnership in Test cricket for the 9th wicket against India. Craig White and Matthew Hoggard added 103 in the 2002 Nottingham Test coming in at 493/8. The Buttler and Broad fell two runs short of becoming only the 3rd pair in England-India Test matches to add 100 runs for the 9th wicket. S Madan Lal and Ravi Shastri shared 104 runs in the 1981 Delhi Test match prior to White and Hoggard’s 103-run stand.

Broad was involved in a 100-run partnership with Alastair Cook in the MCG Test last year which is the only century stand for the 9th wicket for England in the last nine years. This 98-run stand that Buttler and Broad managed is also the highest for the 9th wicket by any team against India in the last eight years. During the 2016 Caribbean tour, the home team’s pair of Carlos Brathwaite and Devendra Bishoo added 95 runs coming in at 132/8 while following-on.

Highest 9th wicket partnerships in Test cricket against India:

(Stats as on September 8, 2018)

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