One ball, two moments of madness – and one very relieved English batsman.

India has failed to capitalise on a stunning brainfade from England opener Haseeb Hameed, who was bizarrely dropped by paceman Mohammed Siraj after a reckless, mistimed shot at The Oval.

In chaotic scenes during the early stages of Day 5 of the fourth England-India Test, Hameed strayed from his patient, methodical approach at the crease and uncharacteristically tried to smash Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja over mid-on.

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The ball ballooned to Siraj at mid-on, but the fast bowler dropped a seemingly easy catch as the ball slammed into his midriff then onto The Oval turf.

“As far as catches go at this level, that wasn’t a very difficult one at all,” Australian legend Shane Warne told Sky Sports.

“I think the embarrassment of dropping that … that’s just straight to him, just panicked.”

While Jadeja, captain Virat Kohli and the rest of the Indian players couldn’t believe the missed chance, Siraj stayed on the ground for a few minutes after the ball appeared to strike him in the groin.

“I’m not really sure what the physio can do,” Sky Sports commentator Ian Ward said tongue in cheek.

It was a crucial dropped catch for India, which had set England 368 runs to win after an impressive third innings fightback, yet an equally perplexing stroke attempt from Hameed.

Hameed and fellow opener Rory Burns had put on a patient 100-run stand to put England in a strong position early on Day 5 before Burns was caught behind by Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Shardul Thakur for 50.

And as Hameed and Dawid Malan began to establish a second-wicket partnership, Hameed was given a life.

“I must admit I couldn’t believe the shot he decided to play. It’s so out of character,” Ward said.

“He (Jadeja) is a very difficult bowler to slog sweep with the pace he bowls, the trajectory.

“He’s got to take (the opportunity) now. That’s an absolutely gift.”

Six overs later, Malan was run out for five as England went to lunch at 2-131 on the final day, needing a further 237 runs with an absorbing five-match series on a knife-edge at 1-1.

Play, in front of a capacity crowd, resumed with Burns 31 not out and Hameed 43 not out on a pitch that was still a generally good one on which to bat.

The pair had denied India an early breakthrough late Sunday after the tourists had piled up 466 in their second innings.

— with AFP