Tail-enders overshadow top order

James Anderson and Joe Root put together 198 runs and picked up a slew of records along the way, including the most runs made by a final-wicket pair

Bishen Jeswant

12-Jul-2014

Wes Hall is the only player other than James Anderson to have scored a fifty against India while batting at No.11.  •  Getty Images

Anderson's composed 81, aside from hurting India's hopes of a rare away victory in Tests, ranks as the highest score by an English No.11 and the third-highest by any in that position.

The 130 balls that Anderson faced was the second-most by an English No.11. His partnership with Joe Root produced 198 runs, a world record for the tenth-wicket. They were together for 360 balls, the most by a tenth-wicket pair in Tests, and the only instance of a final-wicket pair playing 300 or more deliveries.

The tenth-wicket pairs from both sides accumulated 309 runs, the most runs scored for the last wicket in a Test. In a rare occurrence, the last-wicket partnership has been the most productive in the match so far.

The only other No.11 batsman to score a Test fifty for England is John Snow. Snow scored an unbeaten 59 against West Indies at The Oval in 1966. Snow and Ken Higgs shared a final-wicket stand of 128, and helped England post 527 in response to West Indies' 268. West Indies' tenth wicket contributed 45 runs as well to push the final-wicket partnership across both innings to 173.

Anderson's maiden half-century was only the second instance of a No.11 batsman reaching the mark against India. Wes Hall had made an unbeaten 50 at Port of Spain in 1962. Hall then came out and took the first five wickets, reducing India to 30/5.

Ishant Sharma became the second Indian after Harbhajan Singh to concede 150-plus runs at Trent Bridge, and the third time Ishant has cost over 150 runs. No other Indian quick has conceded 150-plus runs in an innings more than twice in his career.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed James Anderson to record the the 18th instance of an Indian seamer taking five wickets in England. Along with Ishant's three and Shami's two, this was the second time that India's quicks have taken all 10 wickets in England, and the 13th time across all countries.

The four new-ball bowlers have managed 237 runs - Broad (47), Anderson (81), Kumar (58) and Shami (51) - while the four opening batsmen scored only 222 runs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Joe Root Ishant Sharma James Anderson India England England vs India India tour of England

Bishen Jeswant is a stats sub editor at ESPNcricinfo. @bishen_jeswant