![]() |
Ravindra Jadeja produced a match-winning spell, by claiming seven wickets for the first time in a Test innings, to help India thrash England by an innings and 75 runs in the fifth and final Test that ended in Chennai on Tuesday.
England began the day with their openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings still at the crease. Their task, on paper was simple, survive for as long as possible - to play for a draw - or risk a batting collapse that could cost them the Test.
On a ragged fifth day surface, the odds were stacked against the tourists and Virat Kohli, India's captain, introduced his spin mainstay, R Ashwin, first up. Ashwin failed to find the break through as Jennings and Cook saw their side through to lunch.
Jadeja, not Ashwin, troubled England's batsmen in the first session and he continued after the interval by dismissing Cook for the sixth time in the series. The Cook-Jennings combine added 103 runs for the first wicket.
It was to be England's biggest partnership as, barring Moeen Ali with 44, the rest of their batsmen offered little resistance. Jennings was Jadeja's second victim, as he chipped a return catch back to the bowler.
Joe Root, England's mainstay, followed as he misread the length of a Jadeja delivery and was trapped lbw. At tea, England stood at 167 for 4. Ali and Ben Stokes had provided some stability with a 63-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Eight overs after the interval, Ali's patience ran out and he miscued a slog against Jadeja to Ashwin at mid on. Stokes fell two overs later to the same bowler. England was reduced to 193 for 6 at that stage and the end seemed near. Jadeja claimed two more wickets, while Umesh Yadav and Amit Mishra claimed one each to complete a comprehensive win.
This was Jadeja's first ten-wicket haul in Test cricket. He ended with figures of 10 for 154 in this Test, including 7 for 48 in the second innings, both career-best figures. His previous best innings figures was 6 for 138 in Durban in 2013-14.
"We understood that if we got a couple of wickets, it could slide pretty quickly, Jadeja doing his job, picking up seven - it was great to watch," Kohli said. "We conceded 400 but ended up winning by an innings, that doesn't happen very often. We worked hard day in, day out, we don't care what happens outside, lots of respect in the changing room. That's how we ended up being in a winning position more often than not. Every time we were under the pump, we've fronted up. The lower order has made outstanding contributions."
Comments have now been closed for this article
The 1st Test began with positive note with with England winning the toss pilling 537 runs.They could have won the 1st test @ Rajkot. What went wrong is they did not apply to the circumstances & played rash shots which was the down fall. What happened to Finn & Ballance they were not given any chance to play. Even Anderson was not up to the mark nor he was bowling with full strength. He is 34 yrs time for Eng to look for replacement for Anderson. He might continue for 1 or 2 yrs. Let us see how India going to fair in Non Asian Pitches. Let us watch how Jadeja & Ashwin perform in Eng,Aus,RSA, WI, NZ . We must have friendly tracks which helps both batter & the bowlers(Pace & Spin) . Let me Congratulate Ind for 4-0. Finally Cricket is the winner. Result is important in the end. Best of Luck for all the cricket teams.
The 1st Test began with positive note with with England winning the toss pilling 537 runs.They could have won the 1st test @ Rajkot. What went wrong is they did not apply to the circumstances & played rash shots which was the down fall. What happened to Finn & Ballance they were not given any chance to play. Even Anderson was not up to the mark nor he was bowling with full strength. He is 34 yrs time for Eng to look for replacement for Anderson. He might continue for 1 or 2 yrs. Let us see how India going to fair in Non Asian Pitches. Let us watch how Jadeja & Ashwin perform in Eng,Aus,RSA, WI, NZ . We must have friendly tracks which helps both batter & the bowlers(Pace & Spin) . Let me Congratulate Ind for 4-0. Finally Cricket is the winner. Result is important in the end. Best of Luck for all the cricket teams.
No featured comments at the moment.
The 1st Test began with positive note with with England winning the toss pilling 537 runs.They could have won the 1st test @ Rajkot. What went wrong is they did not apply to the circumstances & played rash shots which was the down fall. What happened to Finn & Ballance they were not given any chance to play. Even Anderson was not up to the mark nor he was bowling with full strength. He is 34 yrs time for Eng to look for replacement for Anderson. He might continue for 1 or 2 yrs. Let us see how India going to fair in Non Asian Pitches. Let us watch how Jadeja & Ashwin perform in Eng,Aus,RSA, WI, NZ . We must have friendly tracks which helps both batter & the bowlers(Pace & Spin) . Let me Congratulate Ind for 4-0. Finally Cricket is the winner. Result is important in the end. Best of Luck for all the cricket teams.