Bazball 1 - India 0
Memorable performance from England. They took their chances. India didn't. And they came back from the highest deficit in India. We leave you with a teaser from the report.
Less than two days after messing up many a travel plan, England pulled off one of their greatest Test wins in front of the raucous Barmy Army and a stunned home crowd in Hyderabad. Of all the ways you envisage winning a Test in India, falling behind by 190 in the first innings, a deficit never before reversed by a visiting team in India, is not one. Yet England did the unthinkable with their most experienced spinner injured, half their side gone before scores were levelled, and did so emphatically even though a hilarious last-wicket stand took India to within 28.
The highest lead India have lost from is 192, in Galle back in 2015. That Sri Lankan win was fashioned by a sweep-filled adventurous once-in-a-generation knock from Dinesh Chandimal. Ollie Pope played that role for England, scoring 196 runs full of sweeps, reverse-sweeps and reverse-Dilscoops, messing up with the lengths of the Indian spinners as if they were match predictions after two days of cricket. The other hero was Tom Hartley, the debutant left-arm spinner who was hit for two sixes in his first over in Test cricket and consigned to the costliest analysis for a debutant, who ended up with seven wickets in the second innings.
16
16
9
8
England complete great Test win
At 5.30pm, in the last over of the day, Mohammed Siraj finally succeeds in walking past one. England have won by 28 runs. Tom Hartley, who went for a six first ball in his career and conceded the costliest analyst for a debutant, is the hero with seven wickets. England have done the unthinkable.
24
23
13
9
Entertainment aplenty
Mohammed Siraj looks like there are three modes of dismissal on for every ball, but somehow he and Jasprit Bumrah have added 22 runs for the last wicket. India need 32 no2. England have eight minutes to end this tonight. Mark Wood is back.
3
6
1
4
England will win tonight
Second ball into the extra half hour, with two tailenders for company, R Ashwin tries a big hit, is beaten by the lack of bounce, and is stumped. India 177 for 9. England one good ball from one of their great Test wins. Tom Hartley has six wickets.
15
10
5
13
Extra half hour taken
Ben Stokes has opted for the extra half hour to try to end this match tonight. They need two wickets. In dia need 54.
3
2
1
2
Hartley breaks through
Oh when the pitch is not doing much for him, Tom Hartley has produced a beauty. Drifting into the pads, pitching leg, turning away, past the bat, hitting off. Just the wicket England needed with two overs to go in the day. India still need 55. That is a five-for for Hartley after having been hit for a six first ball in the first innings and having been consigned to the costliest analysis for a debutant.
7
2
5
4
Fifty between Ashwin and Bharat
Dare India dream? R Ashwin and KS Bharat have added 54 runs together for the eighth wicket. They are looking comfortable. The softer older ball is not turning as quickly as the new ball was. This is where Pope and others scored with ease. India didn't have the wickets in hand to be able to score that quickly against the old ball. How big is that Jadeja run-out, that Iyer catching practice to slip now? India need 58. Three overs left in the day.
4
2
India go past 150
Two boundaries in one Rehan Ahmed over after a lot of overs of just dead defence, and India are now 153 for 7. One of these boundaries is off the back of the bat and over slip as the ball has kicked up at KS Bharat. The partnership now reads 34 in 16.4 overs. India still need 78 runs. Twenty-six minutes left in day four. A good chance we might go into tomorrow with the match still on the line.
3
2
1
India still hanging in
The ball sin getting softer, the slowness of the pitch is showing, and the resoluteness of R Ashwin and KS Bharat has kept England in the field for 12.3 overs now. However, they have added just 23 runs, which means India still need 89 runs, which is a lot of runs. Eleven overs to go today. Can England finish it off tonight?
4
1
2
2
Down to a hundred
R Ashwin hits India's first boundary in nine overs to take India to 130 for 7. Like those before them, Ashwin and KS Bharat are also stuck: 7 off 28 and 5 off 18. England hold all the aces still. Seventeen overs remain in the day.
4
1
2
Iyer gives slip practice to Root
Another innings with zero intent comes to an end. All the batters who were caught at the boundary in the first innings have just been prodding and defending. And as it tends to happen, the edge arrives soon enough. Shreyas Iyer, 13 off 29, has gone one step ahead and followed the turn with an open face. Joe Root says thank you very much. India 119 for 7.
3
2
4
9
And now a run-out
Ben Stokes and England can do no wrong. Ravindra Jadeja, 2 off 19, no intent so far, pushes straight to mid-on and sets off. Stokes throws off balance, but hits the stumps. Jadeja is caught short. India 119 for 6. Jadeja might even have strained something. He looked in pain. England four wickets from one of their greatest Test wins. Nobody has ever reversed such a big first-innings deficit when visiting India.
2
6
1
6
Finally a boundary
63 Number of balls between boundaries off the bat. And it has taken a juicy full toss from Tom Hartley. During the period, India have lost two wickets. They are letting the bowlers just bowl. No sweeps or reverse-sweeps. India 119 for 5
2
1
1
Root gets Rahul
A brain fade from KL Rahul out of nowhere. It's not like Joe Root has pushed him back and dragged him forward with changes in length. Out of nowhere, Rahul has gone back to defend a full fall, and is trapped right in forward. Gone for 22 off 48. England firm favourites now. India 107 for 5.
3
3
5
Hartley strikes immediately after tea
A bit of a soft dismissal but these things happen in the last innings. He sees the ball is full enough to drive, but it turns just that little bit to go off the inside half of the bat back to Tom Hartley, the bowler, who now has all four wickets. India 95 for 4.
2
2
3
5
India 95 for 3 at tea
An exciting, tense session of Test cricket comes to an end. Twenty-nine overs bowled for 95 runs and three wickets. KL Rahul and Axar Patel have added 32 for the fourth wicket, playing mostly orthodox cricket. Rahul scored a majority of his runs in this stand with two sept boundaries off Tom Hartley. Axar did so off errors in length from Rehan Ahmed. This Test is still delicately balanced, and can go either way. Thirty-four overs remaining today. Imagine what a session we will have had if we leave tonight with the Test still in such fine balance.
2
Indifferent start for Rehan Ahmed
1
•
4
•
4
4
•
1
•
•
•
•
Rehan Ahmed is introduced as the fifth bowler with 150 still required, but he starts with two half-volleys to Axar Patel, which he dispatches for four. Then comes the resultant shorter ball, and he pulls it away for four. He has gone from 5 off 29 at the start of the over to 17 off 34. India 94 for 3. need 137 more.
7
2
Leach 5-1-15-0
Jack Leach has bowled a superb spell of 5-1-15-0 despite that injured knee, and has now made way for Tom Hartley, who gets a change of ends. India 70 for 3.
2
1
3
Hartley on fire
7.5-0-23-3, read his figures. His first spell in the first innings was 9-0-63-0. The straighter one does it for him. He and Leach have been going past the outside edge time and time again with sharp turn. The batters have done well to not follow the movement with the bat. However, when you keep defending well in front of your body, you open yourself to risk. This one just doesn't turn. Beats the inside edge. Rohit Sharma is dead plumb. India 63 for 3. Still need 168.
India mixing things around too. They send Axar Patel at No. 5. It is a good move. Not only right-left combination, but also utilises Axar's batting capabilities better.
1
1
5
Rohit reverses
10 Number of reverse-sweeps Rohit Sharma has played in Test cricket, three of them in this innings. And despite looking awkward on the first one, he has hit two boundaries off the next two. And he has played those because Jack Leach has been bowling beautifully. He reckons he needs to do something extraordinary to push him off his length. Still, it takes some belief to do it in a fourth-innings chase. India 63 for 2.
2
4
Leach bowling beautifully
That thing called hope. Optimism. Adrenaline. And despite an injured knee, Jack Leach is landing them on a coin. And drawing turn. And the one time he dishes out a full toss, Rohit Sharma is down on his knees looking to play an awkward reverse-sweep. Right now, England are right now all over India. Just six runs between Rohit and KL Rahul in 3.2 overs. India 48 for 2.
3
2
Rally Round the West Indies
The news of the sensational West Indies win has reached Hyderabad. Barmy Army are playing Rally Round the West Indies in the stands. What a nice touch. Rally indeed.
10
5
2
1
Hartley and Pope go bang bang
Another sensational catch from Ollie Pope, and England have now manufactured two wickets out of nowhere. shubman Gill is tentative defence, but the ball is still going down, but Pope is on his knees at silly point and plucks it out. Watches it all the way into his hands. England can sense it. Jack Leach has also come back to bowl. India 42 for 2. Sill need 189. Now Jonny Bairstow is on his knees at gully.
1
2
2
2
Hartley gets England on the board
Yashasvi Jaiswal gives Tom Hartley the charge, he shortens the length, and Ollie Pope takes a superb catch at short leg. Yes, Jaiswal has defended this, but there is no deflection off the pad to give him extra time to react. Straight into his hands at short leg. Jaiswal gone for 15 off 35. India 42 for 1. Need another 189.
1
2
India need under 200
India have reached 32 for 0 in nine overs. There have been a couple of close shouts, a couple that have stayed low, but there have also been three full tosses and one gift down the leg side from Joe Root, who finds himself as the lead bowler. Tom Hartley has had a better start to his effort, and Jack Leach hasn't yet bowled. Mark Wood bowled just the one over in which he produced an edge, a half chance not converted.
1
3
Millionaires no more
Ben Stokes captained the first innings like a millionaire. He had funky attacking fields, and burnt his reviews in 14 overs. Now he has in-out fields, and is more judicious with reviewing, following proper protocols. The fields are understandable. Did something different in the first innings, but when you are defending 230, you have to have in-out fields.
And Mark Wood has been replaced by Tom Hartley despite the chance he created in his first over. India 15 for 0 in three overs.
1
Rohit survives early
Mark Wood draws a regulation outside edge from Rohit Sharma in his first over, but the edge is dying on Zak Crawley at second slip. Technically it carries, but not more than a half chance. India 10 for 0.
1
2
Root, Wood open for England
Joe Root takes the first over, Mark Wood the second. No aggressive intent first ball from Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jack Leach doesn't start on the field, but will be on after the second over.
Enormity of India's task
5 Number of times more than 230 has been scored in the fourth innings to win a Test in India
1
1
2
Leach will be bowling
Ain't no way England don't give it a red hot go now that they have set India 231 to win. This is just in from England.
Jack Leach has a haematoma (bruising) of the left knee sustained fielding on day one and two. He has been receiving treatment from the medical team. He will be on the field for the start of the fourth innings and is fit to bowl.
Some numbers
0 Number of innings of 400 against India in India that have gone quicker than England's 4.11 per over
10 Number of wickets bowled in two England innings, the most against India
1
England bowled out for 420
A sensational innings from Ollie Pope ends on 196 thanks to an equally good slower ball from Jasprit Bumrah to hit the top of off. India congratulate Pope for his magnificent innings. The last man to score a double-century in the second innings when visiting India is Brendon McCullum, the coach who has helped develop this kind of game for Pope. India need 231 to win. Bumrah has kept them alive. Can a limited England attack stun India? We will soon find out after lunch.
9
5
4
Leach hobbles onto the ground
Ravindra Jadeja has got Mark Wood caught for duck, which means the injured Jack Leach has hobbled out to bat. No runners allowed. He has a swelling in his knee. India have gone back to Jasprit Bumrah. England 230 ahead.
1
1
1
Change of ends does it for Ashwin
First ball from the other end, and R Ashwin gets Tom Hartley with one that stays low. Not before he added 80 with Ollie Pope. Bowled for 34 off 52. Excellent support for Pope. They now lead by 219.
2
4
2
1
Pope outscores the deficit
6 Number of deficits bigger than 190 outscored by a single batter in the second innings
3
2
4
5
England go past 400
9 Number of times a visiting team has scored 400 in their second innings in a Test in India. The first time in 11 years. England now lead by 211
1
1
3
5
Another drop
Mohammed Siraj has created an opportunity with a slower offcutter, which Ollie Pope has run straight down the lap of the wide slip, but KL Rahul has spilled a sitter. That in an over that they converted a one into two off the fielding of Jasprit Bumrah. It is happening. India are looking leg and leg. This is when it feels really difficult to accept these drops as a part of the game.
England are bossing it right now. Who is going to drag India back? Get some energy back. Pope 186, England 396 for 7.
Mohammed Siraj is fired up for one. He has bowled a sharp bouncer to Tom Hartley, and has a word with him.
3
1
4
5
Fifty for the stand
Tom Hartley cuts R Ashwin away to bring up the half-century of the eighth-wicket stand. This single is symptomatic of India's problems today. Ashwin started the over with a lovely slow delivery on middle and leg and got turn towards off to hit his pad. The next one was flat and wide and short.
4
2
1
3
England's hour
It is incredible the ease with which England have added 72 runs in the first hour. India's bowlers have neither looked threatening nor been able to control the run flow. There are singles available everywhere, Rohit Sharma has been lacklustre at slip conceding byes twice, the bowlers have been unable to hold their lengths. The eighth-wicket partnership reads 49 in 10.3 over. The lead is 198 now. The last time a team got 400 in the second innings against India in India was England in Ahmedabad in 2012. It has happened only eight times in the whole history of Test cricket in India.
2
2
Jadeja's worst?
130 Number of runs conceded by Ravindra Jadeja, the most he has given away in a single innings at home. Also the most he has conceded in a single match
6
New ball finally taken
England are knocking off singles easily off Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin. Tom Hartley has even lofted Ashwin for a straight boundary. Perplexingly, India have waited till the 89th over to claim the new ball. I would have expected them to take it the moment it became available or at least the moment they got a wicket in the morning. England now lead by 171.
2
1
Shoaib Bashir is here
6
1
1
1
Bumrah strikes
Jasprit Bumrah has stuck with the old reversing ball, and has got rid of the threatening Rehan Ahmed with it. An outswinger in his third over of the morning took and edge that fell short, but the next one settled in the wicketkeeper's gloves. An important hand from Rehan: 28 off 53. England lead by 149.
In comes Tom Hartley. He slog-swept R Ashwin for a six in the first innings.
2
2
2
New ball not taken
We are into the 81st over, but India haven't claimed the new ball. The lead has gone to 137, and the partnership has gone past 50.
I wonder why India haven't claimed the new ball. Worried about it flying off the bat? Looking for a wicket before they take the new ball?
2
Pope raises his bat again
In the second over of the day, Ollie Pope pushes Jasprit Bumrah past point to bring up his 150. England lead by 129 with 10 balls to go the new ball.
An update on Jack Leach
Jack Leach injured his knee while fielding in the first innings. He will bat here but whether he bowls or not will decided later. Possibly depending on what target England set India.
1
1
Here we go again
Not many of us thought we would be here Sunday morning, but here we are: not only here but rapt in attention and unable to wait for action to begin. England 126 for 6, Ollie Pope unbeaten on 148, and England for the first time in the Test with a sniff. More than a sniff if they can take this lead past 200.
India have the new ball in sights. The pitch slowed down for them yesterday so they will have to cause damage with the new hard ball. If they don't, we will start looking at highest successful chases in India.
1
1
England 126 for 6
An exceptional day for England. When we began the day, we were questioning if there would be a day four. Now there will be a tussle on day four. Ollie Pope's unbeaten 148 has led them to 316 for 6, the first time a visiting team has scored 300 in the second innings in India since Nagpur 2012. The new ball is two overs away, and India will hope for some magic with it come tomorrow. Whatever happens tomorrow, England have announced themselves and said they won't meekly roll over. See you tomorrow.
11
5
2
1
England get to 300
And it is a significant milestone. This is the first time in 12 years, since they themselves did so in Nagpur, that a side has got to 300 in the second innings in India. The lead is now 110.
12
2
1
Reverse Dilscoop
Essentially Dilscoop is a ramp shot, but a specific variety of the ramp shot where you put your head down and ramp the ball straight over your head. In the 70th over of the innings, Ollie Pope has gone a step ahead and played the reverse Dilscoop from just outside leg and straight over the keeper's head for four. His commitment to sweeping and reverse-sweeping has been superb after he got out playing a defensive shot in the first innings. Into the last seven overs of the day, and England's lead is part 100.
3
2
1
Finally a breakthrough for India
Axar Patel finally breaks through for India with one that stays low and squeezes past Ben Foakes' bat, who fought hard for his 34 off 81 in a partnership of 112 with Ollie Pope. England are 85 for 6 effectively. Thirteen overs to the new ball.
2
1
1
Axar drops Pope
Ollie Pope continues reverse-sweeping every time a bowler looks like he is getting into rhythm. The first one off Ravindra Jadeja, he nails it and gets four. On the next one, he gets a top edge, which Axar Patel has dropped at backward point. Followed by a punched boundary and a ginger chase from Ashwin. England lead by 73, which means these two have now added 100 for the sixth wicket. The new ball is more than 15 overs away.
2
2
6
Hundred for Pope
A fantastic innings from Ollie Pope, the first hundred of this match, his first in India. Any time you score a hundred in India against Ashwin, Jadeja, Bumrah, Siraj and Axar, you can be proud of it. To do so starting 190 behind in the second innings is even better. He has been excellent with the sweeps, all kinds. Paddle, powerful, reverse, reverse paddle, reverse in front of square. Against Ashwin he has scored 40 off 39. It has forced Ashwin to bowl too full. England are now 55 ahead. The pitch is slow, the ball soft. England can mount a challenge yet.
5
2
5
3
Fifty between Pope and Foakes
Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes were tied down before tea, but they have batted out nearly 50 minutes after tea rather comfortably. In doing so, they have added 50 for the sixth wicket. India have tried all five bowlers in the session after tea. Pope is nearing a hundred, and England lead are effectively 28 for 5.
1
1
5
India will have to bat again
Eighteen minutes into the final session, England have reached 190 for 5, which means now every run scored is one India have to get. How many can the last five wickets add?
2
2
4
1
Back after tea
India resume with Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja in the attack. Axar provides a half-volley to help England get their first boundary in 71 balls. Still 13 behind.
2
2
1
2
India take the middle session
65 Number of balls England have gone without a boundary leading up to tea. India have tightened their grip around them and have picked up four wickets in this session thanks largely to the rousing spell of reverse-swing from Bumrah. England still trail by 18 with five wickets in hand.
1
4
1
Ashwin gets Stokes
12 Number of times R Ashwin has now dismissed Ben Stokes. He was swept off his length earlier in the day, but has built a patient spell to work Stokes out after lunch. Just altering the length to keep pushing him back and drawing him forward, eventually catching him back to a full ball and then turning it past his bat. England 163 for 5
7
7
3
3
Fifty for Pope
Ollie Pope didn't have a great first outing. Nor has he been the best batter in this innings. But he is still out there. He has not let the scoreboard go stagnant. He has now got to a fifty off just 54 balls. England 149 for 4. Behind by 41. India have now gone back to their main spinners, Jadeja and Ashwin.
2
4
3
2
What do you do about Jadeja?
Jonny Bairstow has batted beautifully so far but what do you do about what just happened? Ravindra Jadeja is giving it a rip, gets one ball to turn away and beat Bairstow's defence. The next ball is released similarly, given the same rip, and pitches in a similar area. Bairstow leaves it alone, but this one doesn't turn. Off stump knocked back. To be fair, he should probably have played at it, but two balls to behave so differently in such close succession is just a bit too much to adjust to. You can just hope it is your day, and the straighter one misses the stumps. England 140 for 4. Trail by 50.
3
1
1
1
Bairstow calms things down
It has been a rousing hour of play since lunch. A flurry of boundaries then Jasprit Bumrah's genius then Jonny Bairstow's calmness. The last 7.2 overs have brought just 18 runs and two wickets, but Bairstow has been good against Bumrah. He has stayed leg side of the ball, watching it closely and adjusting late to the tail. He has picked the slower ball too. Ollie Pope has not looked as assured but he is still there. At drinks, England are 131 for 3, 59 behind with seven wickets in hand. Bumrah might be done for now after the five-over spell.
2
Duckett b Bumrah
3
3
1
Bumrah on fire
If Ashwin doesn't get you, Jadeja will. if Jadeja doesn't get you, Axar will. If spin doesn't get you, reverse-swing will. And what reverse. Jasprit Bumrah has been on absolute fire since lunch, reversing the ball both ways and also slipping in the lethal slower ball to nearly get Ollie Pope. Eventually the inswinger traps Joe Root on the crease. It is 117 for 3 now. England still 73 behind.
3
7
6
2
Duckett survives spin test
1 Number of times out of five that Duckett has faced Ashwin that he has not fallen to him. This innings will be a moral victory for him no matter what happens in the rest of the match
2
3
2
Bumrah lets out a roar
It doesn't matter now. Jasprit Bumrah has reversed a ball into the top of off. Ben Duckett has to go. A release of emotion from Bumrah especially because there has been a flurry of boundaries since that lbw reprieve for Duckett. England 113 for 2 now. Chance for India to regroup as the Barmy Army plays Joe Root to the tune of Hey Jude.
And India have now gone to pace at both ends as the ball is reversing.
1
4
Deficit under 100
Welcome back after lunch. R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah have started the attack, and England have added eight runs in the first two overs. However, there has been a big lbw shout from Bumrah against Ben Duckett, which, if reviewed, would have brought India the breakthrough.
1
3
2
England finally win a session
Three wickets for 15 runs, and then 89 runs scored for the loss of just one wicket at close to a run a ball. In R Ashwin's first two overs, the openers survived bat-pad chances, and probably decided, that this is not how they want to get out. It is much more acceptable to get out reverse-sweeping than pushing. They have played 18 sweeps or reverse-sweeps in 15 overs for 33 runs, largely in control. It has made Ashwin go fuller than he wants, Axar Patel flatter than he wants to, and Ravindra Jadeja has only bowled one more. Now there are singles available everywhere.
This is the Bazball we needed in order to challenge India spinners. Now it is interesting to see how they respond. England trail by 101, nine wickets in hand.
3
7
2
To everything sweep, sweep, sweep
23 Number of runs, out of 59, that have come through sweeps - reverse or otherwise. This is more of what we expected to see in the first innings
1
1
5
1
You can delay him but can't deny him
R Ashwin had his lengths played around with because of the intent and the sweeps, but he is good enough to bring back the in-between length, which Zak Crawley has no choice but to defend in front of his body. The ball doesn't turn, takes the edge, and slip takes the catch. England 45 for 1 now. Ashwin six away from 500.
3
1
Openers survive first half hour
And not just survive. They have scored 33 runs on a treacherous pitch in seven overs. The message seems to be clear. Don't be meek. The three chances India have created have all been to forward-defensives, but the bat-pad has magically managed to avoid the fielders. There have been sweeps, reverse-sweeps, and one six down the ground. R Ashwin still looks dangerous.
1
1
New-ball bowler
118 Number of wickets R Ashwin has taken in the first 20 overs of innings. Since we have started keeping ball-by-ball records, no one has taken more for India. Will we see Ashwin take the new ball today?
1
4
1
1
England need 190 to make India bat
A low legbreak from Rehan Ahmed denies Joe Root a five-for, but it has done what England needed: three wickets for no runs. It still leaves England a mighty mountain to climb just to make India bat again. Five fours and change for India to look to end the match today itself. Will the batters just attack more and not keep getting out to forward defensives as Duckett, Pope, Bairstow and Foakes did?
Root on a hat-trick
Joe Root has produced a dismissal R Ashwin would be proud of. An offbreak from around the wicket that turns back through the gate and bowls Jasprit Bumrah. Root has been the best England spinner on show, which is both a bonus and a damning indictment for England. He has four wickets now, but Mohammed Siraj has avoided the hat-trick.
1
3
2
1
Another century missed
A very marginal lbw call goes against Ravindra Jadeja, who has been dismissed for 87. Jadeja is an old-fashioned player of spin who likes to hide his bat beside or even slightly behind the pad as he defends. That has hurt him here as Joe Root smears in an offbreak that doesn't turn. Two umpire's calls on the ball-tracking, but the on-field call stands. India 190 ahead with two wickets in hand.
5
Flood gates open
India have been watchful against the first bowlers, but as soon as they get the injured Jack Leach into the attack, they get two half-volleys in the over, and Axar Patel drives them away for two fours. India now lead by 190.
2
1
Sedate start
Just six runs scored in the first half hour as Mark Wood and Joe Root begin the day. This might be signs the pitch is slowing down, and India are in no hurry. They want it to age as much as they can get it to age before they bowl again.
Some ordinary news to begin the day
More from Vithushan Ehantharajah: "Update from the England team on Jack Leach, who damaged his left knee diving to stop a boundary on day 1, then aggravated it yesterday morning limiting him to just 16 overs on day two: 'He’s here. Walked gingerly this morning and came in earlier with the medical team. We’ll see if he takes the field. He’s in good spirits.'
1
2
1
Jadeja looks for a century
Will we see that celebration again? Ravindra Jadeja starts the day 19 short of what can be a fourth Test hundred. India already have plenty on the board: 175. Today will be about getting as many as the last three wickets can get before mounting another offensive with the spinning ball. Welcome to day three.
2
India all but bat England out
That is the end of the day, and we leave you with a teaser from the end-of-the-day report. See you tomorrow
India all but batted England out of the first Test as early as the second day, overhauling the visitors’ 246 with a first-innings lead of 175 and three wickets still in hand. The hosts began the day 127 behind, lost a wicket in the first over, but kept on batting enterprisingly, moving into the lead in only the 57th over. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja led the batting charts with contrasting fifties.
It was only after five wickets fell that England managed to bring some control into the proceedings. All five fell to attacking shots, only the second time it has happened since we have started doing ball-by-ball commentary. The only other instance has been England trying to set up declaration in Barbados in 2022.
The other side of the aggressive intent was that wickets kept falling. Everyone bar R Ashwin got himself in. Everyone including Ashwin kind of gave his wicket away. No one other than KS Bharat fell lbw, bowled or caught at the wicket.
17
8
11
2
India go past 400
Raqvindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have batted on like top-order batters: keeping the good ones out and maximising the bad ones. The partnership is 46 in 17 overs, and India's score has gone past 400. The lead is 159. About 10 minutes to go to stumps.
25
12
7
1
Regulation time over
It's 4.30pm, which should be the end of the day's play, but despite having only one fast bowler in their attack, England are 11 overs short. They will get an extra half hour to bowl whatever of those overs they can bowl. Just watch out for an ICC release at the end of the Test about any points lost.
India are 390 for 7, leading by 144.
12
10
6
4
Wood comes back
With the second new ball 11 overs old, Mark Wood gets a look nat it for the first time. He has bowled just nine out of 95 overs. Bumrah bowled nine out of 65 to go with Siraj's four. India lead by 128 with three wickets still standing. The progress has been slow since the fall of KL Rahul, but India are slowly taking this out of England's reach.
7
3
5
3
Ashwin run out for 1
The first Indian batter to not get a start, R Ashwin has become the victim of a misunderstanding with Ravindra Jadeja. He thinks he has hit this wide enough of cover, Jadeja takes a couple of steps, but then turns back, why which time Ashwin is too far gone. India lead by 112 runs. There is Axar Patel still to get for England before they can get into the tail.
6
10
4
14
Root gets Bharat
KS Bharat overcame a jittery start with proper acceleration thanks to some loose balls from the spinners, but he has fallen with a fifty in sight. Monets after slog-sweeping Joe Root for a four, he falls lbw to the conventional sweep for 41 off 81. That doesn't spell the end of trouble for England, though. R Ashwin is the new batter followed by Axar Patel. And they already lead by 110.
5
4
3
6
New ball taken
In the 85th over. And Joe Root continues with it.
4
8
2
4
Jadeja gets to fifty
After spending 10 dot balls on 49, Ravindra Jadeja pushes a quick single and two more off the misfield to bring up another Test fifty, underlining his importance as an allrounder. KS Bharat has also found some loose balls to move to 29 off 62, and India are 336 for 5, ahead by 90 runs. Sitting pretty again.
The new ball has become available but England haven't yet claimed it.
13
7
3
1
Root starts asking questions
First over after tea, and joe Root has had really close lbw shouts against both batters turned down. It doesn't matter after that because England burnt their reviews in the first 14 overs. Rehan Ahmed has a big job to do at the other end now.
2
1
3
India 309 for 5 at tea
Finally England have managed to exert some control over India. The partnership for the sixth wicket has added just 21 runs in 11.1 overs. There have 11 false responses in these 11.1 overs. So the session has brought 87 runs in 26 overs. India still hold the aces with a lead 63 with five wickets in hand. Ashwin and Axar yet to bat.
10
6
2
1
Which team is playing Bazball?
2 Number of times in Test cricket that each of the first five wickets has fallen to attacking shots. The only other time it happened was when England were trying to set up a declaration in Barbados in 2022. Thanks to Sampath Bandarupalli for this discovery
9
5
7
4
Rahul falls just short of a ton
A long hop from Tom Hartley, KL Rahul gives it the treatment, but it is one of those things: he has found deep midwicket. Out for 86 off 123. He still has only one century at home out of eight overall.
None of the five wickets has fallen lbw, bowled or to a catching man. One return catch, and four outfield catches to attacking shots. India 288 for 5, a lead of 42.
2
3
1
8
Rahul-Jadeja chug along
In no time, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja had added 52 runs in 51 balls. And they have done so without having to take risks. The bowling has just been indifferent. Rehan Ahmed has been missing his length, and the batters have been a little assertive against Jack Leach, the only one who can control his length. India 275 for 4, a lead of 29 runs.
6
1
3
3
DRS-ShmeeRS
1 Number of decisions overturned in nearly 125 overs of play in the Test. It finally came around when Ravindra Jadeja successfully reviewed a bat-pad call against him, which everybody thought was out
2
India in the lead
Half an hour into the second session of the second day, India are in the lead with six wickets still in hand. And in a manner that is symptomatic of England's problems: one six by KL Rahul off an overpitched legbreak and then another off a long hop from Rehan Ahmed. India 250 for 4 with Rahul closing in on a hundred: 79 off 104 now.
5
11
3
2
Rehan Ahmed gets on the board
Immediately after bowling the maiden, Rehan Ahmed has a wicket. Not in the classic manner. Shreyas Iyer has picked a googly, and wants to let the world know he has picked it. He slog-sweeps it and finds the only man deep on the leg side, the deep midwicket. India 223 for 4.
5
1
2
3
Jonny's playground
From Alagappan Muthu in Hyderabad
"Jonny Bairstow looks to be the most popular cricketer on the ground today.
He’s had to spend most of the morning session fielding behind square on the leg side, which brings him a lot closer to the crowd.
A crowd that has loads and loads of kids at the ground since it’s a holiday.
They’re all singing “Jonny Jonny! Yes papa!” All six verses of the rhyme. Including the last one with great gusto.
Stokes has been setting funky fields in an effort to cut the angles and ramp up the dot balls. But England’s spinners aren’t quite able to hold a line and length. That has a lot to do with KL Rahul’s ability to manipulate spin with soft hands and precise footwork. He’s only hit three fours - but he’s managed 22 singles and a two. He’s always found a way to keep the scoring ticking. His strike rate against spin is up near 60."
4
2
Resumption with a maiden
1 Number of maiden overs bowled on day two. It was the first over after lunch, bowled by Rehan Ahmed. His partner in attack is Jack Leach
5
2
3
India tighten their hold
It started off with a wicket in the first over, but KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have made sure this session belongs to India with 103 runs and two wickets. India trail just by 24. Rahul and Iyer have added a largely safe 63 runs together in just over 15 overs. India will be pleased with that session. We will be back soon.
11
5
6
1
Fifty for KL Rahul
KL Rahul was dropped early, which can happen with any batter, but he has shown exemplary decision-making and scoring method on a tricky pitch to bring up his half-century. The standout part of his innings has been his willingness to score off the back foot. He has gone back 27 times for 26 runs. A fifty off just 72 balls as India motor along.
14
6
6
1
The challenge of facing Rehan Ahmed
As a batter, there are two things you have to be mindful of when facing the England legspinner, Rehan Ahmed. He often bowls with a scrambled seam, which doesn't give you the clue you are looking for. Also he tends to bowl even the legbreak with the wrong'un action. Like Rashid Khan does. So it takes time to get adjusted to him, but then again Rehan will have to be consistent with his lengths to cause enough problems for a wicket. India 206 for 3. Trail by 40.
4
2
2
3
Classic lack of consistence
Rehan Ahmed makes a wonderful start to his spell. He beats Shreyas Iyer with a legbreak, then catches the edge but it falls short, then hits his glove with a legbreak. And then he also provides Iyer one long hop to pull it away for four.
Hartley has got a change of ends now.
3
2
1
Wood 4-0-19-0
Mark Wood was brought back for a spell as soon as Shreyas Iyer came out to bat, but he has not been able to create any chances. The middle of the pitch doesn't have much for him. His second spell has gone for 4-0-19-0. Dean Hartley has bowled nine overs on trot for 30 runs and one wicket. Now England might make a double change.
Rehan Ahmed is replacing Hartley. India 191 for 3, only 55 behind.
2
2
1
1
Hartley gets a maiden Test wicket
Shubman Gill is the only India batter so far who has not seemed to have found a method to counter spin. He is frequently caught on the crease, defending well in front of his body. And it has been defend, defend, defend, boom. On one occasion he got away with it as Ben Stokes lost the miscue in the air. Now, though, Gill has hit Tom Hartley straight to midwicket for an unconvincing 23 off 66. India 159 for 3 as Shreyas Iyer walks in. England still have 87 runs in the bag.
And immediately Mark Wood comes back. I am sure he will test Iyer upstairs.
5
5
2
6
Leach replaces Root
The best-looking, most threatening bowler, Joe Root has been taken off after a spell of just 4-0-14-1 in which he has created a wicket and two missed opportunities. There will be questions asked of the captaincy so far.
7
4
2
3
Deficit under 100
31 Number of overs India have taken to whittle down the deficit to under a 100. They have lost just two wickets in the process. India 149 for 2 in 31 overs, trailing by 97
1
1
Funky fields
Are England asking too much of a debutant? Tom Hartley went for 9-0-63-0 yesterday, and this morning he is bowling to KL Rahul without a mid-on. Rahul, who has had an uncertain start to the innings, gets two easy boundaries to get his innings going.
At the other end, Joe Root has created chances against both batters. Rahul was dropped by Ben Foakes on zero, and Shubman Gill skied one but Ben Stokes lost the ball running back from mid-on.
Root strikes in first over
Yashasvi jaiswal is gone. Caught and bowled by Joe Root. Expecting turn, trying to go over mid-off, the ball hits the inner half of the bat and lobs back for a catch. Now comes KL Rahul. Now England can assert some control. Now they nearly get a wicket but Ben Foakes has dropped Rahul as Root continues bowling around the wicket. The angle and the turn confuse the batters.
Root with a breakthrough? Who would have thought? Vithushan Ehantharajah did.
3
1
Welcome to day two
Here we go again. India are firmly in the driver's seat. Yashasvi Jaiswal has a second Test hundred in his sights. Shubman Gill has another chance to get his Test game back on track. India trail by just 127 with nine wickets in hand. If they are batting at stumps, they might even think they have taken the game beyond England's reach.
And that is likely to happen unless England can improve dramatically with the ball. A simple illustration of how ordinary they were with the ball: in 23 overs, they drew just 17 errors from India. In the same period, India drew 35 false responses from England. If they have to stay competitive, England will have to draw much more uncertainty from India.
5
4
3
1
India's day comes to an end
The toss is the only thing India lost on that day having bowled England out for 246 and then having knocked off nearly half of those runs by stumps for the loss of only one wicket. We leave you with the top of my report and promise to bring more tomorrow.
"The newest gimmick in Test cricket arrived in spurts – not always from the team credited with it - but the oldest truth of the oldest format was reinforced on day one of the series: a batting approach can have a say only when the quality of bowling of the two sides is comparable.
With two of the greatest spinners of all time in their attack, India bowled England out for 246 on a surface friendlier than the ones we have seen recently in India. By stumps India had wiped off 119 of those as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma feasted on an attack that consisted of Jack Leach and two spinners with just one Test between them.
Jaiswal it was who started the innings with a boundary first ball, it was he who welcomed debutant Tom Hartley with a six first ball, and it was he who scored the first fifty of the series quicker than a run a ball."
34
13
7
1
India get to 100
113 Number of legal deliveries it has taken India to get to 100. They have lost just the one wicket
19
10
9
2
Leach gets Rohit
5 Number of times Jack Leach has got Rohit Sharma out in Test cricket for 95 runs. That's in seven innings that Leach has bowled to Rohit in. This time he has been lured into a big shot by the aggressive field, and Leach has nicely shortened his length looking at Rohit jump out of the crease. India 80 for 1.
11
6
5
18
JaisBall runs wils
47 Number of balls it has taken Yashasvi Jaiswal to get to his fifty. He has been ruthless on any error in length after his first two swept sixes. India 77 for 0 in 11.1 overs.
11
8
15
1
India bring up 50
39 Number of balls it has taken India to get to 50. They haven't lost a wicket. The vast difference in the quality of spinners on both sides is showing already. This is India's fourth-quickest fifty in Tests but the fastest in their first innings of a match.
13
6
6
1
JaisBall
We were promised Bazball, which did arrive in spurts, but Yashasvi Jaiswal has brought a much more dramatic intent. First ball of the innings: four. first ball of spin: six. Followed by another six in the second over. India 19 for 0 in two overs.
11
11
10
4
Bumrah ends the Stokes special
It takes a special skill to get a 65-over-old ball to seam a touch against the angle from around the wicket and hit the top of middle especially when Ben Stokes is hardly hitting anything off anything but the middle of the bat. That ends England's inning sat 246, which is 91 runs after they lost their seventh wicket. India will still take a 246 all out because this is not a surface as spiteful as we have seen some in India in recent times. A simple equation for India: bat till stumps tomorrow and the Test could be theirs. Twenty-three overs to go today.
Three each for Ashwin and Jadeja, two each for Bumrah and Axar.
14
15
5
2
Rare combination
3 Number of times, including this, that Ben Stokes and Jack Leach have batted together
3
4
5
5
Jadeja's costliest analysis
88 Number of runs given away by Jadeja in 18 overs, which gives him an economy of 4.88, his worst in innings that he has bowled 10 overs or more
3
3
3
18
Ashwin gets Wood
No. 493 for R Ashwin as he squeezes under Mark Wood's slog-sweep to leave England at 234 for 9, bringing together Ben Stokes and Jack Leach. This has also made sure Ravindra Jadeja has been taken out of the attack with figures of 18-4-88-3. Jasprit Bumrah is back with one slip and eight deep fielders
5
4
1
1
Stokes gets to fifty
Ben Stokes displays why he is such a dangerous batter. With seven fielders on the fence, he nonchalantly clears Ravindra Jadeja in the second over after tea. That brings up his fifty followed by a pulled six next ball. How crucial then is the drop first ball after tea when R Ashwin could get have got Stokes out had KS Bharat caught him. England 232 for 8 now
4
3
3
7
India's session
England add 107 for 5 in 31 overs in the middle session. Despite the comeback by Ben Stokes and the tail, India will be happy with that session. Still both sides will know anything is possible till Stokes is there. So a tense period will follow after tea. At tea, England 215 for 8. Jadeja has three, Ashwin and Axar two each, Bumrah one.
2
5
2
3
England keep fighting
1
•
•
1
1
•
Ravindra Jadeja has gone at over four an over today, which is a rare sight. Ben Stokes has now taken up the striking role, hitting him down the ground, pulling him, and then revers-esweeping him in front of square. He is on 43 now, and England 210 for 8.
9
6
4
3
Jadeja ends Hartley's cameo
Tom Hartley on debut has finally brought Bazball along against spin bowling, scoring 23 off 24 runs, including a slog-swept six against R Ashwin's turn. However, Ravindra Jadeja has finally got a full ball to turn past the inside edge and take the leg stump. England are 193 for 8, looking much better than they were looking at 155 for 7.
3
5
1
1
The Bumrah slower ball
When could you last say this about an Indian pitch: a slower ball from a fast bowler has taken the inside catch and carried comfortably to the keeper? It has. And who else but the god of fast bowling, Jasprit Bumrah. Vicious turn on this slower offcutter. Rehan Ahmed pushes at it away from the body, and the inside edge is snapped by KS Bharat. England 155 for 7.
7
4
6
3
Now they are checking it
Ben Stokes is involved, an overthrow has gone for four, Stokes thinks he has got six, but hey now the umpires are using the third umpire to check if the batters had crossed each other during their second run when the throw began. They hadn't. So they get only five. England 154 for 6.
During the World Cup final of 2019, they were not allowed to check because only dismissals and boundary checks could be checked.
4
1
4
India's hour
34 Number of runs England have scored in 17 overs since lunch for the loss of three wickets. That is their slowest run-rate in a session in which they have batted a minimum of 100 balls in the Bazball era
3
7
3
Bazball muzzled
England came out roaring, scoring 41 runs in eight overs of pace, but the famous Bazball has been tamed by spin on day one of the series. Only 96 runs have come in 34.5 overs since spin was introduced. The last of those balls is a wicket for Axar Patel, who has got batters forward-defending, and when one turns, it takes Ben Foakes' edge. England are 137 for 6. All three spinners have two wickets each.
It is perhaps reinforcement that when the bowling is good and the conditions are helpful, there is only so much batters can do no matter what approach they use.
4
7
6
2
1
4
5
The sweep gets Root
Both Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow have been sweeping on line: anything outside off, and they get the broom out. That possibly made R Ashwin bowl too full in the little period before lunch. Post lunch, Root has continued to do that against the two left-arm spinners. If you keep sweeping just on line, though, you are bound to go down to a ball too full or too short. This one is too short, and the bounce takes a healthy top edge for short fine to take. England 125 for 5. Ravindra Jadeja has two, Axar Patel one, and R Ashwin two.
1
1
4
Bairstow v Axar
3 Number of times Axar Patel has dismissed Jonny Bairstow in Tests for just 22 runs in 57 balls
2
2
Unplayable Axar
Twenty minutes into the middle session, Axar Patel produces an absolutely unplayable delivery. On a length you can neither drive nor go back to. So Jonny Bairstow has to defend in front of his body. The ball pitches middle, breaks past the outside edge, and hits top of off. Not much you can do. England 121 for 4. Ben Stokes walks out with long-on and deep midwicket in place.
3
4
Welcome to session two
India begin the session with left-arm spin at both ends, but with changed ends. That means Ravindra Jadeja has gone back to the end he started from. Axar Patel takes the end R Ashwin bowled from.
1
1
Leave the leave
6 Number of leaves in those 28 overs. We have ball-y-ball records for 105 Tests in India. This is the fewest leaves in the first 28 overs of a Test in India.
4
2
8
A session of three parts
England go to lunch at 108 for 3 in 28 overs. They played and missed against the quicks, but they also played some cracking shots to score 41 for 0 in eight overs. Then R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja pulled thingd back, taking three wickets in the process. The next eight overs produced 3 for 20. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow have since looked comfortable and have added 48 unbeaten runs in 12.5 overs. Neither side will be too dissatisfied with that session.
2
4
3
Leave the leave
5 Number of leaves in the first 23 overs. Since 2016, there hasn't been a first innings in India with fewer leaves in the first 23 overs.
2
1
Alagappan Muthu brings the atmosphere
How does this Test feel live in Hyderabad? Here is Alagappan Muthu with his impressions.
Ball pinging off bat.
The oohs and aahs.
“Bumrah! Bumrah!”
“Indiaaaa! Indiaaa!”
The first half hour in Hyderabad was noisy (Partly because the stadium staff must have stuck mics around the ground and connected it to a bunch of loudspeakers)
The Barmy Army was at the stands over midwicket when the first over was bowled, bursting into song as Zak Crawley, perhaps suffering a bit of an identity crisis, actually left the first ball from Jasprit Bumrah.
Since that first over though, England’s openers have been loving the new ball coming onto the bat. Rohit Sharma has even had to push Ravindra Jadeja at point almost three fourth of the way to the boundary to stop those runs leaking.
In between all this, Mohammed Siraj, in the second over, while he was searching for swing that wasn’t there, pitched a ball in that roughed up area on a spinner’s good length and it decked a mile past the leading edge of the right-hander’s bat.
England are doing real well, taking every opportunity to score against the kind of bowling that is less likely to pose problem
Rohit turned to spin a little past the first half hour and Ravindra Jadeja's first six balls produced four false shots. There were 12 in eight overs that had gone by.
India have had to be pragmatic. They started with close-in fields. England got away fast. Then Rohit pulled back. He focused on control. Even R Ashwin, who left cover wide open for Ben Duckett on the 2016-17 tour, had that gap plugged – although it may have been insurance for the reverse sweep. There were three men on the legside boundary for Zak Crawley, and also three men around the bat.
India understood that they could not fall behind too far too early and thanks to their spinners they haven’t.
1
1
3
1
Spin to win
3 Number of wickets since spin was introduced. They motored along to 41 for 0 in eight overs of pace followed by 20 for 3 in the next eight overs of spin
6
4
3
1
Ashwin gets Crawley
A ring of boos from the travelling England fans as Zak Crawley is given out caught in a low catch. He steps out to Ashwin, whose length is spot on, so he can't really control it. Checks his drive, and ends up hitting uppishily to mid-off. Siraj takes it low, claims it immediately. It is very difficult to get a close-in angle but whatever angles are available shown the ball going into the fingers. It is not possible to prove it neyong reasonable doubt but then third umpire is sifficiently satisfied. England 60 for 3 now.
3
1
2
Jadeja not far behind
Again the Indian spinners have settled into the wonderful length where they have got the batters defending in front of their bodies. The reverse-sweep and the sweep have been blocked. The length is immaculate. And then the ball turns to take Ollie Pope's edge through to Rohit Sharma at first slip. It is 58 for 2 now. Time for some Joe Root
3
2
1
1
First hour done
England are 58 for 1 at drinks. They will be reasonably happy with their work, but the ball is turning, and the spinners are getting into their work. This could still turn out to be anybody's session.
3
1
Ashwin breaks through
In his second over, R Ashwin has struck. He has bowled the in-between length where Ben Duckett has to play the forward defensive well in front of his body. This is where you can't adjust to variations off the surface. This is an intended offbreak but it lands more on the leather than the seam and goes straight on to beat the bat and trap him in front. England 55 for 1. Can Ashwin keep making them defend in front of their body?
1
7
2
1
Duckett hits-it
1
•
1
4
4
1
Two sweeps for fours in Jadeja's second over
1
1
4
4
First maiden
It has taken India nine overs to bowl their first maiden. not surprisingly, it is a spinner who has bowled it. Ravindra Jadeja has also got appreciable turn. England 41 for 0 in nine overs.
6
2
Bazball is here
Half an hour into the Test, and both sides can pull out a highlights package and be proud of it. India have gone past the bat often, 11 times to be precise, in seven overs. Any of those could have produced an edge. England, on the other hand, have smacked six crisp boundaries, all off the middle of the bat. It is 32 for 0 in seven overs. The leave and the forward defensive have been eliminated. This is Bazball. These are good batting conditions. England have made their moves. India's response awaited. They haven't turned defensive, they haven't yet gone to spin.
2
3
3
3
Fireworks in over 2
4
4
•
•
•
•
Mohammed Siraj started too straight, and was picked away for two boundaries by Zak Crawley. Then Siraj corrected his line, and went past the bat three times out of the remaining four balls.
6
2
2
8
It starts with a leave
Jasprit Bumrah charges in, bowls a lovely outswinger in the channel outside off but short of the driving length. Zak Crawley lets it go. The Test series underway.
10
2
3
2
Get in
1
4
England bat first, India pick Axar and Bharat
Ben Stokes has won the big toss and elected to bat first. This is their chance to get some runs before the ball starts turning. However, they will be up against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who are no pushovers. Will Zak Crawley get a boundary first ball?
India have gone safe with their selection. Axar Patel is the third spinner although Rohit Sharma said it was very difficult to leave Kuldeep Yadav out. Anil Kumble says this is not a rank turner so perhaps it was the best time to play Kuldeep but the absence of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant probably left India opting for the spinner who also bats. KS Bharat is the wicketkeeper.
A debutant for England in Tom Hartley, the 6'4" left-arm spinner. Legspinner Rehan Ahmed is only in his second Test. Mark Wood is the only quick. They named the XI a day before the Test.
England Z Crawley, BM Duckett, OJ Pope, JE Root, BA Stokes*, JM Bairstow, BT Foakes†, Rehan Ahmed, TW Hartley, MA Wood, MJ Leach
India RG Sharma*, YBK Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, SS Iyer, KL Rahul, KS Bharat†, RA Jadeja, AR Patel, R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
11
9
2
2
Pitch report
It is a dry pitch. The edges are drier. The middle is greener. At one end the dry patch is closer to the bat so that might not be the end to bowl spin from. Well, expect the captain winning the toss to bat first.
2
8
4
3
Welcome back. Test cricket
Test cricket. For the first time in 10 months in India. On a pleasant January morning in southern India while the north shivers in the biting cold. Full of excitement and anticipation. A new challenger is in town promising a new, chaotic brand of play. Take out the niceties. More attacking shots, more direct lines, more innovative fields.
There will be lots of spin as England’s XI, announced a day before the Test, suggests: three spinners plus Joe Root, and only one fast bowler. India will surely name three in their XI in a bit. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja plus either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav.
Virat Kohli and Harry Brook are missing because of personal reasons. We wish them all the luck and peace.
Given how naturally attacking India’s batters are, don’t expect slow burn from them either. Rohit Sharma, averaging about two sixes per match in India, will not shy away from taking the aerial route. The others will take the lead from there.
While we wait for the toss, here is some reading for you.
The preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy
Shubman Gill's chance by Alagappan Muthu
England's lessons by Andrew Miller
9
5
4
4