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IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 1, Talking Points: India in charge after England wilt

Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah (4/46) and Mohammad Shami (3/28) skittle out England for a paltry 183 in the first innings on Day 1 of the first Test match, giving the visitors a vital edge at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

In reply, India were 21 for no loss with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul on nine each at the draw of stumps. England’s batting fell apart after the fall of Jonny Bairstow’s wicket just before tea as the Indian bowlers ran through the tail, something that has troubled them on previous tours.

Here are the talking points from Day 1 of the 1st Test between India and England.

Ashwin omission, justified or not?

The omission of India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI caused a stir among supporters and followers of the game. It left English pundits, including former skipper Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain, aghast. Ashwin was the pick of the spinners in the clash against Australia last winter. In England, he had tormented the hosts three summers ago, especially left-handed batsmen.

Ashwin had also troubled New Zealanders in the rather unhelpful conditions at Southampton in the World Test Championship final recently. His form in a county championship match for Surrey and in the warm-up game at Durham was excellent. His exclusion was, therefore, stunning.

In effect, India settled for a solitary spinner in Ravindra Jadeja, who is undoubtedly a better batsman. And of course, Jadeja’s fielding is streets ahead of Ashwin. The argument from the Indian camp likely is that there are just two left-handed batsmen in England’s line-up; and so, Jadeja’s stock delivery that spins away from a right-hander is an adequate counter. Nonetheless, it’s a brave call to drop Ashwin.

Shardul Thakur, a genuine outswing bowler who impressed in India’s historic win at Brisbane in January this year, received the nod instead. This meant, as at the Gabba, India opted for a quartet of quicks.

Bumrah learns from WTC Final mistake, finds rhythm

The talk before the start of play on Day 1 was the exclusion of senior pros Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma from the playing XI. But all it took for Bumrah was five balls to change the talking point. The first four moved gently away from left-handed opener Rory Burns, before the next one swung back in.

Both Bumrah and Shami, however, had to work hard for their wickets. They managed to induce false shots from the opposition batsmen, but wickets were tough to get. By the end of the day’s play, however, Bumrah and Shami took seven wickets between them, while Shardul Thakur took the prized scalp of English skipper Joe Root after earning a surprise call this morning.

Joe Root overtakes Alastair Cook as England’s leading run scorer

English captain Joe Root made a fluent 64 to overtake former skipper and opening batsman Alastair Cook as the country’s record international run-scorer, but Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler and Ollie Robinson all failed to score a single run. Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley had steadied things for England but Crawley fell for 27 in the run-up to lunch, undone by an inside edge off Mohammed Siraj.

England were 66-3 when Sibley followed early in the afternoon’s play, losing his balance and chipping Shami to short midwicket having eked out only 18 in more than two hours at the crease.

By then, however, captain Root was already into his stride and soon had the 22 he needed to move past Cook’s record all-format mark of 15,737. Together with Bairstow, Root shared a stand of 72 that looked as if it might flip the pressure back on to Indian bowlers.

England’s tail does not wag

Missing the services of dashing all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is taking an indefinite break to prioritise his mental wellbeing and to rest his injured left index finger, English middle-order batsmen looked vulnerable against a disciplined Indian pace attack. The pacers breathed fire in helpful conditions to dismiss England for a paltry score of 183 and put their team in a strong position at the end of the day’s play. It was Mohammad Shami who removed Bairstow at the stroke of tea, and then struck four balls after the break by having Daniel Lawrence caught down the leg side. Struggling to get off the mark, Jos Butter attempted a loose drive off Bumrah on his 18th ball only to edge it back to Rishabh Pant.

Thakur then got the prized wicket of Joe Root with a beautiful delivery that swung away slightly from the middle and leg stump to crash the England skipper’s pads, trapping him in front. Thakur then had Ollie Robinson caught at mid-on three balls later.

Finally Bumrah polished off the tail like he usually does — his fast and full away swingers from middle stump proving too good for left-handers like Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

Indian openers make solid start

India ended the day’s play at 21 for no loss in reply to England 183, batting out the last 13 overs without any damage to cap off a highly satisfying day. Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were both batting on nine and looked comfortable against the seaming ball at Trent Bridge.

Much will be expected from the duo on Day 2 as India look to capitalise on their good display on the first day of the English tour. 

Also Read: Which is the Most Successful Team in IPL History?

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