By IND vs ENG 2nd Test Live Updates:
England got off to a rollicking start in the first Test against India but a mini-collapse left them 108-3 at lunch on the opening day at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday.
There was no inkling of any meltdown as Ben Duckett (35) and Zak Crawley (20) batted with the kind of aggression that has become the hallmark of the Ben Stokes-led side during their opening stand of 55.
However, India’s spinners then claimed three wickets for five runs to turn the heat back on the visitors on a dry pitch, which is likely to assist them more as the game progresses.
The onus is now on Johnny Bairstow (32), playing as a specialist batter, and Joe Root (18) to rebuild the innings.
Touring captains are wary of batting fourth on India’s turning tracks and Stokes’s decision to bat after winning the toss was something of a no-brainer.
England reached the 50-mark in the 11th over with Duckett and Crawley looking comfortable against seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Home captain Rohit Sharma introduced spin from both ends after the first eight overs and the move turned the match on its head.
Ashwin trapped Duckett lbw with a ball that did not turn and Ravindra Jadeja had Ollie Pope (one) caught by Rohit at first slip.
Crawley fell in the next over when he charged out against Ashwin only to drill the ball to Siraj at mid-off, where the fielder took a low, tumbling catch.
Bairstow and Root have added 48 runs for the fourth wicket to calm the nerves in the English dressing room but there is a lot of work left to do.
England went into the match with Mark Wood as the lone fast bowler in a spin-heavy attack that includes debutant Tom Hartley.
India’s unalloyed dominance at home over the last 12 years will be put through its most unique examination till date when Rohit Sharma’s side faces a trend-defying England in the first match of what promises to be a stirring five-Test series from today.
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- India vs England Live Score: India’s dominant home run
No team has been as invincible as India at home since their 1-2 defeat against the Three Lions led by Alastair Cook in 2012, stitching together a bull run of 16 successive series wins, including seven series sweeps.
- IND vs ENG Live Score: Just 3 Test defeats in 12 years
If one further breaks down the stats, India have lost just three Tests out of 44 they played in their own backyard in this phase, and this is a power walk even beyond the all-conquering West Indies in the ’80s or Australia of the turn of the century.
- India vs England Live Score: India’s main weapons
Several factors have contributed to this astonishing run over the last decade, including favourable pitches, bowlers who knew how to exploit those tracks and batters who churned out runs like popcorn from a vending machine. But two players have stood head and shoulders above the rest in these conquests — off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.
- India vs England Live Score: Loud cheer!
Did you hear the cheer? Captain Ben Stokes comes to the crease now. He has got the fan following in India. England need another good stand between the two England batters.
- From Thursday, the Ash-Jaddu duet will be on show here at the RGI Stadium, where the pitch is expected to turn and grip as the match moves towards its conclusion.
- England already have a taste of what these two can do from their past visits to India, and they will be worried, particularly about Ashwin.
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IND vs ENG Live Score: Ashwin’s stats since 2012
The 37-year-old still retains the burning zest of a 17-year-old to keep improving his craft and since 2012, Ashwin has grabbed 283 wickets from 46 Tests averaging a shade over 19.
We would have batted as well. Looks dry. Whether we bowl or bat first, we have the skills and we got the guys to do the job. A good series, I am playing for the first time a five-match series. We have played in these conditions before. We know what to do, it’s all about executing your skills. We’ve got three spinners and two seamers – Bumrah, Siraj, Axar, Jadeja and Ashwin. It was a tough one (to leave out Kuldeep Yadav) Axar has done well and bats really well in these conditions. Probably the reason we went with Axar.
- India vs England Live Score: Bairstow falls
WICKET! Axar Patel castles Jonny Bairstow for 37 runs. That’s a ripper from Axar Patel. What a delivery from the left-arm spinner. The ball turns away, beats the outside edge and hits the top of off stump. Bairstow can’t believe this. That’s a huge wicket for India. A big stand has been broken. ENGLAND 121/4 vs INDIA
- India vs England Live Score: Loud cheer!
Did you hear the cheer? Captain Ben Stokes comes to the crease now. He has got the fan following in India. England need another good stand between the two England batters.
- India vs England Live Score: Root departs
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja removes Joe Root for 29 runs. Big wicket for India! Root plays a sweep shot. He gets a top edge and Bumrah makes no mistake and takes a dolly at short fine leg. England have lost half of their side. India are on top at the moment. ENGLAND 125/5 vs INDIA
