🏏England tour of India 2024: 5th Test: 07 - 11 March 2024 - Day 3🏏 - Page 22

ENG 218

IND 135/1 (30)

CRR: 4.5

Day 1: Stumps - India trail by 83 runs

England might argue that they won the first session, but there will be absolutely zero room for contention as to who owned the other two. Opting to bat, the tourists found themselves in a decent position at 175/3, but lost their last 7 wickets for just 43 runs. Interestingly, all 10 fell to the spinners. While Kuldeep starred with a five-for, Ashwin bagged a four with Jadeja accounting for the key wicket of Root. Crawley got out in the 70s for the third time this series, while Bairstow got a good nut after showing a refreshingly positive intent. As disheartening as it may sound, nothing to write home about the rest. With the bat, it was Jaisball doing the talking for India once again. The 22 year-old became the second fastest to the 1000-run milestone, and threw his wicket away in search of a big hit.England spinners have either been too full or too quick and none of it caused any concerns to the batters so far

218 + 135 runs and 10 +1 wickets on day one.

India did well.

Cheers..

Fast forward six overs, Crawley was on 70 when Jurel broke into a celebreappeal after catching a Bumrah delivery down leg. Jurel was pretty confident that it came off the bat (and not off the thigh pad) and conveyed the same to skipper Rohit. Sarfaraz, however, said that he wasn't sure if there was bat involved and he was proven right once again. India didn't take the review on both occasions, and the reactions from Sarfaraz, in particular, looked like absolute theatre. All in good jest though and thankfully for India, none of the non-reviews proved too expensive.

Jurel-Sarfaraz review-duel: Second ball after lunch and Crawley (on 61) got a faint inside edge that deflected onto Jurel's pad before deflecting into the leg-side. Sarfaraz, fielding at short leg, dove full length to his left and claimed a fine catch before breaking into a celbreappeal, eventually failing to convince his skipper Rohit to take a review. Sarfaraz was adamant that there was bat involved and tried his best to coax Rohit, but the skipper was more keen on Jurel's opinion who suggested that he wasn't really sure about the involvement of bat. After seeing the replays (which showed a spike), Sarfaraz threw a "See I told you" look to his skipper to which Rohit reacted with a cheeky smile.

The spin-duo's moment of reverence: When Ashwin removed James Anderson for nought, he ended up with figures of 4/51. He, in fact, removed all 4 final wickets of England - call it a clean-up act or whatever. The ball was soon tossed to Ashwin, but the senior statesman was very quick to recognize the efforts of Kuldeep who claimed five of the top six wickets. Ashwin had to try really hard to convince Kuldeep to lead the team off the field. Kuldeep, despite becoming the quickest Indian to 50 Test wickets, didn't really like the attention surrounding him. He asked Ashwin to lead the team off the field, perhaps addressing something on the lines of "this is a special Test (100th) for you and only fair you lead us off the ground". Ashwin, however, was having none of it. He insisted that Kuldeep take charge and applauded the efforts as the left-arm wrist spinner got a standing ovation from all corners of the ground.

Kuldeep Yadav: I am enjoying my game. To be honest I put a lot of hard work after my surgery in 2021. It's just the reward I am getting now. I worked on my pace, it's very important when you play a Test match in India. I am just enjoying my bowling. I liked the Zak Crawley wicket. He batted really well throughout the series, good player of spin. It's important not to think about the wicket and I am someone who relies on my skill and variation in length. Not to think about what the wicket is going to produce. Just focus on the areas. When I was very young I used to overthink how to get the batter out. Slowly, slowly I matured as a spinner and focused on length. He (Pope) stepped out a bit early. (Jurel and) Even Sarfaraz was saying the same thing he is going to step out, he is not comfortable. Ash (Ashwin) bhai says a few things on the field, gives a few ideas. (Asked if he tries to take advantage of batters now picking him) I don't think too much about what they are doing.Ben stokes I thought isn't picking the wrong 'un and that's a good thing for me. In general just keep it simple and focus on the areas. I am sure they are picking but the pace at which I bowl is the main thing. I think they understand what I am bowling but if they are not picking then good for me. It's (his bowling art) not magic, I have been bowling for a few years now. I hardly bowled the wrong 'un this game, probably 10 odd balls., Wind is awesome here and I love bowling when the wind is on, you can drift both sides. Flipper, top spinner, googly are variations. It's important to put more revs on the ball,sometimes I overdo and fall short. Spinning the ball is very important. (On Ashwin asking Kuldeep to keep the match ball) He (Ashwin) is very kind and humble. Playing the 100th test for India is unbelievable. Lovely to have him around. I thought he deserved that (match ball to lead the side off the field). He said the same thing - I have 35, you keep this one.

Welcome to Day 2 of the 5th test. With series safely tucked in the pocket, did India took it easy?

No way! They want to do their best in each of their outings irrespective of what the final.

Kuldeep marks Ashwin's big day with his own big show

This has been Kuldeep's series in many ways, but there hadn't been a day that was all about him... till Thursday in Dharamsala.

Like a stick of dynamite in a Looney Tunes cartoon, it passed from one reluctant hand to the other, and back again, before the elder's voice prevailed. It was R Ashwin's 100th Test match and he'd taken four wickets, but this ball could only belong to Kuldeep Yadav. This was his moment to savour.

This has been Kuldeep's series in so many ways. After sitting out the first Test, which India lost, he has had a massive influence on all their successes since his return. He was perhaps their second-best bowler behind Jasprit Bumrah in Visakhapatnam, and his 12-over spell on day three in Rajkot - the middle day of the middle Test with the series 1-1 - sparked a reassertion of control from a potentially hairy situation. In Ranchi, he was instrumental with both bat and ball in a comeback for the ages.

Pitch report: It will be a good batting pitch still and might see a little less carry than yesterday. It's a little bit warmer and the pitch really hasn't changed too much. Expect movement early on for the pacers, but not as much as we have seen on day 1," reckon Nick Knight and Sanjay Manjrekar.

"93 sixes so far in this series right? 7 more needed to breach the elusive 100 sixes in a test series." Soumya, all eyes on the sixes then.