Looking at England’s total — 423/8 at stumps on Day II of the third Test — one may feel India’s bowlers didn’t do a good job at all.
But then, the damage was already done in the first couple of sessions on Day 1 when India’s batsmen made a complete mess of the situation after captain Virat Kohli won the toss.
Overhead conditions on Wednesday weren’t at all overcast like it was on the second morning and neither did any of the English quicks get vicious swing. In other words, Team India simply played poor cricket to be all out for 78 and that made the task doubly difficult for their bowlers.
In reply, the English batsmen showed the application that’s required on the Headingley pitch in use. In a way, this performance by the England batsmen was an ideal way to pay tribute to former captain Ted Dexter, whose death was announced on Thursday.
Given their mammoth lead so far — 345 — it’s fair enough to say England are in absolute control of the game and for India, the job already appears beyond arduous.
The pitch, compared to the ones at Trent Bridge in Nottingham and Lord’s, has been far more batsmen-friendly, something that was quite evident from late in the second session on Wednesday.
As the game progressed on Day II, England took full advantage of the further eased-up surface as Dawid Malan (70), making a comeback to Test cricket after three years, and captain Joe Root (121), who’s in the form of his life, ensured the platform laid by openers Rory Burns (61) and Haseeb Hameed (68) didn’t go to waste.
Agreed, England’s bowlers helped Burns and Hameed go out with a better frame of mind, but the opening duo were under pressure at the same time, particularly after the Indian quicks tormented them at Lord’s. Hameed, brought back in the Test fold after almost five years, had to justify his place at the top of the order while the situation was tougher for Burns as the left-hander went into this game after a string of low scores.
When the pair was separated with Mohammed Shami cleaning up Burns, England’s lead was already 57. And when Hameed departed off a beautiful delivery from Ravindra Jadeja, the hosts’ lead had gone past 80. The scenario was ideal for skipper Root to cash in on at his home ground and he did.
England captain Joe Root (left) sweeps, watched by Rishabh Pant at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday. Getty Images
Sublime Root
Right from the very first ball he faced in this series, Root has looked to be in scintillating touch and this knock of his was certainly one of his best.
His 180 not out in the first innings at Lord’s would rank higher though, for it came in tougher conditions with England chasing a 350-plus total put on board by India.
But the innings on Thursday also stood out as he took only 124 balls to reach his 23rd Test hundred, something that is definitely not easy against a bowling attack regarded by many as the “deadliest” in world cricket today.
Led by his trademark back-foot punches through cover and point, delightful off-drives and flicks flowed from Root’s bat as he kept finding the gaps to perfection to register his third century so far in the series.
Barring Jasprit Bumrah, who troubled him once during the second session by bowling from wide of the crease and hitting the deck hard, Root was at ease against all of the other India bowlers.
He too was under massive pressure for the way England capitulated on the final day at Lord’s. There were also doubts as to how long he would be able to shoulder the burden all alone in terms of England’s batting.
But fortunately, the openers along with No.3 batsman Malan, made the task much easier for their captain.
Malan’s support
A fair amount of credit would go to Malan as well, as he too cashed in whenever the Indian bowlers erred in line or length. Going into the game after scoring plenty of runs for Yorkshire in first-class cricket, Malan looked steady right from the onset and there was no scratchiness even though he’s playing a Test match after quite some time.
Importantly, Malan ensured Root didn’t have to do the bulk of the scoring during their 139-run stand for the third wicket. He too rotated the strike with ones and twos.
Bowlers struggle
India’s bowlers began on a decent note on the day, keeping the England openers quiet in the first hour and not taking much time to dismiss them.
But that period aside, they bowled the wrong length by keeping it on the shorter side that allowed Malan and Root some easy runs.
Senior pacer Ishant Sharma was the least penetrative. It seemed as if he’s carrying a niggle as he just couldn’t run in hard. Even Shami and Mohammed Siraj were erratic most of the time.
The day’s final session turned out to be slightly better for India’s bowlers as they picked up five England wickets on a flat pitch. But then, India have been flattened as well.
Root-way to success
8: Root registered his 8th Test century against India. He now joins Garry Sobers and Viv Richards of West Indies and Australians Ricky Ponting and Steve Smith who have 8 Test hundreds — the most against India
2296L Root now has 2296 runs against India. Only Ricky Ponting (2555), Alastair Cook (2341) and Clive Lloyd (2344) have more runs against India in Tests
1398: Root has 1398 Test runs in 2021. This is now the most by any England captain in a single year. Previously, Cook had made 1364 runs as captain in 2015
6: This is Root’s 6th Test century as captain in 2021. Only Australian Ricky Ponting has more Test hundreds (7) in a calendar year as captain
Mohandas Menon