ENGLISH WINGLISH
Root’s team inflicts a 227-run defeat on India in first Test
CHENNAI: Veteran James Anderson’s artistic spell of reverse swing trumped Virat Kohli’s show of grit as England decimated India in the opening Test by a comprehensive 227-run margin here on Tuesday.
A target of 420, with 381 left on a fifth day worn out Chepauk track, was always a tough ask going by cricketing logic and Anderson’s mid-morning burst blew away the Indian middle-order. In the end, the host could manage only 192 in 58.1 overs.
Kohli (72 off 104 balls) seemed like a lonely general standing on a burning deck as he showed his colleagues how to bat on a difficult track.
But there was that one ball that was always going to keep low and he got that from Ben Stokes.
Courtesy Anderson (11-4-173), the match became a mismatch within an hour and India now needs to win two out of the next three Tests to qualify for the World Test Championship final in June. The player of the match honours went to England skipper Joe Root for his match-defining double hundred in the first innings.
It was left-arm spinner Jack Leach (26-4-76-4), who after his first innings humiliation at the hands of Rishabh Pant, finished with the best figures but the effort paled in comparison to the effect that Anderson had on the psyche of the Indian team.
At 38 years 194 days and in his 158th Test match, Anderson became an example of why one should never discount experience.
The promising Shubman Gill (50, 83 balls) once again looked dazzling till the time he was at the crease. The sinewy wrists were in play as he hit seven fours and a six, dealing with spinners comfortably.
Even Cheteshwar Pujara’s (15 off 38 balls) dismissal off Jack Leach’s ‘peach’ didn’t faze the young man from Punjab as he along with Kohli calmly went about their business.
It was the 27th over when Anderson first came into the attack and the second ball was a perfect reverse inswinger which had Gill in a daze as the off-stump went for a walk.
Rahane (0), for all the appreciation coming his way, was in very poor form for the better part of the Australia series, save a hundred at MCG where he was dropped thrice.
The wily Anderson realised that an out-of-form Rahane’s feet are not moving.
The next time he just went a shade wide off the crease and delivered another reverse inswinger. Rahane knew that there was no comeback.
From 92 for 2, it was 117 for six and Kohli cut a lonely figure at the other end.
BRIEF SCORES: England 578 & 178 bt India 337 & 192 in 58.1 overs (V Kohli 72, S Gill 50, J Leach 4/76, J Anderson 3/17)