Letdown at Leeds: India bundled for 78 on Day 1
India bundled out for 78 as England dominate on day 1
England’s James Anderson celebrates the dismissal of India’s captain Virat Kohli during the first day of third Test cricket match between England and India, at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England, on Wednesday. India was bowled out for 78 in the first innings, while England were 120/0 at the stumps.
Leeds, Aug. 25: England completely dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the third Test against India by reaching 120 for no loss after bundling out the visitors for a paltry 78 in their first innings here on Wednesday.
At the close of play, openers Haseeb Hameed (60 not out) Rory Burns (52 not out) remained unconquered at the crease and took England’s lead to 42 runs.
James Anderson rocked the top-order in an early morning spell as India got a rude jolt from a disciplined England pace attack which shot the visitors out for 78.
At tea, England were 21 for no loss taking complete control of the proceedings after Virat Kohli’s decision to bat under overcast conditions backfired badly.
It is now second time in nine months that India have been bowled out for less than 100 after their Adelaide debacle of 36 all out in December last year.
After the Lord’s high, it was an absolute low for Kohli and his men as this is India’s lowest score on a first day track in the past 34 years. The last time India were all-out for less than 100 on the first day of a Test was back in 1987 when fiery Jamaican Patrick Patterson scared the hell out of Dilip Vengsarkar’s team, skittling them out for 75 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.
On the day, Rohit Sharma (19 off 105 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (18 off 54 balls) were the only ones to reach double digits and the third highest contribution was 16 extra runs.
Once Anderson (8-5-6-3), who is back at his best, used his lethal outswingers to good effect and got the wickets of KL Rahul (0), Cheteshwar Pujara (1) and rival skipper Virat Kohli (7), all caught by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, there was no resistance as India lost six wickets for 22 runs in the post lunch session.
Craig Overton (3/14 in 10.3 overs), Ollie Robinson (2/16 in 10 overs) and Sam Curran (2/27 in 10 overs) didn’t loosen the straglehold after Anderson’s first assault as India failed build on a single significant partnership.
The best part about 39year-old Anderson’s bowling during that opening session was his masterful use of strategy.
For someone, who primarily relies on outswing as his stock ball, he changed his tactic and used the outgoing delivery as a “shock” ball after pegging back the batters with incoming deliveries.
Rahul, the in-form batsman, went for an expansive drive early to a delivery that moved a shade in the air with a wobbly seam and took his outside edge into Buttler’s gloves.
Pujara, who is going through the worst phase of his international career, got a conventional outswinger after a few incutters, and Anderson forced the batsman to have a feel for the delivery.
Kohli hit an off-drive for three runs but it was amply clear that the Indian captain was suffering from both technical and mindset issues with Anderson picking him once again like it has been his day job for several years. While Kohli had slightly tweaked his frontfoot movement but he dangled his bat away from his body to offer Buttler his third catch of the innings.
At 21 for three, Rahane came in and was in a bit of trouble against Moeen Ali despite the fact that he got a few boundaries.