Nation rises early... and our boys make it all worthwhile

IT WAS 8.03am and 5,000 miles away in the searing heat of Chennai, Jasprit Bumrah had just edged Jofra Archer into the waiting gloves of Jos Buttler.

India had suffered their first home Test defeat in four years.

For the army of weary English foot soldiers who had risen early in the hope of witnessing England finish the magnificent job they had started over the previous four days, it was the proudest of ‘I wasn’t there’ moments.

On a bitter winter’s morning with the crisp white snow undisturbed outside, a few weak rays of sunshine had just started to filter through the window.

A third cup of coffee of the day sat half-drunk on the table, the lukewarm remnants an unworthy toast to an outstanding England victory, one of the finest of modern times. It had started with a 3.40am alarm and a mix of nausea and Christmas-like excitement on the way downstairs. Into the chill of a living room with a long-dead fire extinguished in the grate and a puzzled cat.

Then came a muddle-headed search for the remote control and a first glimpse of Rishi Persad and Sir Alastair Cook in the dimly lit Channel 4 studio. The first knockings were not promising. Entrusted with the opening over, Jack Leach threw down a ragged collection which included a no-ball. Eight off the over. Surely an Indian run chase wasn’t on?

Things settled down but for almost half an hour there was no joy for England. Then came the breakthrough. Cheteshwar Pujara – The Rock – gone to a nasty biter from Leach.

The phone beeped. A first text from a fellow night owl. No lonely sentry duty this.

Dom Bess came and went unconvincingly. But in his place came Jimmy Anderson and a reverse-swing over for the ages.

If any nocturnal armchair viewer was wondering whether it was all worth it, they had their answer and their reward in those six mesmerising deliveries.

The curveballs which exploded through the rustcoloured surface and crashed into the off-stumps of Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane were simply perfection. The lbw shout to Rahane the ball before was a beauty too.

There may be a few more crinkles around the eyes these days but at 38 Anderson is a worker of wonder.

The English GOAT – greatest of all time – Joe Root called him afterwards and he remains a true master of his art.

When Rishabh Pant chipped him tamely to captain Root at extra cover a few overs later, England were within touching distance.

The lunch interval brought pause for breath – and breakfast – but once Virat Kohli had departed it was effectively over. Bumrah’s exit confirmed the inevitable.

It may have made for a super-long Tuesday but no England fan will have regretted the investment.

Proudest I wasn’t there moment