CRICKET: THIRD TEST
ALASTAIR COOK and Keaton Jennings led the suicide charge as England collapsed against India at Trent Bridge.
After knocking off India’s tail-enders to bowl out the tourists for 329 yesterday, it looked serene at lunch with England 36 without loss on day two of the third Test.
Cook was 21 not out at that stage and Jennings unbeaten on 20.
Then came the crash as England slid to 128-9 before rallying to 161 all out. They were bowled out in a single session to give India hope of bouncing back from 2-0 down in the five-match series.
Nothing should be taken away from the India bowlers, with Hardik Pandya taking 5-28 in six overs in perfect conditions for seamers, but England have previous under coach Trevor Bayliss.
In Bangladesh two years ago they were skittled from 100-0 to 164 all out to lose the second Test and earlier this year were all out for 58 against New Zealand in Auckland.
This latest horror show left India completely in control of the match with a first innings lead of 168 – extended to 292 by the close at 124-2.
Warning
Another 40 runs will leave England needing to better their previous best second-innings winning total of 332, posted against Australia in Melbourne in 1928.
The warning signs were ignored when Cook edged Ishant Sharma through the slips for four and then straight to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip, who put him down when keeper Rishabh Pant dived in front of him.
But Cook then edged him again, to Pant, the 10th time Sharma has claimed him in Tests. Jennings went next ball when he fenced at one going away from him and glanced Jasprit Bumrah to Pant.
In all England lost nine wickets for the addition of 79 runs before Jos Buttler (39) was allowed to farm the strike and add 33 for the last wicket.
So much for Ben Stokes being hurried back after his court case – he bowled badly and got 10 runs – but at least England avoided the follow-on.
Buttler was sent out to try to explain the collapse and insisted nobody in the England camp has given up on rescuing the game.
“It is important we recognise why that has happened and what we can do to improve – and we have to talk about it,” he said.
“But there is still a game going on and no one is going to give up or throw the towel in. We will obviously be fighting hard.
“Guys have got to improve if we are to eradicate these collapses.
“It is about not making the same mistakes. But we will dust ourselves down and come back hard.”