England looking to finish the job after Leach’s late beauty
ROOT’S CAUTION IS QUESTIONED AS INDIA BID TO SAVE FIRST TEST
ENGLAND headed into the final day of the first Test in India in a winning position but facing criticism for refusing to declare yesterday.
With India needing a world-record chase to meet the victory target of 420 – and resuming on 39 for one in the early hours – Joe Root’s team were still on top but the door was open for their hosts to salvage a draw.
Having secured a first-innings lead of 241 off the back of a mammoth 578 batting first, England batted again instead of enforcing the follow-on.
By tea on the penultimate day, England’s overall lead swelled to 360 but they continued to bat on instead of declaring to buy some extra time for their bowlers.
Apart from the exceptional Root, who followed his 218 in the first innings with a quick 40, the tourists’ batsmen struggled to accelerate.
With progress pedestrian after tea, Australian great Shane Warne was one of those to question their approach, tweeting: ‘Very surprised England haven’t declared yet & why aren’t they trying to get 400 asap?
‘England batted too long in the 1st innings too & now letting the game drift & showing no urgency at all.’
The tourists were all out for 178, setting India a record victory target of 420 – two more than West Indies managed against Australia in 2003.
Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan also criticised Root’s approach, tweeting: ‘I think he is being too cautious and is giving India a good chance of getting out of this Test with a draw.’
India chased down a 328-run target against Australia in Brisbane last month but will need to pull off the highest successful chase in Test cricket history to win this match.
West Indies reached a 395-run target in Bangladesh on Sunday with Kyle Mayers smashing an unbeaten double hundred on his Test debut. England pace-bowling coach Jon Lewis said they did not want to take any chances against India’s formidable batsmen.
‘It’s obviously first game in the series,’ Lewis said. ‘While you want to get off to a really strong start, you don’t really want to give India a chance to win.’
Backing spinner Jack Leach to have a big say on the final day after he took out Rohit Sharma’s off stump when tossed the new ball, Lewis added: ‘I was so pleased Leachy got that wicket tonight. He really deserved that.’ Leach took some first-innings punishment from Rishabh Pant but claimed two wickets to help wrap up India’s first innings yesterday. ‘ Jack showed his character with the way he came back after Pant got after him,’ Lewis added.
‘He has bowled an absolute beauty to get out Rohit and looks a real threat on this pitch. He could walk away with four or five wickets tomorrow and we could win a Test match.
‘People won’t be talking about Rishabh Pant’s first-innings runs if he does that.’
While we want to get off to a strong start we don’t want to give India a chance to win