Sloppy England no match for inspired Indian attack
ENGLAND’S batting line-up was undercooked and overwhelmed on day one of the first Test against India, rolled over for 183 as a classy touring attack dominated at Trent Bridge.
Since suffering a first home series defeat in seven years against New Zealand in June, Joe Root’s side have seen precious little red-ball cricket, with limited-overs county competitions and the launch of The Hundred dominating the domestic landscape.
And there were some rusty performances on show against opposition who gave little margin for error.
Root stood above the sloppiness, making a fluent 64 to overtake Sir
BATTING coach Marcus Trescothick admits England came into their series against India under-prepared. Asked if the time to get ready had been appropriate, he said: ‘Probably not. Scheduling is always an issue, trying to get the balance right for batters moving into Test series. There’s no easy solution and something always has to give. We don’t want to use it as an excuse but we’d love to get more time at the crease – bowling with the red ball, facing the red ball and have the preparation be slightly better.’
Alastair Cook as England’s record international runscorer, but elsewhere there was much to regret from a side who have made an unwanted habit of sub-200 totals.
Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler and Ollie Robinson all picked up ducks and there was a torrid period when six wickets tumbled for 22 runs.
India reached 21 without loss in reply, leaving themselves in a commanding position. After being asked to bowl, the tourists struck in the first over of the day, Jasprit Bumrah nailing Burns lbw for the first of his four wickets. Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley steadied things over the course of the next 20 overs but the latter fell for 27 in the run-up to lunch, undone by a slender inside edge off Mohammed Siraj.
It was 66 for three when Sibley followed, losing his balance and chipping Mohammed Shami to short midwicket having eked out 18. By then Root was already into his stride and he soon had the 22 he needed to move past Cook’s record all-format mark of 15,737 and later an 89-ball half-century. Together with fellow Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow, back in place of the unfit Ollie Pope, he shared a stand of 72 but the last ball of the afternoon changed things emphatically, Shami going full and straight to Bairstow’s stumps and picking him up lbw for 29.
Clouds gathered during the break and the lights came on, providing perfect swinging conditions for India.
Shami, completing the over which had started with Bairstow’s wicket, resumed to dismiss Lawrence while Buttler, whose last first-class innings came six months ago, edged behind.
Root eventually fell lbw to the first ball of a new spell from Shardul Thakur before Robinson spooned to mid-on and Stuart Broad soon followed.
Sam Curran (27 not out) topped up the total before England were left with an hour to play but drew a blank against Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.