Curran restores respect for England

– Sam Curran’s 78 helped England recover from 86 for six to 246 all out against India on the first day of the fourthtest yesterday after the tourists’ pace attack proved too good for their top order at the Ageas Bowl.

The total may still prove to be well short of what was needed to prevent India taking a strong first-innings lead but Curran at least restored some respectability after a dreadful morning session.

England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat in glorious sunshine and with a track that looked nicely prepared for batting.

England lead the five-test series 2-1 but were outplayed in the third test at Trent Bridge and once again yesterday the tourists’ bowling attack combined aggression, movement and consistency as they removed the top order cheaply.

Jasprit Bumrah continued where he left off at Trent Bridge, getting the early breakthrough in the third over with an unexpected delivery, bamboozling Keaton Jennings.

Bumrah produced rare inswing to the left-hander which struck Jennings, who had opted to leave the ball, on the pads and the England opener was removed without scoring.

Root was also trapped lbw by Ishant Sharma with a full length ball which moved in late.

England’s gamble to include Jonny Bairstow as a specialist batsman – even though the regular wicketkeeper is nursing a fractured finger on his left hand – also backfired. Batting on six, Bairstow edged another fine delivery from Bumrah to keeper Rishabh Pant as England floundered on 28 for three.