He’s Root on the money
SKIPPER HITS CENTURY BUT INDIA IN CHASE
ENGLAND captain Joe Root scored a magnificent century to revive his team’s chances in this rollercoaster first Test then vowed to throw everything at India in a bid to seal victory on the final day.
Root’s fourth hundred of the calendar year may yet prove the most important if it can help England win this thriller.
Having been bundled out for 183 on day one, the hosts set India a target of 209 after managing to post 303 in their second innings.
With Stuart Broad grabbing the wicket of opener KL Rahul before the close, Virat Kohli’s men need another 157 to win on the final day after reaching stumps on 52-1.
But whatever happens from here, Root’s 21st Test century, and first at home since the 2018 series against India, has ensured a grandstand finish in Nottingham.
“I certainly enjoyed the century,” said Root. “Hopefully it can be enough and contribute to a win.
“Throughout this game there’s been times where clusters of wickets have fallen and the game’s really flipped on its head.
“There feels like there’s nine chances out there and certainly, the belief will be there and we’ll make sure we throw everything we can at them.”
The good news for England is they have never lost a Test match in which Root has hit a century.
They will also be keenly aware
India choked twice chasing modest totals in their last series in this country in 2018.
Set 194 to win the opening Test at Edgbaston three years ago, the tourists lost by 31 runs. They also faltered chasing 245 in Southampton on their way to a 4-1 series defeat.
Whatever the result on the final day, England’s reliance on Root’s batting is obvious and some players in this top six are under real pressure for their place ahead of this week’s second Test at Lord’s.
Remarkably the latest masterclass from Root took the England captain past 1,000 runs for the calendar year, while nobody else in the team even has 350.
Chief among those under pressure ahead of Lord’s are Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley and Dan
Lawrence. Crawley’s lack of form since he hit 267 against Pakistan is stark, with the Kent batsman scoring 156 runs at an average of 11.1.
The 23-year-old was the second wicket of the day to fall after England, resuming 70 runs behind on 25-0 in their second innings, saw Rory Burns edge Mohammed Siraj behind in the fifth over of the day.
By the time Crawley was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah via the same method, the hosts were 46-2.
Yet Root and Sibley stabilised things and by lunch they had knocked off the first-innings deficit and given their team a lead of 24.
Root, who made 64 in the first innings, had posted his second 50-plus score in a Test for the first time since January last year when he cut Mohammad Shami down to third man seven minutes before lunch.
He got to the landmark in 68 deliveries.
In contrast, Sibley’s go-slow saw him reach the interval on 27 from 116 balls.
The opener departed early in the afternoon session to end an 89-run stand with Root, caught behind playing expansively to Bumrah, England now 135-3 and leading by 40.
Breezy knocks from Jonny Bairstow and Lawrence extended that advantage to 140 by tea – England werwe now six wickets down and with Root poised on 96.
Jos Buttler, bowled shouldering arms to Shardul Thakur, departed cheaply before Root could get to three figures, the skipper punching Thakur down the ground for four to get to his 21st Test hundred in 154 balls.
England’s lead was up to 179 by the time Root eventually fell to
Bumrah, the second new ball doing the trick as an edge flew through to wicketkeeper
Rishabh Pant.
Sam Curran and Ollie Robinson helped get
India’s target beyond 200 before the innings was terminated to leave this thrilling Test tantalising poised.