IND vs ENG: 4th Test, Day 1 – England again falter against Indian spinners
India will be looking to put themselves in the driver’s seat after taking the honours on day one of the ongoing fourth Test against England at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Batting first, England came up with yet another horrific display and were all out for just 205. In reply, India were on 24 for 1 at stumps.
Here are the talking points from Day 1:
1. India’s spinners continue to dominate:
A lot was being said and written about how the pitches played a role in India’s win over England in the last two Tests as the contribution of the spinners was undermined. But the likes of Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin put the debate to bed with yet another stunning display on day one of the fourth Test. The duo toyed with England batsmen and shared seven wickets between them. Washington Sundar also picked up one wicket.
2. Ben Stokes’ counterattack:
Sometimes, the attack is the best form of defence and Ben Stokes used exactly the same mantra to notch a fine fifty on day one. With the pitch offering unpredictable spin, the England all-rounder decided to go for his shots and it paid rich dividends. He scored 55 runs with the help of 6 fours and a couple of sixes. Whenever the bowlers tried to put pressure on him, Stokes decided to go for the big shot. In the end, a defensive shot brought his downfall when Washington Sundar trapped him in front of the wicket.
3. Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes involved in bust-up:
The ongoing Test series has not witnessed any on-field controversy but Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes were agonisingly close to a big controversy when the two superstars were involved in a furious bust-up in the first session of the day. The incident had started after Stokes said something to Mohammed Siraj before Kohli decided to have some words with the England star. The India skipper and Stokes were exchanging words in an animated manner. The duel was looking to be getting out of hands before the on-field umpires intervened to bring things under control.
4. Shubman Gill fails to deliver again:
Shubman Gill’s poor run in the series continued as the young opener was dismissed for a duck by England pace spearhead James Anderson. Gill was once again trapped in front of the stumps by a swinging delivery. Gill had now gone five innings in a row without a fifty. With the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul waiting in the wings, he needs to find his form quickly or risk facing the axe.
