IND vs ENG: 1st Test – England gain upper hand with Joe Root’s double century

England continued to dominate with the bat in the first Test against India in Chennai. They batted for the whole of the second day making their intentions clear to bat only once in this match and ended at 555/8 after a whopping 180 overs. Indian bowlers tried their best and managed to pick five more wickets and most of them looked tired by the end of the day’s play. Here are the talking points of the day:

1. Stokes’ attacking knock

Well played, Ben Stokes. Rested in Sri Lanka series, coming straight away into a Test match in India and scored 82 runs from 113 balls including 10 fours and 3 sixes. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/nDPvN2mM9B

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 6, 2021

After Bumrah dismissed Sibley late on Day 1, India hoped to make a comeback. But Ben Stokes didn’t give them a chance to do so and attacked them after getting his eye in. While Root concentrated on rotating the strike, Stokes was more enterprising playing sweep and reverse sweep. He smashed 82 runs off just 118 balls with 10 fours and three sixes and got out while trying to go for his fourth maximum. But his knock set the tone for the team to cross the 500-run mark.

2. Root’s record-double hundred

Joe Root was unbeaten on 128 at stumps on Day 1 and continued batting with the same intensity on the second day as well. He looked absolutely clear in his mind about scoring big in the first innings and apart from a couple of blips, the innings was sublime again. In the process, he slammed his second double hundred in three Tests. His marathon knock finally ended by Nadeem when he was on 218 but he has put England in a commanding position in this Test.

3. Indian bowlers bowling so many no-balls

India are in the field now for two whole days, for 180 overs, and to make things worse, the bowlers have bowled a plethora of no-balls. Almost all the bowlers were guilty of doing it even as the commentators expressed their concerns over the same. Apart from Sundar, all of the front-line bowlers missed their footing with Bumrah and Nadeem bowling six no-balls each. India have bowled a total of 19 no-balls in the innings so far.