IND vs ENG: 3rd Test – Day 2 Talking Points – England fight back after Ashwin’s 500
Cricket enthusiasts witnessed another riveting day of cricket in the ongoing five-match series between India and England on Friday, February 16.
Day 2 of the third Test between the two cricketing giants started with overnight Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav being dismissed in consecutive overs after adding only five runs to the score. At 331/7, debutant Dhruv Jurel and the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin joined forces to add an important 77-run partnership. Both batters fell in quick succession after playing useful knocks under pressure. England would have hoped to wrap up the Indian innings quickly but Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had other ideas. The duo added 30 runs, with 26 off them coming from Bumrah’s bat. India were eventually bowled out for 445 as Mark Wood stood out with a four-for.
In reply, England’s openers took the attack to the Indian bowlers and amassed 89 runs inside 14 overs. Zak Crawley was dismissed for 15 but Ben Duckett enthralled the crowd with his wide range of strokes. The southpaw added 93 runs with Ollie Pope for the second wicket. Duckett brought up his century with an elegant on-drive off Mohammed Siraj. After Pope got out for a well-compiled 39, Joe Root came out to the middle and remained not out on 9 at Stumps. The centurion on the other end is batting on 133 and would be determined to add many more to his total on Day 3. England finished the day at 207/2, still 238 runs adrift of India’s first-innings score.
3. Dhruv Jurel impresses on debut
After Sarfaraz Khan impressed in his debut innings on Day 1, it was the turn for the other debutant, Dhruv Jurel, to showcase his skills with the bat. The 23-year-old came out to bat when India were in a tricky situation but he showed great application and played an important innings of 46 off 104 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes.
2. Ben Duckett creates history
The swashbuckling batter played in top gear from the get-go and rattled the Indian bowlers. He brought up his century off just 88 balls. This is the fastest century by an England batter in Tests against India. Duckett finished the day on 133 not out off 118 balls, hitting 21 fours and two sixes in his blistering innings. India would want to dismiss the southpaw quickly on Day 3 because he is looking in ominous touch.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin enters the 500 club
After playing a vital knock of 37 with the bat, it was important for Ashwin to do well with the ball in hand. India desperately needed a wicket after the England batters got off to a scintillating start. Ashwin needed only seven balls to strike first blood for India. He dismissed Crawley, who became his 500th Test victim. He became just the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to take 500 Test wickets.
