IND vs ENG: 4th Test, Day 1 Talking Points – Joe Root’s ton revives England
The fourth Test between India and England got underway on Friday, February 23, at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
Ben Stokes won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first. However, India’s debutant Akash Deep pegged England back with three wickets inside the first hour. Before Lunch, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja accounted for one wicket each as the visitors lost half their side for 112 runs.
Joe Root and Ben Foakes formed a much-needed partnership and resurrected the innings by adding 113 runs. The latter was dismissed by 47 by Mohammed Siraj. The right-arm pacer also dismissed Tom Hartley a few overs later as England slipped to 245/7. However, Root kept his composure and got to his 31st Test century with a boundary off Akash in the 84th over of the day.
Ollie Robinson gave Root solid company as the duo added 57 runs before the Stumps were drawn. The tourists are placed at 302/7. Root is batting on 106 off 226 balls and will look to add more runs to England’s total on Day 2.
Talking points from Day 1:
1. No DRS for India helps Ollie Robinson survive
India could have perhaps bowled out their opponents on Day 1 itself but they have only themselves to blame for not being able to do so. The third ball of the 81st over from Ravindra Jadeja was a peach and it brushed the pad of Ollie Robinson before going past the stumps. India appealed for an LBW but Kumar Dharmasena was unmoved. The hosts were rendered helpless for they had exhausted all their reviews and had to settle for Dharmasena’s call. Ball-tracking projected the path of the ball to be hitting off-stump. England were at 261/7 at that stage. The Robinson-Root partnership went on to add 41 runs thereafter to take their team past 300.
2. Akash Deep dazzles on debut
Akash Deep could have got his maiden international wicket in just his second over as he had Zak Crawley bowled off an inside edge. However, he had unfortunately overstepped. The Bengal pacer didn’t have to wait too long as he dismissed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in his fifth over. In his next over, he sent Crawley back to the hut. Akash bowled at good speeds and managed to make the ball jag back commendably into the right-handed batters.
3. Joe Root becomes batter with most Test centuries (10) vs India
The former England captain had registered dismal scores heading into the fourth Test. However, he showed his class and helped his team get out of a dangerous situation on a tricky pitch. Root scored his 31st Test century and 10th against India. No other batter has scored 10 Test centuries against the Asian giants. England fans will want the experienced campaigner to go from strength to strength on Day 2.
