England starts with 1-0

 India v England - Day 5 - 1^st Test, Chepauk, Chennai

England starts with 1-0

So….as feared by most - looking at rapidly deteriorating Chennai pitch on 3^rd and 4^th day - India failed to play out the fifth day to save the test match. Barring some resistance by Shubman Gill 50 and Virat 72. First Leach removed Pujara.5 8/2. Then old fox Jimmy Anderson had some decisive blows in the form of Gill and Rahane in the same over.92/3,92/4. Followed by Pant.110/5. So within six odd overs India`s challenge, if any was lost. Root cause for India`s defeat: well obviously it`s England`s Root. Joe Root. Fantastic captains knock drove India out of the game. As India failed 241 short of England total in the first innings. So was it the only cause? No. From failing to capitalize on half chances, flooring some catches, fielding lapses, inability of inexperienced bowlers to get wickets on the placid 1^st n 2^nd day pitch. Is India going too much for strengthening the batting at no.7 n 8 and missing bowler, like Kuldeep Yadav with his wicket taking abilities? And last but not the least, most importantly gambling with spin friendly track, if not the underprepared one. If you lose the toss and not able to contain the opposition or match it with first innings total then for the last two days you have no alternative but to play to save the game by staying continuously on the back foot. Concerned ones must have taken a note of this.

Having said this, India has shown a tremendous character and self belief, when it comes to bouncing back from the defeat. Revival at Melbourne after Adelaide 36 debacle is the most recent one.

So can India fight back to remain in contention for the final berth in a Test matches championship? It is going to be very interesting to see on Saturday 13^th February onwards. Who knows even with 50% ( most likely ) home crowd back up, which Virat misses so desperately -  India may come back strongly at the same venue.    

 

9 Indian wickets.../ 381 runs.../ Draw..???

 India v England - Day 4 - 1^st Test, Chepauk, Chennai

9 Indian wickets.../ 381 runs.../ Draw..???

India chasing the target of 420 to win is 39/1 at the end of day 4 of 1st Test at M A Chidambaram stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. Rohit Sharma back in the hut for 6. So the onus is on the ever dependable, rock solid Cheteshwar Pujara, to hold the fort, on this very fast deteriorating 5^th day pitch. Of course fresh papa Captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane are also there. For the miraculous, historic possibility of Indian win, it’s mainly up to fearless and rising stars like Shubman Gill, Maverick Rishabh Pant and Washington Sunder.

Earlier in the morning Indians added 80 runs, were all out for 337 conceding 241 runs lead to England. Sunder remained not out with 85, Ashwin made 31. As expected England did not enforced a follow on. India Started with Ashwin, who removed Burns on the very first ball. 1^st of his total 6 wickets in the innings. After 130/6 in 29^th over England played a bit cautiously adding just 48 runs in next 18 overs, to ensure minimum target as 400, ultimately bundled out at 178.Ishant Sharma reached a milestone of 300 wickets in his 98^th test match. Rohit again failed early.25/1. Shubman played with quite ease, with Pujara up to day end. 39/1.

With variable bounce and spinners getting a lot of assistance from the pitch, hosts have their task cut out. England has a great opportunity to go 1-0 up. Are Indian batsmen up to it? To play for 6 more hours and save the match? Exciting contest on the cards.

#IndvsEng

 

England Dominant through Jofra Archer and Young off-spinner Dom Bess

 

India v England - Day 3 - 1^st Test, Chepauk, Chennai

England Dominant through Jofra Archer and Young off-spinner Dom Bess

India was 505 behind at 73/4 with Rohit 6, Gill 29, Virat 11 and Rahane 1 back. But for Rishabh Pant`s counter attacking 91 and Cheteshwar Pujara`s solid 73 India is in a bit better position at the end of third day. Still 321 runs behind at 257/6 with local boys Washington Sunder 33 and Ravichandran Ashwin 6 at the crease. India still need 122 more runs to avoid follow on, though England may opt to bat again, instead of enforcing one. As England had already bowled 74 overs. And apart from keeping the bowlers fresh, England would prefer India to face the music on a deteriorating 5^th day pitch.

Earlier in the morning England`s last 2 wickets added 23 more runs to make it 578. Joy of wrapping England innings within around 10 overs did not last longer for India as Jofra Archer sent both the openers back by 10^th over. Rohit in just 4^th over, caught behind.  Shubman Gill was playing with quite ease and stroking the ball quite nicely, but failed to keep on drive, all along the ground.1-19, 2-44. Young off spinner Dom Bess struck in 25^th and 27^th over to send back Virat and Rahane. Virat at forward short leg and Rahane by flying dive to his left by Joe Root. 3-73, 4-74. Rishabh Pant started bit cautiously. But as soon as left arm spinner Leach was introduced in the attack,  Pant broke loose and hit him for couple of sixes in the same over. Batted with his usual flair. Pujara also flourished in his company and took the advantage of some disturbed England attack. But lost his wicket on 73 to a long hop, with the shot coming off forward short leg fielder to be caught easily at mid wicket. Duo added 119 runs to give some respectability to the total.5-192. Pant dominated Leach with couple of more sixes. But failed to Bess while trying to lift him over mid off. 6-225. Both spinners have started getting quite good assistance from the third day pitch. So it is going to be quite an uphill task for India to come back in the match to save later on fast deteriorating pitch of 4^th and 5^th day.

 

England pile up 555/8 – with Jo Root`s 218

 

India v England - Day 2 - 1^st Test, Chepauk, Chennai

England pile up 555/8 – with Jo Root`s 218

Joe Root continues to be in the form of his life so far it seems. After 400 plus runs in two tests against Sri Lanka. Post 263/3, Root was dreaming for more and more runs - 600..700. Now they are 555/8 and no sign of declaration at the end of day 2.Englishmen are wary of any declaration as on last tour in spite of scoring 477 at same venue they had lost by innings. India had then replied 759/7 - with Karun Nair`s triple century. Can fresh Virat and confident Aussie tour winner boys reply in similar fashion on third day at M A Chidambaram Stadium Chennai?

                                       

England with strong foundation for big total

 

India v England - Day 1 - 1^st Test, Chepauk, Chennai

England with strong foundation for big total

After winning the toss and happily choosing to bat first England is in very strong position with 263/3 at the end of day one in first test at Chepauk, Chennai. After a cautious start by openers almost up to lunch England lost 2 wickets in succession at 63. Ashwin broke the opening partnership in 24th over. Burns 33 -63/1. Bumrah struck immediately to send no. 3 Lawrence on same score. Post lunch also Joe Root and Sibley continued with cautious approach especially against main Indian bowlers- Ishant, Bumrah and Ashwin. Accumulating 73 runs for no loss in second session. Post tea Root playing in his 100^th test was in his elements. The elegant English captain scored excellent century and still batting on 128.Both batsmen added 200 runs for the third wicket, with a very important partnership. With 123 runs in the last session. Just during last over of the day Bumrah removed opener Sibley on 87, to bring back a bit of smile back on Indian faces. But with free flowing Root and dangerous Stokes, Butler and Pope to follow, England is hoping for a very big score of 500 plus. Let`s see if India can able to restrict them or not?

Earlier in the morning left arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem`s sudden inclusion came as a bit of surprise to everyone. Axar Patel got injured and lost a chance to play test. Washington Sunder got the nod ahead of Kuldeep Yadav. Poor Kuldeep - who was successful in his last played test with 5 wickets, at Sydney 2 years back, has to sit out again. Who was almost a certain and hopeful for the first test. But In spite of playing at home, India chose to go for Sunder considering his batting, at no.7.After Australia, India continues to be hopeful with selection from reserve, probably thinking that England may struggle against left arm spin bowling. Let`s see how it turns out to be this time.

India n England Clash for test championship final berth

 India V England 4 test series:

Clash for test championship final berth 

Full strength hosts India taking on in form England in for test match series 5th February onwards. India most likely to go with three spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav getting the much awaited opportunity. It is going to be interesting to see whether  Axer Patel or Washington Sunder ? Toss up between experienced Ishant Sharma and Aussie tour find Mohammed Siraj for partnering with Jasprit Bumrah. Rishabh Pant is certainty after his heroics in Sydney and Brisbane test. Shubman Gill likely to get nod ahead of Mayank Agarwal. England captain Joe Root would be playing in his 100th test. He is in tremendous form with almost 2 double centuries in last month series against Sri Lanka. England has got a formidable pace attack in Chris Broad, Jofra Archer, Anderson and Wokes.With all rounder Ben Stokes as a back up too. With test championship final berth at stake it`s going to be a cracker of a series, with no crowd for first test., at Chepauk, Chennai.