WTC: India call shots as England fumble again
Root’s team surrenders momentum as Axar, Ashwin help hosts dominate Day One.
Ahmedabad: England’s batsmen lost the battle of both mind and skills in yet another shoddy performance to surrender the momentum to India with Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin calling the shots on the opening day of the fourth and final Test here on Thursday.
After five innings, England crossed the 200-run mark but a total of 205 in 75.5 overs was certainly not what Joe Root had expected when he called it right at the toss on a day which would have ideally been best for batting. There was turn and bounce but the pitch was far from being a minefield that some of the England batsmen save Ben Stokes (55, 121 balls) made it out to be.
For India, spinners Axar Patel (26-7-68-4), Ravichandran Ashwin (19.5-4-47-3) and Washington Sundar (7-1-14-1) toyed with the already messed up minds, clueless on how to deal with the conditions. Mohammed Siraj (14-2-45-2) also played his part to perfection with the semi-new and old ball, hurrying the batsmen with sheer pace as he did with Jonny Bairstow (lbw).
India ended the day at 24 for 1 with wily old James Anderson (5-5-0-1) accounting for an out-of-form Shubman Gill (0). Rohit Sharma (8 batting, 34 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15 batting, 36 balls) were holding fort for the home side. Stokes, Bairstow, Dan Lawrence (46 off 74 balls) and Ollie Pope failed to capitalize on good starts. Stokes was a cut above the rest both in defence and offence before Washington beat his defence to have the left-hander napping.
An aggressive Lawrence was beaten by the away turn when he danced down the track only to be stumped. Pope was tricked by Ashwin, who changed the line of his delivery, dropping it a bit short and the attempted flick went between his legs and Gill had a reflex catch at forward short leg.
Last match hero Axar tasted success straightway as his arm ball foxed Dom Sibley (2) while Zak Crawley (8) jumped out and was caught by Siraj at mid-off. Root (5) got a peach of an in-swinger from Siraj and was caught plumb in-front. It was the post tea session where the lower order caved in with Ashwin in his elements. England lost their last five wickets for 39 runs in 14.2 overs.
England 1st Innings
Zak Crawley c Mohammed Siraj b Patel 9 (30b, 1×4), Dom Sibley b Patel 2 (8b), Jonny Bairstow lbw b Mohammed Siraj 28 (67b, 6×4), Joe Root (c) lbw b Mohammed Siraj 5 (9b, 1×4), Ben Stokes lbw b Washington Sundar 55 (121b, 6×4, 2×6), Ollie Pope c Shubman Gill b Ashwin 29 (87b, 2×4), Dan Lawrence st †Pant b Patel 46 (74b, 8×4), Ben Foakes † c Rahane b Ashwin 1 (12b), Dom Bess lbw b Patel 3 (16b), Jack Leach lbw b Ashwin 7 (17b, 1×4), James Anderson not out 10 (15b, 1×4); Extras: (b 3, lb 5, nb 1, w 1) 10; Total: (All out in 75.5 overs) 205; Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-15, 3-30, 4-78, 5-121, 6-166, 7-170, 8-188, 9-189; Bowling: Ishant Sharma 9-2-23-0, Mohammed Siraj 14-2-45-2, Axar Patel 26-7-68-4, Ravichandran Ashwin 19.5-4-47-3, Washington Sundar 7-1-14-1
India 1st Innings
Shubman Gill lbw b Anderson 0 (3b), Rohit Sharma batting 8 (34b, 1×4), Cheteshwar Pujara batting 15 (36b, 1×4); Extras: (nb 1) 1; Total: (For 1 wkt in 12 overs) 24; Fall of wickets: 1-0; Bowling: James Anderson 5-5-0-1, Ben Stokes 2-1-4-0, Jack Leach 4-0-16-0, Dom Bess 1-0-4-0
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