Rajkot: There were talks during the tea interval about how the Indian spinners could wreak havoc on the Saurashtra Cricket Association pitch after India ended their innings on 488 all out in reply to England’s first innings score of 537 here Saturday. With Adil Rashid (4/114) making the ball spin and bounce fortuitously on a wearing pitch, experts predicted that Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja would get their act together in the second innings of the first Test of the five-game series.
But then England openers Alastair Cook (46 batting, 107b, 3×4) and debutant Haseeb Hameed (62 batting, 116b, 5×4, 1×6) had other ideas. They took the Indian bowling to task putting on 114 runs for the opening stand to extend England’s overall lead to 163 with all 10 wickets remaining intact. From now on England can never lose the game and India will have to get their batting act together in their second innings, possibly after lunch Sunday, if they are to save the game.
Test cricket is not only about one’s skills on the field. It is also played a lot in the mind. England’s second innings display will go a long way in helping them build their confidence in playing the Indian spinners for the rest of the series. After the England first innings, a number of experts had jumped to the defence of the Indian spinners and had said that they derived the benefit of a batting pitch. The way Cook and the debutant Hameed batted in the second, there were no excuses to offer for the Indian spinners.
Both swept the Indian spinners of their lengths and never looked a tad bit uncomfortable. Be it Ashwin, Jadeja or Amit Mishra – all were handled with equal aplomb and at the end the day, England were no doubt the moral victors. They will certainly go into the second Test at Vizag with their heads held high and their prestige intact.
Earlier, the Indians prospered on a sixth-wicket stand of 64 runs between Ashwin (70, 139b, 7×4) and Wriddhiman Saha (35, 82b, 2×4, 1×6). England had threatened to run away with the game after the early dismissals of Virat Kohli (40, 95b, 5×4) and Ajinkya Rahane (13). Kohli’s dismissal was the most peculiar as he stepped on to the stumps while swiveling to play a pull shot off Rashid. At 361 for six, India were in danger of conceding a big first innings to the visitors.
Both Ashwin and Saha batted with determined purpose to stem the rot. Ashwin played some delightful cover drives of Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes. He used the crease well, going either fully forward or back to nullify whatever the purchase England spinners obtained. He was the last man to be dismissed caught at deep mid-wicket trying to hit Moeen Ali (2/85) for a six.
Ali had earlier dismissed Saha to break the resolute sixth wicket partnership. After being hit for a straight six, he induced Saha into a cut and with the ball bouncing a bit more, the batsman could only edge it to Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.
As things stand, England will try and take their lead to 300 or above as quickly as possible on day five and then leave India to handle 50-60 overs. Not impossible to force a draw, but definitely it will be tricky for India.
Press Trust of India
