Mohali: A careless England let slip the advantage of winning the toss in the third cricket Test against India at the PCA Stadium here Saturday. On a pitch, which is yet to turn devilish, five England batsmen perished to shots which can be termed careless at best and reckless at worst to slip to 268 for eight at stumps on day one of the match – that too after India had let slip four catches through their butter fingers.
It is high time England realise that they should cash in on the luck factor when it favours them, more so in Indian conditions. Winning the toss was important here, and when they did it, save for Jonny Bairstow (89, 177b, 6×4), none stuck to the task on hand. The visitors would have been worse off had it not been for Bairstow’s knock and his fifth and sixth wicket partnerships of 57 and 69 runs with Ben Stokes (29) and Jos Buttler (43) respectively. 
All the five bowlers used by Indian skipper Virat Kohli got themselves on the wickets column, but they were aided by some inept strokeplay by the England batters. Except for the baby-faced opener Haseeb Hamid, all the others could have played with a little bit of circumspect and England would have been in a better position. Unless their bowlers spring a Houdini act, it is advantage India at the end of day one.
Hameed received a Umesh Yadav (2/58) delivery that literally spat on him from good length and he could only glove a lolly down gully’s throat. Alastair Cook (27) was lucky, twice dropped, but he could not consolidate edging Ravi Ashwin (1/43) behind the stumps. Joe Root (15) played a nothing sweep shot against Jayant Yadav (2/49) and was again caught plumb in front. Moeen Ali, the most fluent against the spinners took the battle to them with a straight six and four off Jayant, but then failed to keep down an intended hook of Mohammed Shami (1/52) and was caught by Murali Vijay running to his right at deep square. At lunch England were 92 for four and already staring down the barrel.
Stokes and Bairstow, started their rescue act once more, like they have done so many times this season. But then Stokes unnecessarily charged down to Ravindra Jadeja (2/56). He missed the flight completely and was so far down that Parthiv Patel could have had a short nap before stumping him.
Then came England’s most fruitful stand of the innings as Bairstow, and Buttler playing his second Test since October last year, held firm till tea. But after tea, India went in for the jugular just choking the flow of runs. That led to the dismissal of both the Bs. Bairstow who scored 53 from his first 76 deliveries needed 99 more for his next 36; that was the kind of pressure India exerted.
All the Indian bowlers were on the penny, but the best of the lot was Jayant. He continued to impress in only his second Test belying the inexperience that he has in this level of the game. Jadeja once more choked the flow of runs, but Ashwin for a change was not his usual self. The pacers Shami and Umesh also did their job remarkably well to push back England to the brink. Their hard work paid off.
Nothing abnormal in the pitch: Umesh
Speedster Umesh Yadav stated after the end of play here Saturday that England could have scored more as the wicket did not change much and it was ‘easy to play spinners’ with not much turn on offer.
“The wicket doesn’t really have any demons. The ball is not turning much. It’s easy to play the spinners… I would certainly say that they could have scored a few more than their 268,” said Umesh. “But then we also deserve credit, because we stuck to our task.”
Umesh also pointed out that pacers had some problems once the ball got old. However, he was quick to point out that because of the atmosphere, there was some swing available for the bowlers. “The carry off the pitch was not there,” pointed out Umesh. “But even then I would say that the moisture in the pitch and the atmosphere helped us to swing the ball. It helped me and (Mohammed) Shami,” he added. 
Umesh also thanked both Anil Kumble and Sanjay Bangar for improvement in his bowling. Even though he has just got seven wickets in the five England innings he has bowled, the Nagpur-based pacer asserted that he is bowling better than what he was doing 12 months back.
“Both Anil bhai and Sanjay bhai have taught me the utility of bowling in a particular channel, maintaining a line just on or outside the off-stump,” Umesh pointed out. “Pace can be a huge disadvantage… you will go for runs aplenty if you miss your line and length. I am happy that I have been able to bowl the line the coach and captain have asked me to do in the series.”
Rahul’s injury kept a secret
The Indian cricket team’s poor fitness record in the ongoing home season continued as opener KL Rahul was Saturday ruled out of the third Test due to a forearm injury sustained during the second match.
Rahul had earlier missed out two Tests and five ODIs against New Zealand after suffering a hamstring injury during the Kanpur Test match.
“KL Rahul sustained a blow to his left forearm while fielding in Vizag. The injury got aggravated at the nets. He feels uncomfortable while batting. BCCI medical team advised him rest to fully recover,” the official statement from the team stated.
Rahul was drafted in the side for the second Test after scoring a half century and a century on his comeback into the Karnataka team for Ranji Trophy. Sources stated that if he doesn’t recover, Shikhar Dhawan, who has also just recovered from a broken thumb will be named in the squad for the fourth Test. Parthiv Patel, who is in the side for the injured Wriddhiman Saha will open the innings in this game.
What is surprising however, is the efforts of the team management to keep Rahul’s injury under wraps. He had been injured while batting in the second innings at Vizag and yet was being considered till the last moment for the playing XI. People came to know about Rahul’s injury only when skipper Virat Kohli spoke during the toss. Was Rahul’s injury kept a secret because the news would have badly reflected on the performance of the support staff?
Agencies
