Key events
Joe Root won’t want to read my inbox right now.
Here’s John Withington: “Morning Daniel …. I type as my heart sinks as Bairstow blobs again after Root’s horrific act of self sacrifice. I seem to be bombarded on social media with the mockery of Australians of the Bazball era, no doubt much due to its perfect storm of Anglo/NZ origin. But it feels like Root is doing his best to justify the criticism, using the opportunity to practice circus tent cricket shots. While others are feeling freed to play to their strengths Root insists on playing a shot that he clearly can’t, and throwing away England’s new found top order solidity. Make it stop please.”
And Vivekanand Muthukrishnan: “Can someone take Root aside, calm him down, reassure him that he belongs, that there is no need to turbocharge a batting style that has amassed 11,000 runs? Else, he risks beside cast aside soon. We have already lost a test great in Pujara and Root risks ending up the same way.”
Such an odd situation. He’s clearly England’s best player (when operating at his peak) but he’s so far away from that level right now. Does he biff and scoop and reverse his way back to form? Or does he grind it out? Whatever he’s doing now isn’t working.
42nd over: England 226-4 (Duckett 143, Stokes 0) Bumrah will be glad to bowl to two left-armers and will come from around the wicket to both. Duckett gets off strike first ball which means Bumrah can look to set up Stokes for the remaining five. He finds a tight, probing line before pushing in a yorker to end the over. Stokes digs it out.
Reader David Williams is not happy with Joe:
“While I’m a big fan of Bazball, Joe Root should know better – read the situation. No Ashwin, Bumrah only a few overs and he plays a completely unnecessary shot. Embarrassing lack of read of the game.”
I think I agree with you David. Flat deck too. I reckon that’s why Root was so livid with himself. Then again, maybe he was just annoyed he didn’t thwack the reverse scoop for six.
41st over: England 225-4 (Duckett 142, Stokes 0) Out of nowhere, Duckett has a rebuilding job on his hands. He’s lost two partners in six balls. Brilliant from Kuldeep who toyed with Bairstow, bringing him forward before pinning him back. Stokes, not for the first time, has to dig his side out of a hole before he can think of counter attacking.
WICKET! Bairstow lbw Kuldeep 0 (England 225-4)
GONE! Bairstow doesn’t even wait for the three reds to show on the big screen. He was on his way after just one look at the replay. Plumb as plumb can be. The previous ball was flighted and dragged Bairstow forward, almost squeezing through bat and pad. This one was fizzed flatter but Bairstow played it off the back foot. It turned and thudded his pad dead in front of his stumps. In a flash India are in control.
The finger goes up and Bairstow is given! Looks plumb. They review but that pitched outside his off-stump and turned back into his pads from Kuldeep’s left-arm wrist spin. I’ll be astounded if this doesn’t stick.
40th over: England 224-3 (Duckett 141, Bairstow 0) Yet again it’s Bumrah who nabs the breakthrough in the morning session. Root’s gone and Bairstow, the new man, digs out a searing yorker first up.
WICKET! Root c Jaiswal b Bumrah 18 (England 224-3)
Unreal! What a remarkable wicket! Root, as he does, unfurls a reverse sweep to Bumrah’s seamer but he can’t get the lift needed to take it beyond the cordon. Instead, Jaiswal at second slip, clings on to a screamer. That was moving at a rate of knots. Root’s poor form continues and he has to go, admonishing himself as he leaves the scene.
39th over: England 223-2 (Duckett 140, Root 18) Duckett gets out the broom and nails his first sweep of the day. Lofted, in control, and sweetly timed; that’s been swatted in front of square for four. He then almost runs himself out. In fact, a direct hit from the scampering Jurel – who did well to whip his ‘keeper glove off before shying at the bowler’s end – would have ended Duckett’s stay despite the desperate dive. Three singles from the remaining four balls makes that a productive over for Engkand.
“Morning Daniel,” Good morning Brian Withington. Thanks for joining me nice and early.
”Brother just texted to say that Finn is a ‘surprisingly’ insightful pundit. At the risk of generalisation I opined that bowlers often are. One for the OBO community to consider? As random exhibit A I would offer KP vs Shane Warne; exhibit B, Ponting vs Broad (closer to call).”
An interesting hypothesis. I’d say Punter is one of the best in the business. But you might be right. My favourite Saffa player-turned-commentator is Shaun Pollock. Your brother might be on to something.
38th over: England 216-2 (Duckett 134, Root 17) Bumrah hasn’t quite located his range yet. He’s too wide outside Root’s off-stump. One back of a length delivery ios expertly steered behind square for four. Root’s playing that away from his body but he’s in full control. He then picks up an easy two off his pads. If Bumrah can’t get on top of Root this could get out of control for India real fast.
37th over: England 210-2 (Duckett 134, Root 11) Kuldeep’s left arm wrist spin gets things going from the other end. Remember, there’s no Aswhin today or the rest of the Test. Kuldeep is aiming for some rough outside Root’s off-stump. He can’t quite find it. He’s a little too straight and Root tucks a single out to the leg-side sweeper off the back foot.
36th over: England 209-2 (Duckett 134, Root 10) Bumrah starts from round the wicket into the left-handed Duckett who steers a comfortable single into the covers off the second ball. That brings Root on strike. The former England skipper has had his troubles against Bumrah – who shifts to over the wicket for the righty. Root’s trigger brings him out of his crease. Perhaps he’s looking to smother any lateral movement? An inside edge gets him a single down to fine leg. Duckett is solid in defence for the rest of the set.
Right then. Bumrah has the ball. Duckett and Root have bats. The Test, indeed the series, is delicately poised. Away we go!
Where do we rank Aswhin in the great pantheon? The numbers don’t lie, but he hasn’t always had the love (I think) he deserves.
Glad his record will now stack up against the elites. Another, more sobering, question: Will he be the last member to join the 500 Club?
For another day. For now, enjoy Tanya Aldred’s lovely piece on the man:
Now Sir Alastair Cook – on TNT – is waxing lyrical about “Ducky”. The former England skipper and left handed opener is commending Duckett’s bravery against the Indian spinners but also his accuracy on the sweep. When defending he looked like, well, a sitting duck. But on the sweep he was in control. “A brilliant hundred”, says Sir Alastair. Too right!
“A phenomenal talent”
That’s Ravichandran Ashwin – the latest member of the exclusive 500-club – speaking about Ben Duckett after the England’ opener’s spell-binding hundred.
The last time the lefty batted in India, he averaged in the single figures across a tour that, for him personally, never made it past the third Test. Now he’s leading the Bazballers into uncharted territory. Can he kick on today?
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Oooooh, we’re halfway theee-ere! At least, at some point in the second session today, we’ll be halfway through this five-Test series and, whisper it quietly, it’s shaping up to be an epic.
England arrived in India with a question hanging over them. Could they Bazball in the meanest backyard in cricket? Ben Duckett’s staggering Test ton, the fastest by an Englishman in India, has firmly answered that query.
It was unreal batting. The sheer chutzpah of the approach was worthy of praise. That it counted for 133 unbeaten runs off a mere 118 balls places it firmly in contention for the best knock by a tourist in India (and we’ve already had one of those in the series).
Duckett will have Joe Root – nine off 13 – for company but won’t have to face Ravichandran Aswhin. India’s premier spinner became the ninth player to reach 500 Test wickets but has had to pull out of the match after a family medical emergency.
It’s a cruel blow for India and possibly places England in the driver’s seat despite the 238-run deficit. If Duckett and Root can build a partnership, and if the aggressive middle order can crank into gear, and if the tail can contribute with some handy runs, then England might have a sizeable lead.
That’s a lot of ifs and a maybe. But this is a team that has challenged what we thought we knew about this sport. Love or hate England cricket, there is no denying the bravery of this latest iteration that is setting a new standard with the bat.
Play resumes at 4am UK time/9:30am in Rajkot.