After all the waiting, the rearranged fifth Test between England and India finally got under way yesterday at Edgbaston and what a first day it was.
Ben Stokes’ England carried their form from their victorious series in New Zealand to reduce the tourists to 98-5, with James Anderson and Matthew Potts particularly superb either side of the two-hour lunchtime rain break.
But then it became the Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja show as the duo put on 222 runs together – India’s record sixth wicket in Tests against England – to get their team back on the day.
Wicketkeeper Pant crashed with 19 fours and four sixes, taking 89 balls to reach his hundred before eventually falling for 146 after cutting Joe Root’s off-spin to chip. But Jadeja remained unbeaten on 83 as India closed on 338-7 with room for more runs this morning.
However, England assistant coach Paul Collingwood insisted his side will not be scared of chasing runs if another fourth-innings total requires it.
England chased down a fourth innings total of over 250 three times in their 3-0 win over New Zealand.
“We’re not afraid of what we have to chase in the fourth innings,” Collingwood said. “The way we played in the three games against New Zealand showed that we are not afraid of what the opposition will get in the first innings.
“We don’t play conventional Test cricket. We try to be as attacking as possible. We want to be on the more aggressive side of the line. If we feel we can take early wickets with a bit of moisture in the pitch, it can get ahead of the game.”
India are chasing their first Test series win in England since 2007 after the final Test last September was postponed due to Covid-19 cases among the tourists’ backroom staff. India are currently leading 2-1.
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