Joe Root's (128*) batting master-class takes England to 262/3 on Day 1 in 1st Test v India

[sweep_shot]

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Epic series to decide last WTC finalist
IND v ENG, Test series

here will be plenty of nervous eyes watching the four-Test series between India and England, with three teams’ World Test Championship fates hanging in the balance.

Overview

India v England, first Test
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Fri, 5 Feb to Tue, 9 Feb; 09:30am local time

Both India and England go into this series with plenty of reason to be confident.

It has been nearly four years since India last lost a Test match at home and more than eight since they lost a series they hosted. That series loss, coincidentally, was against England in late 2012 with a 21-year-old Joe Root making his Test debut.

Since then, India have conquered any challenger that has toured, winning an incredible 28 of the 34 matches they have played at home in that time, suffering the lone defeat against Australia. No other hosts have been nearly as dominant in this period, though Pakistan have won three of their four Tests in Pakistan since then.

If that dominant home record was not already enough reason for India to be high on morale, they enter this campaign after one of the most remarkable series wins by any team anywhere in any era.

Knocked over for 36 at Adelaide Oval before losing Virat Kohli (paternity leave), Mohammed Shami (forearm), Umesh Yadav (calf), KL Rahul (wrist), Ravindra Jadeja (thumb), Hanuma Vihari (hamstring), Ravichandran Ashwin (back) and Jasprit Bumrah (abdominal) over the course of the series, India somehow, someway still defeated Australia 2-1.

Kohli, Ashwin, Bumrah and Rahul are all back in the squad for this campaign. So are Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya, who were not fit enough for the Test series in Australia.

Nevertheless, England go into the series with every reason to be optimistic after beating Sri Lanka 2-0.

They have won each of their past five Tests in Asia – all against Sri Lanka – and are yet to taste defeat on the continent under Root’s captaincy.

Encouragingly for England, while Root has been at the heart of that run, there have been contributions across the board.

Left-arm finger-spinner Jack Leach has 28 wickets at 26.42 in that time in Asia, while Dom Bess impressed in the recent 2-0 win over Sri Lanka, taking 12 at 21.25.

In a serious boon for England, James Anderson took 6/40 in his lone Test in Sri Lanka last month. Anderson played a key role when England won in India in 2012, playing the foil to their spinners with the best series haul of any quick (12 at 30.25).

On paper, England look as good a chance as any team since 2012 to beat India in India.

First Test: February 5 to February 9, 9:30am at Chidambaram, Chennai

Second Test: February 13 to February 17, 9:30am at Chidambaram, Chennai

Third Test: February 24 to February 28, 2:30pm at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

Fourth Test: March 4 to March 8, 9:30am at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

Look out for

Virat Kohli: Returning to action after paternity leave, the Indian captain will be out to leave his mark on this series.

Since becoming captain, Kohli has averaged 77.11 in India and England do not have happy memories against him. The dashing right-hander has notched four hundreds across his past two series against England, including a double-century last time they toured India.

Joe Root: Only 30 years old, Root will play his 100th Test this week and is on form to make it a memorable one.

The England skipper averaged 106.50 in the Sri Lanka series and has typically enjoyed himself in Asia, where he averages 54.13.

Remarkably, after the series opener, Root will have played his first, 50th and 100th Tests all in India.

Joe Root and Virat Kohli shape as the key men this series.Joe Root and Virat Kohli shape as the key men this series.
Squads

India – First two Tests

Virat Kohli (c), Mayan Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav

England – First two Tests

Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

Source: https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2014263.

 

[Junaids]

I have written elsewhere that I think India will win comfortably if spinning tracks are prepared.

But there is a pathway to victory for England. If they sneak a win on a normal wicket through Anderson and Broad, and then get lucky and win a couple of tosses on dry, wearing wickets.

India have an embarrassment of riches following the success of the youngsters against Australia, and I remember Pakistan falling apart after going 1-0 up in South Africa in 1997-98 with youngsters and a stand-in captain and then trying to re-integrate Wasim Akram into the team.

England can actually put together a fairly strong team here. I don't really have confidence in the glovework of Buttler on a spinning surface, and I'd be very tempted to play Foakes instead, but that ship sailed away in Sri Lanka last month.

I'd be looking at:

1. Burns
2. Sibley
3. Root
4. Stone
5. Stokes
6. Buttler (wk)
7. Moeen
8. Bess
9. Broad
10. Anderson
11. Leach

I can see an argument for Jofra Archer ahead of Moeen Ali, but I think the tail would become too long.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Axar Patel out with knee injury. So hopefully Yadav will play. But Kohli may play Sunder as well.

 

[sindhiboy]

I have written elsewhere that I think India will win comfortably if spinning tracks are prepared.

But there is a pathway to victory for England. If they sneak a win on a normal wicket through Anderson and Broad, and then get lucky and win a couple of tosses on dry, wearing wickets.

India have an embarrassment of riches following the success of the youngsters against Australia, and I remember Pakistan falling apart after going 1-0 up in South Africa in 1997-98 with youngsters and a stand-in captain and then trying to re-integrate Wasim Akram into the team.

England can actually put together a fairly strong team here. I don't really have confidence in the glovework of Buttler on a spinning surface, and I'd be very tempted to play Foakes instead, but that ship sailed away in Sri Lanka last month.

I'd be looking at:

1. Burns
2. Sibley
3. Root
4. Stone
5. Stokes
6. Buttler (wk)
7. Moeen
8. Bess
9. Broad
10. Anderson
11. Leach

I can see an argument for Jofra Archer ahead of Moeen Ali, but I think the tail would become too long.

I think you mean Ollie pope. Ollie stone is a fast bowler

I agree with your xi. Jofra has been poor since ashes

 

[Junaids]

I think you mean Ollie pope. Ollie stone is a fast bowler

I agree with your xi. Jofra has been poor since ashes

Oops. Good point!

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Axar Patel out with knee injury. So hopefully Yadav will play. But Kohli may play Sunder as well.

yes...a setback....Akshar was bowling well in FC....I guess VK will go with Washy - as he can bat..unless its a green mamba.....

 

[Ab Fan]

Crawley
Bairstow
Root
Pope
Stokes
Buttler(wkt)
Moeen
Bess
Broad
Archer
Leech

Anderson should not play, his stats will get hurt as the wicket will be traditional Chepauk wicket, spin friendly.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Crawley
Bairstow
Root
Pope
Stokes
Buttler(wkt)
Moeen
Bess
Broad
Archer
Leech

Anderson should not play, his stats will get hurt as the wicket will be traditional Chepauk wicket, spin friendly.

So, Anderson should play only on seam friendly pitches to protect ‘average’? Perhaps another reason why he will never rated ATG like McGrath. Just a condition based bowler

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Lol I thought Axar was just some IPL bowler. Didn't know he was in the Test team.

 

[Junaids]

I'll tell you what my real fear is.

England have gone a number of series in the UAE and India with 1 proper spinner and Moeen Ali, and too many quicks.

Don't get me wrong: in SENA I'm fine with having a Moeen Ali or Shadab Khan or Washington Sundar as your sole spinner.

But it's asking for trouble in Asia. It's the sort of mistake that the otherwise-excellent Mickey Arthur made.

I can imagine England saying "well, Joe Root and Moeen Ali can bowl off-spin, so we will drop Dom Bess and instead pick Chris Woakes (or Jofra Archer)".

I think it would be foolish to not have a second specialist spinner, and I think it would be foolish too to only select one of Anderson and Broad.

The attack should be:

Anderson
Broad
Stokes
Bess
Leach
Ali

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Lol I thought Axar was just some IPL bowler. Didn't know he was in the Test team.

Well you need to follow Ranji a bit.
Most of the domestic players who play in IPL grind it out in Ranji day in and day out.
Playing Test Cricket is also lucrative in India, along with massive respect.

 

[Nadeemp]

I'll tell you what my real fear is.

England have gone a number of series in the UAE and India with 1 proper spinner and Moeen Ali, and too many quicks.

Don't get me wrong: in SENA I'm fine with having a Moeen Ali or Shadab Khan or Washington Sundar as your sole spinner.

But it's asking for trouble in Asia. It's the sort of mistake that the otherwise-excellent Mickey Arthur made.

I can imagine England saying "well, Joe Root and Moeen Ali can bowl off-spin, so we will drop Dom Bess and instead pick Chris Woakes (or Jofra Archer)".

I think it would be foolish to not have a second specialist spinner, and I think it would be foolish too to only select one of Anderson and Broad.

The attack should be:

Anderson
Broad
Stokes
Bess
Leach
Ali

Anderson not playing today. I thought that was decided

 

[Nadeemp]

I cangt wait for the match to begin

 

[Ab Fan]

So, Anderson should play only on seam friendly pitches to protect ‘average’? Perhaps another reason why he will never rated ATG like McGrath. Just a condition based bowler

Yeah, he is an ATG, he should play only on better bowling conditions. Let Broad grind out alongside Archer. Don't bother about Jimmy's total wickets tally, it's already covered. Nobody is reaching there.

 

[Ab Fan]

Update :- Axar has been ruled out of the test match due to knee injury.

 

[Nadeemp]

Anderson is not an all time great, like walsh is not an all time great or even Kapil. Great bowlers. Not all time greats

 

[CanadianG00se]

Yeah, he is an ATG, he should play only on better bowling conditions. Let Broad grind out alongside Archer. Don't bother about Jimmy's total wickets tally, it's already covered. Nobody is reaching there.

Jimmy will be rated along the lines of Kumble, very good bowlers perhaps one of the greats of English team, but ATG? Not even close.

He is ATG bowler on helpful pitches and good on tough conditions. But nowhere near ATG. I’ll reserve ATG for Steyn, McGrath type bowlers.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Anderson is not an all time great, like walsh is not an all time great or even Kapil. Great bowlers. Not all time greats

This.

Kapil may not be ATG as a bowler but he makes a strong claim as an Allrounder.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Anderson is not an all time great, like walsh is not an all time great or even Kapil. Great bowlers. Not all time greats

Kapil is a bonafide ATG. 400 plus wickets, 5000 plus runs, WC win as captain aged 24.
Biriyani rajj ke kha Lao veer.

 

[K4Kohli]

England win toss and bat first
Our bowling attack

Ashwin
Sundar
Nazeem
Ishanth Sharma
Bumrah

 

[CanadianG00se]

Kohli back as a captain and first thing he does is make another blunder

Why would you select Shahbaz Nadeem over K Yadav. Seriously, Indian team is better off without you Kohli. Go back to your family and we might just win like we did in Australia. #RahaneRealCaptain

 

[Nadeemp]

Kapil is a bonafide ATG. 400 plus wickets, 5000 plus runs, WC win as captain aged 24.
Biriyani rajj ke kha Lao veer.

All time great all rounder. YES!!!!. Strictly as a bowler. NO

 

[CanadianG00se]

England win toss and bat first
Our bowling attack

Ashwin
Sundar
Nazeem
Ishanth Sharma
Bumrah

Out of nowhere Nadeem found himself in playing XI. Is he even an allrounder like Jadeja? I thought he must have retired by now. Hearing his name since ages.

 

[Ab Fan]

Jimmy will be rated along the lines of Kumble, very good bowlers perhaps one of the greats of English team, but ATG? Not even close.

He is ATG bowler on helpful pitches and good on tough conditions. But nowhere near ATG. I’ll reserve ATG for Steyn, McGrath type bowlers.

Kumble is an ATG bowler.

Kapil, Kumble and Ashwin are ATG bowlers. Anderson and Broad are also ATG bowlers.

 

[Ab Fan]

Out of nowhere Nadeem found himself in playing XI. Is he even an allrounder like Jadeja? I thought he must have retired by now. Hearing his name since ages.

Nadeem has been prioritised over Kuldeep. Sundar is an all-rounder.

 

[Devadwal]

One excuses goes down for England . can't say we loss the toss

 

[sindhiboy]

Very Surprised broad isn't playing. Expected Jimmy to play last two tests and broad the first two tests.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Nadeem has been prioritised over Kuldeep. Sundar is an all-rounder.

That’s my point on what basis was Nadeem been preferred over Kuldeep? His first class batting average is around 14 which doesn’t say much about his batting skills plus he is almost 32 and don’t really have any future with the team. Why not give a chance to youngster and build his confidence. Only Kohli can make such blunders

 

[JattMaula]

Nadeem better do an Embuldeniya!

Kuldeep will be cursing Axar's knee like a sailer.

 

[Ab Fan]

The pitch has a bit of grass. But I don't think it will make much difference after 1 hour of today's play. Anderson is picked because of that and he also took a fifer last time. Broad only took a 3-fer.

1st test - Anderson, Archer
2nd test - Broad, Archer
3rd test - A, B, A
4th test - Anderson, Broad, Wood

 

[Swashbuckler]

2016 series in India, we lost 4/5 tosses
2018 England, we lost 5/5 tosses
2019 WC group match vs England we lost the toss
Another toss loss here

11/12 important games against England in the last 5 years Kohli has lost the toss. How is this even possible?

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

We just donot have any freakin luck with tosses, ....lost more than won in recent years...

 

[ex-q-zit]

Kohli back as a captain and first thing he does is make another blunder

Why would you select Shahbaz Nadeem over K Yadav. Seriously, Indian team is better off without you Kohli. Go back to your family and we might just win like we did in Australia. #RahaneRealCaptain

Similar comments were made when Sundar was selected ahead of Kuldeep in Gabba test. Lets see how Nadeem does. I think the logic is that in the recent SL series the english team struggled against a left arm spinner. Hence nadeem has been given the nod. If Axar was fit he would have played ahead of those 2.

 

[sindhiboy]

I'm not that confident in Dan Lawrence.
Think eng should have gone with moeen ali at no. 7.

Moeen is a much better and experienced spinner than Leach and bess

Especially if chepauk is a rank turner like it usually is

 

[CanadianG00se]

Is there anyway Kohli can extend his parental leave .

 

[CanadianG00se]

Similar comments were made when Sundar was selected ahead of Kuldeep in Gabba test. Lets see how Nadeem does. I think the logic is that in the recent SL series the english team struggled against a left arm spinner. Hence nadeem has been given the nod. If Axar was fit he would have played ahead of those 2.

That’s very idiotic thinking. Best way to win a match is to field your best playing XI. Plus Kuldeep is also left arm chinaman who have bamboozled English batsmen before. Nadeem have played total of 1 test before this, doesn’t give me much confidence.
Axar must be cursing his knee for missing golden opportunity. Once Jaddu is back, Nadeem and Axar will be history.

 

[sindhiboy]

Similar comments were made when Sundar was selected ahead of Kuldeep in Gabba test. Lets see how Nadeem does. I think the logic is that in the recent SL series the english team struggled against a left arm spinner. Hence nadeem has been given the nod. If Axar was fit he would have played ahead of those 2.

Kuldeep is also a left hander

 

[guna]

Not sure how Nadeem found a spot.

 

[ex-q-zit]

Kuldeep is also a left hander

Yes, but he i not left arm orthodox like jaddu or axar. Kuldeep is chinaman wherein he use his wrist unlike the others who use finger.

 

[Ab Fan]

Why do India lose so many tosses? Even Rahane lost 3 tosses.

 

[Justcrazy]

India should win this here , they have the game in their bag right now

 

[Slog]

Lol this england batting line up looks like a nightmare.

 

[Justcrazy]

Why do India lose so many tosses? Even Rahane lost 3 tosses.

Its better to lose Toss rather than Match.

 

[Justcrazy]

England need a big first-innings total here , to have some kind of chance

 

[Romali_rotti]

Can any Indian captain win a toss to save their life ? This has to be a record for the number of lost tosses. I think it might actually help the Indians on this rare occasion,

 

[ex-q-zit]

That’s very idiotic thinking. Best way to win a match is to field your best playing XI. Plus Kuldeep is also left arm chinaman who have bamboozled English batsmen before. Nadeem have played total of 1 test before this, doesn’t give me much confidence.
Axar must be cursing his knee for missing golden opportunity. Once Jaddu is back, Nadeem and Axar will be history.

The english were also bamboozled by embuldeniya in his debut series just 2 weeks back. Since 2014 India has lost only 1 test match at home under Kohli's captaincy. I am sure he along with Shastri n Rahane know better as to which is the best playing XI.

They would have gone for kuldeep if Axar was available. But with Axar not available nadeem was the like for like replacement with a little lesser batting ability.

 

[DeadBall]

Why do India lose so many tosses? Even Rahane lost 3 tosses.

But you won the matches though which is more important.

 

[Slog]

Why do India lose so many tosses? Even Rahane lost 3 tosses.

I know you’re half joking and we know it’s a coincidence but this really is true for india in test cricket going back to dhoni times. I remember in the 2014 England tour too; India lost like 4 out of 5 tosses

 

[Rajdeep]

Rishi Persad in the studio host for channel 4...lol. He was the host for old channel 4 racing team. They could have gone with a cricketer rather.

 

[ex-q-zit]

England need a big first-innings total here , to have some kind of chance

Well in 2016 they scored 400 in 1st innings and still lost by an innings and around 30 runs. It will all boil down to how well bess and leach bowl. Not sure they are skilled enough to get the indian batsmen out unless they throw their wickets.

 

[Justcrazy]

Sharma starts the proceedings

 

[Justcrazy]

Well in 2016 they scored 400 in 1st innings and still lost by an innings and around 30 runs. It will all boil down to how well bess and leach bowl. Not sure they are skilled enough to get the indian batsmen out unless they throw their wickets.

I agree , Englands main issue would be getting 20 wickets of India , they do not have spinners to make such an impact

 

[JattMaula]

Is there anyway Kohli can extend his parental leave .

You know there is a proven surefire way to extent paternity leave.

 

[MP2011]

Anil Choudhary officiating for the first time in a test match!

Its been decades since 2 Indian umpires officiated in the same test match!

 

[guna]

2 Indian umpires. Expect some pathetic decisions.

 

[CanadianG00se]

2 Indian umpires. Expect some pathetic decisions.

Good thing we got DRS.

 

[Titan24]

3 spinners in Indian XI, so for Eng like most times its going to be trial by spin.

 

[MP2011]

Bumrah playing his first game in India, most number of matches played (17) by an Indian before making his home tests' debut.

 

[MP2011]

Pant dropped that off Bumrah?

 

[CanadianG00se]

Pant drops first catch of the series.

 

[Justcrazy]

Bunrah almost gets wicket of first ball

 

[MP2011]

Yeah, he did drop that one. Difficult one but not impossible to catch.

 

[MP2011]

As for Kuldeep not playing even in a home test match even after Jadeja not playing, means how highly Kohli thinks of him.

 

[DeadBall]

Pant starts off in style.

 

[Justcrazy]

England look very shaky , they afraid of India reputation now after Aussies were grinded to submission by a weak Indian side

 

[shah_1]

Pant would be tested as a keeper in this test, no one is denying his batting talent.

 

[Titan24]

Wouldnt be a surprise if spinners are deployed against Eng openers soon considering their struggles in Srl. Burns has replaced Crawley in that opening slot tor Eng.

 

[guna]

Nothing for pacers on this pitch. Time for spinners.

 

[Justcrazy]

As for Kuldeep not playing even in a home test match even after Jadeja not playing, means how highly Kohli thinks of him.

The kind of players India have in there squad its difficult to accomodate everyone

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

We have to get used to Pant dropping catches now.

 

[Ashmal]

Wouldnt be a surprise if spinners are deployed against Eng openers soon considering their struggles in Srl. Burns has replaced Crawley in that opening slot tor Eng.

Crawley got injured

 

[Rajdeep]

Pant drops first catch of the series.

It waa a very touch chance though

 

[Justcrazy]

Pant would be tested as a keeper in this test, no one is denying his batting talent.

His batting is so good Selectors simply cannot drop him , even if he drops Root here , that is a sign of how important and impactful he is.

 

[andy0204]

Get Ash in,Burns will be walking wicket.

 

[Justcrazy]

3 more runs , flicked away

 

[CanadianG00se]

How is Ishant bowling? Looks rusty?

 

[DeadBall]

It waa a very touch chance though

Most decent keepers would've caught it.

 

[Smbhayi]

It waa a very touch chance though

People bashes Saha when he dropped a similar catch..

 

[Titan24]

Crawley got injured

Yes, will have to see if he comes back for the 3rd test as didnt look much convincing against spin in Srl.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

It waa a very touch chance though

Yeah why not lol.