England could not make the most of a crucial toss on a pitch that offered little difficulties for batsmen. Axar Patel (4-68) and R Ashwin (3-47) kept picking away at the wickets. There were three partnerships in excess of 40, but none of them was worth 50 as England were bowled out for 205. India finished the day on 24/1, still 181 behind but probably ahead in the match. Here are some key moments from the day’s cricket. India vs England 4th Test Day 1 statistical highlights
The straight ball… again: During the third Test match, 21 of the 30 wickets fell to straight balls. Axar got another with his second ball of the match. Dom Sibley played for the turn that was not there, and the ball hit the inside edge en route to the stumps.
A sledge that worked: During the eighth over, Rishabh Pant began to mutter “someone is getting angry”. It clearly worked, for Zak Crawley stepped out of the crease, tried to loft without reaching the pitch of the ball, and ballooned it to mid-off.
7.4 overs – Rishabh Pant “someone is getting angry now”.
7.5 overs – Crawley hits the aerial shot coming down the track and gets out.#IndvEng #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/8nKE8slOHJ
— Team India 2.0 (@teamindia2_0) March 4, 2021
Out yet not out: Dan Lawrence tried to flick Axar in the 67th over. The ball ricocheted off the boots of Shubman Gill and went to Rishabh Pant. Umpire Nitin Menon referred, soft-signalling a wicket. It took multiple angles for Anil Chaudhary to confirm that the ball had bounced.
Sharma falls: Lawrence hit the first ball of the 70th over straight and hard. The ball raced to the fence despite brushing the fingertips of Ashwin the bowler. In a desperate effort to move out of harm’s way, umpire Virender Sharma fell on the ground.
Burnley Lara arrives: England had reached 200 five times in a row. At 193/9, it was only expected that their Nos. 10 and 11 would try to bat cautiously, especially against Axar and Ashwin. Not Anderson. He went down on one knee, and reverse-swept Axar to the third-man fence.
He does not tire, does he? It took Anderson three balls get Gill, who was barely five when Anderson had made his Test debut. He may be 38 and this may be his last Test match on Indian soil, but Anderson is still difficult to put away. He finished the day with figures of 5-5-0-1.