JOIN USEngland assume command
The third day’s proceedings started on a solemn note with spectators and players observing silence in memory of cricketers who gave their lives in the World War I. Later, the muteness spilled over to India’s batting too.
At tea, India progressed serenely to 215 for five and they trail by 355 runs at this stage. However, England pacers should also be given credit for keeping this talented Indian batting line-up under check for most part of the day at the Ageas Bowl.
James Anderson, as usual, asked several uncomfortable questions outside the off-stump, Stuart Broad mixed his length cleverly to keep the batsmen guessing all the time, Chris Woakes maintained a lovely line in the corridor and Chris Jordan, the least impressive of English bowlers, too was threatening in patches.
If you want to pick one bowler from that mix, then it has to be Broad. The Nottinghamshire pacer ran in hard, maintained good pace and varied his length. The combination of Broad’s industriousness and intelligence gave England two wickets in the morning session. Cheteshwar Pujara never looked in discomfort in the middle, but has struggled for big runs on this trip so far.
A fine straight drive off Anderson promised a different story on this day, and M Vijay, at the other end, was in his unflappable self. The Tamil Nadu batsman, though, began a bit nervously, edging Anderson through the slip cordon for a four. But he soon settled down.
Sensing that the Indians were getting into a comfort zone against Woakes, England captain Alastair Cook introduced Broad. The move produced immediate result. Pujara could not judge the path of the delivery correctly, and failed to take the gloves away. The red cherry caressed Pujara’s gloves en route Jos Buttler behind the stumps.
If a back of the length ball did Pujara in, a much fuller length delivery caused Vijay’s fall. Calmness and assured shot selection has characterized the Tamil Nadu right-hander’s batting so far on this tour, and he looked primed for another long vigil.
Indesiciveness
However, a moment of indecisiveness cut short his innings. Vijay wanted to take his bat away from a delivery that bounced a tad higher than he expected, but his belated action only resulted in an inside edge on to the stumps. Broad was impeccable in that six-over spell. At 88 for three, India needed a passage of safety. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane provided that during their fourth-wicket association worth 48 runs.
More than the amount of runs, the pair held the England bowlers off for a little more than 19 overs, giving India some space to relax. However, the visitors’ position would have been much worse had Rod Tucker made a right call. Tucker couldn’t spot the ball brushing against Rahane’s gloves before Buttler grabbed it, and turned down Englishmen’s fervent appeal for a caught behind.
The first phase of the middle session went without much trouble for India as Kohli, perhaps, for the first time in the series looked in fine touch. He worked hard to sustain his concentration, showed good judgment in leaving the ball outside the off-stump and punished the loose ones that came his way.
During this series, the English pacers have bowled well against Kohli, often challenging his ego and urging him to play his strokes.
The Delhi man fell for the trap too on a couple of occasions, but this day he looked determined not to commit the same mistake. However, that mighty craftsman Anderson tempted Kohli with a perfect away going delivery, and he duly edged it to Cook at first slip.
However, Rahane, who made a sound unbeaten 52, and Rohit Sharma resisted the persistent English bowlers, showing good amount of skill and technique. Fortune also aided them as few inside edges eluded stumps, and some edges fell short of the fieldsmen as they added 74 runs for the fifth wicket off 111 balls.
India added 106 runs from 28 overs, but the dismissal of Rohit in the penultimate over before tea spoiled the session. Rohit looked to loft part-time offie Moeen Ali out of the ground but managed only a tame catch to Broad at mid-off. He stood with his head on the bat’s handle, and that, in a way, was the tale of India’s batting too.