IND vs ENG : Fourth Test, How England won the opening session

IND vs ENG 2021: Fourth Test, The Oval

First Session

The opening session of the match was a testing session and one that went England’s way. It didn’t look that way in the first 30 minutes when India raced away to 28 for 0 after 7 overs. It was one of those rare occasions when Anderson didn’t get it right with the new ball. KL was particularly positive, an oozing class with a couple of pristine drives. But then came Woakes and he struck in the first over, getting one to climb onto Rohit and finding the outside edge. It was in the middle of a period when India scored 0 runs and lost both openers within seven overs. KL Rahul looked solid before an inswinger trapped him in front of off-stump. Pujara looked fidgety, he wasn’t offered anything loose, and then he went feeling for one that should have been left. Jadeja, a surprise call to bat at 5, looked all at sea against Anderson. However, Kohli looked sublime. There was a wicket each for Woakes, Robinson, and Anderson, the Indian top-order was blown away in the first session itself.

Fastest to 23,0000 International Runs

Kohli got off the mark with a cracking shot, there was nothing wrong about the delivery, perhaps a fraction too full, Kohli leaned across, brought his wrists into play, and creamed a superb on-drive, straight of mid-on. This four was special as it got Kohli beyond the 23,000 Runs mark in international cricket. He has done this in just 490 innings, making him the fastest of all time to the milestone, leaving his idol Sachin Tendulkar behind him. Let’s have a look at the list.

Fastest to 23000 international runs (Inns):
490 Virat Kohli*
522 Sachin Tendulkar
544 Ricky Ponting
551 Jacques Kallis
568 Kumar Sangakkara
576 Rahul Dravid
645 M Jayawardene

Anderson dismisses Pujara yet again

In the 19th over of the match, Anderson dismissed Pujara, again. The same old way of dismissal- edged and caught. It was an away swinger from Anderson, pitched around off, and jagged away sharply. There was no intent and no confidence behind the defensive shot of Pujara, the ball took the edge on its way to the keeper. With this wicket, Anderson entered at the top of another record list. The record list of a bowler dismissing Pujara the most times. He has done this 11 times so far, and with still 3 innings left in the series, he might add more to the list.

Bowlers dismissing Pujara most in Tests:
11 Jimmy Anderson*
10 Nathan Lyon
7 Pat Cummins
6 Josh Hazlewood

All in all, Root’s decision to bowl first on a cloudy morning was vindicated by his bowlers in the opening session.