Finaallllyyyy!!!!! A sigh of relief for Indians. India fought back in the 3rd session of Day 2 striking five wickets as the visitors reignited hopes of making a comeback in the match.
“The Roooooooot Show”
But Day 2 belonged to only one player: Joe “Roooooooooooot” (as the crowd chants). Root reached his 23rd century in Tests thereby tumbling many records. He celebrated by taking off his helmet, letting out a giant roar and punching the air in delight. He received a giant bear-hug from his Yorkshire mate Bairstow. Root became only the third man ever to score six 100s in a calendar year for England,19 years after Micheal Vaughan had done it in 2002. The records set, equaled or broken by Root with this century:
Most hundreds against India in Tests – eight each by:
Gary Sobers
Viv Richards
Ricky Ponting
Steven Smith
JOE ROOT
Most 100s for England across formats:
39 Joe Root*
38 Alastair Cook
32 Kevin Pietersen
28 Graham Gooch
27 Andrew Strauss
This hundred was also the 12th hundred as England’s test captain-equalling Alastair Cook.
Indians finally got out their chief tormentor Joe Root on 121. Bumrah bowled him out with a ball that seamed in and stayed lower than usual bounce. The ball sneaked through the gap between bat and pad and crashed the off-stump. Root raised his bat as he headed towards the stadium, acknowledging the applause and appreciation.
Fingers raised at Captain Kohli
Kohli was yet again criticized for his captaincy move. This time being, his “overuse” of Ishant Sharma. Ishant Sharma clearly wasn’t performing anywhere near the usual terrific performances that he usually produces. However, Kohli kept bringing in Ishant, costing lots of runs to the team.
Maninder Singh, former cricketer and now an expert, said on this, “It was a shocker, to be honest. Sometimes I have seen captains become stubborn because they know they have got friends telling them, ‘this is what all experts have been talking about – you should have opened with Bumrah and Shami but you chose Ishant”.
He added, “But sometimes the captains do get stubborn. I saw that in MS Dhoni as well – when you get criticized for something you try and prove people wrong and keep doing those wrong things, taking those wrong decisions. I am not very sure if Ishant is 100% fit because he has bowled just 11 overs and no maidens and in these conditions, it’s very difficult to digest.”
England fully capitalized on India’s bowling limitations by piling on the huge amount of runs, with England’s all top four batsmen scoring fifty plus.
Indian fans expect a better all-round performance by India on Day 3.
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