Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PHOTOS: Root ton brings Eng back from brink on Day 1

Last updated on: February 23, 2024 17:32 IST

IMAGES from Day 1 of the 4th Test played between India and England in Ranchi on Friday.

Joe Root celebrates on completing his century, his 10th against India

IMAGE: Joe Root celebrates on completing his century, his 10th Test ton against India. Photograph: BCCI

India unearthed a fresh pace talent in debutant Akash Deep but veteran Joe Root single-handedly kept England afloat with a tenacious hundred that shunned 'Bazball' for a more conservative approach as the visitors hobbled to 302 for 7 on the opening day of the fourth Test in Ranchi on Friday.

 

At stumps, the 33-year-old Root was unbeaten on 106 and had used up 226 deliveries during his classical Test knock.

Giving Root company was Ollie Robinson (31 not out).

The duo have put on an unbeaten 57-run partnership for the 8th wicket.

Root decided to drop anchor after Akash Deep rocked England in the first session, reverting to his natural style of playing the waiting game.

The move got him and England the desired results as he struck his first century in 15 innings.

With the sun playing hide and seek during the fag end of the day, the Yorkshire man hit the three-figure mark for the 31st time in his Test career, striking a classy cover-drive off Akash Deep.

Ollie Robinson bats en route an unbeaten 31

IMAGE: Ollie Robinson bats en route an unbeaten 31. Photograph: BCCI

It took him 219 balls to get there and the former skipper did not show much emotion, fully aware that his job was not yet done. A record 10 of his 31 Test centuries are against India and the latest one came at just the right juncture.

England are reeling from back-to-back losses in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot to trail the five-match series 1-2.

He hit nine fours in his innings and was a picture of determination, noticeably avoiding the sweep shot due to the variable bounce of the pitch.

Ben Foakes batted well for his 47

IMAGE: Ben Foakes batted well for his 47. Photograph: BCCI

The absence of rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who had dismissed Root thrice in this series, also gave the Englishman some breathing space. He was happy to play the spinners on the back-foot and slice the field.

His biggest ally in England's splendid recovery was wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes (47 off 126 balls). The visiting side went through the second session without losing a wicket for the first time in the series.

The duo took their time and frustrated India by adding 86 runs in the post-lunch session when the wicket flattened out.

Tom Hartley is bowled by Mohammed Siraj 

IMAGE: Tom Hartley is bowled by Mohammed Siraj. Photograph: BCCI

Post tea, Mohammed Siraj (2/60) gave the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Foakes three runs short of his half-century, caught by Ravindra Jadeja at short mid-wicket. The dismissal ended a 113-run sixth wicket partnership.

Siraj also dismissed Tom Hartley (13 off 26 balls) with a brilliant delivery that exhibited late movement off the pitch, crashing into the off stump.

Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of Ben Foakes

IMAGE: Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of Ben Foakes. Photograph: BCCI

Hartley had earlier narrowly avoided a catch by the second slip following an edge that didn't carry. Instead, it went past Yashasvi Jaiswal and reached the boundary rope.

He departed after scoring 13, which included a powerful six off Ravichandran Ashwin over long-on. Ashwin got the scalp of Jonny Bairstow, who made a quick-fire 38 off 35 balls.

Ben Foakes and Joe Root continued to keep the scoreboard moving post.

They brought up the 200 in the 63rd over before Foakes decided to up the ante and smacked Ravichandran Ashwin for 16 runs.

England's Ben Foakes congratulates Joe Root on completing his half century

IMAGE: England's Ben Foakes congratulates Joe Root on completing his half century. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, Root took a trip back to his roots, producing a typical gritty unbeaten fifty, his first of the series, as England consolidated after losing five wickets in the opening session to reach 198 for five at tea.

The Yorkshire man remained unbeaten on 67 off 154 balls (7x4), while wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes played the perfect fiddle with a patient 108-ball 28 not out as the pair shunned the 'Bazball' approach in the session.

Sarfaraz Khan drops Ben Foakes off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin

IMAGE: Sarfaraz Khan drops Ben Foakes off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin. Photograph: BCCI

The England duo added 86 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket stand as the visitors saw through the middle session without losing any wicket, a first for the visitors in this series.

After the frenetic first session when Bengal pacer Akash Deep had a dream debut taking three top-order English wickets in the first hour's play, Root and Foakes played a level-headed game and nudged the ball around as the wicket also flattened out.

Joe Root is playing his typical style of classic Test match batting and is now nearing a half-century

IMAGE: Joe Root played in his typical style of classic Test match batting, grinding it out. Photograph: BCCI

Showing a sensible approach, Root curbed the sweep shots and reached a patient 108-ball fifty, after making 29, 2, 5, 16, 18, 7 across the last three Tests.

The absence the rested Jaspirt Bumrah, who had dismissed Root thrice in this series, also made life a lot easier for the premier England batter who was happy to play the spinners on the backfoot and slice the field.

Joe Root and Ben Foakes keep the scoreboard ticking post lunch 

IMAGE: Joe Root and Ben Foakes keep the scoreboard ticking post lunch. Photograph: BCCI

Root and Foakes denied India a wicket in the second segment to drag England back into the contest.

Akash Deep celebrating the wicket of Zak Crawley, his third wicket of the innings

IMAGE: Akash Deep celebrating the wicket of Zak Crawley, his third wicket of the innings. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, fast bowler Akash Deep bowled a dream opening spell on Test debut as India left England struggling at 112 for 5 at lunch on the opening day of the fourth Test.

The 27-year-old pacer, who hails from Bihar but came through the ranks playing domestic cricket in Bengal, hit the deck hard and aptly maneuvered the ball in both ways in a sensational bowling display in the first hour's play after Ben Stokes opted to bat.

England captain Ben Stokes walks back to pavilion after being dismissed for 3 

IMAGE: England captain Ben Stokes walks back to pavilion after being dismissed for 3. Photograph: BCCI

Akash Deep, however, had to wait for a bit for his three-wicket burst of Ben Duckett (11), Ollie Pope (0) and Zak Crawley (42) in a span of 10 balls.

Akash Deep had figures of 3/24, while Ravichandran Ashwin (1/17) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/28) grabbed the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes respectively as England lost half of their side in 24.1 overs.

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates afer taking out Jonny Bairstow

IMAGE: Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates afer taking out Jonny Bairstow. Photograph: BCCI

Akash Deep was right on the money from the start and even uprooted Crawley's off-stump in his second over of the day, but was guilty of overstepping.

But senior pacer Mohammed Siraj struggled to get his swing going as the English opening duo had it easy against him.

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root put on a 52-run stand before the former was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin

IMAGE: Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root put on a 52-run stand before the former was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin. Photograph: BCCI

Crawley, in particular, counter-attacked Siraj smashing him for three consecutive boundaries and then pulled him over midwicket for a six.

From being dropped on 4, Crawley cruised to 32 off 32 balls, forcing Rohit Sharma to bring in spin -- Ravindra Jadeja -- from the far end.

But it was Akash Deep who seized the momentum in an eventful 10th over which produced two wickets and witnessed two reviews with one going India's way.

Akash Deep celebrates on taking his maiden Test wicket, having Ben Duckett caught behind

IMAGE: Akash Deep celebrates on taking his maiden Test wicket, having Ben Duckett caught behind. Photograph: BCCI

Akash Deep's maiden wicket was Duckett. He tempted the batter to nick the ball that nipped away slightly after pitching.

The credit for Akash Deep's second wicket a ball later should go to Dhruv Jurel as the wicketkeeper convinced Rohit to take a reivew.

Pope stepped out to Akash Deep but was beaten by an incoming delivery that hit him on the knee roll and on review he was given out, LBW.

England opener Zak Crawley struggled early on in his innings

IMAGE: England opener Zak Crawley struggled early on in his innings. Photograph: BCCI

Next ball, Root was also beaten with a ball that nipped back in as India took another review but it was outside the off-stump.

In the next over, Akash Deep returned to finally take the wicket of Crawley in an identical manner by hitting the top of the off-stump as he ended his opening spell with brilliant figures of 7-0-24-3.

India players celebrate with Akash Deep on picking Ollie Pope 

IMAGE: India players celebrate with Akash Deep on picking Ollie Pope. Photograph: BCCI

Next ball, Root was also beaten with a ball that nipped back in as India took another review but it was outside the off-stump.

In the next over, Akash Deep returned to finally take the wicket of Crawley in an identical manner by hitting the top of the off-stump as he ended his opening spell with brilliant figures of 7-0-24-3.

Thereafter, there was a moment of semblance for England when Bairstow and Root consolidated in a 50-plus partnership.

Umpire Rod Tucker signals a no ball, denying Akash Deep his maiden Test wicket 

IMAGE: Umpire Rod Tucker signals a no ball, denying Akash Deep his maiden Test wicket. Photograph: BCCI

Struggling for form, Bairstow hit some elegant boundaries (four) and hit a six before throwing his wicket away.

Bairstow was trapped in front by Ashwin while playing that dangerous sweep shot and India took another exceptional review.

The wicket handed Ashswin a rare feat as he became the first Indian bowler to take 100 wickets against England.

Jadeja then took the wicket of England skipper at the stroke of lunch.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.