Joe Root batted, almost until the cows came home, and England stamped their authority on the Old Trafford Test and the series. As things stand, India will have to play out of their skins to make England bat again in the fourth Test. At stumps on Day 3, the hosts were 544/7, leading by 186 runs. Weather permitting, they should wrap up the series in the next two days.
The only time Root looked a tad vulnerable was when he was on 98 and facing Mohammed Siraj with the second new ball. The fast bowler had settled into a rhythm in that over and beat Root twice outside off. Then, a delivery rolled down off the thigh pad and missed the leg stump by a coat of varnish. Siraj is unarguably the unluckiest cricketer in the ongoing series, but Root needed to regain his composure. Anshul Kamboj’s friendly offering helped him reach his 38th Test century — a glance down to the fine leg-boundary. It was his 12th against India.
It was a day when milestones beckoned England’s greatest-ever batter. First Rahul Dravid was surpassed followed by Jacques Kallis. Then, Root went past Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in the all-time list. Now, it’s Mount Everest: only Sachin Tendulkar stands in front of him with 15,921 Test runs. The Sheffield boy is currently on 13,409, and counting. When Root eventually got out on 150 off 248 balls, England were a run shy of 500.
India bowled garbage on Day 2. They were a little more disciplined with their line and length in the third morning. But England were psychologically ahead after a strong start, Root and Ollie Pope (71) were ready to bide their time. India needed breakthroughs, which remained elusive. Root never looked like getting out and Pope grew in confidence. A wicketless session ensued, as the tourists looked flat and listless.
Poor leadership
An average coaching team and a naive captain can be a recipe for disaster, India have been learning the hard way in this series, especially in this Test. Off the field, not giving a game to Kuldeep Yadav, arguably the world’s best spinner across formats, has laid bare the tattered fabric of the team management’s negative mindset.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke about how taking 20 wickets remained the top priority. In reality, he has failed to walk the talk. Leaving out the team’s second-best wicket-taking option time and again defied logic. On the field, Shubman Gill was pretty ordinary, reactive and never staying ahead of the game.
Washington Sundar was fresh from a four-wicket haul in the second innings at Lord’s. At Old Trafford, he was facing an existential question. His skipper was seemingly oblivious to his presence on the field and finally when Gill spotted Washington, England had raced to 305/2 after 68 overs.
Washington removed Pope in his fifth over to break a 144-run, third-wicket partnership. Then, he dragged Harry Brook out of the crease for Dhruv Jurel to complete an easy stumping.
Ben Stokes came and inside-edged a Washington delivery to silly point. There was no one to take the catch. A fielder was brought to that position next ball, but the moment had passed. Stokes retired hurt on 66, after adding 142 with Root for the fifth wicket. The England captain returned at the fall of the seventh wicket to remain unbeaten on 77.
A Test captain is judged by his handling of his bowlers, especially spinners, in pressure situations. Gill so far has failed miserably. He lacks tactical nous and hardly provides inspiration when the chips are down.
Stingless Bumrah
Before the start of the day’s play, Bumrah was seen having an animated conversation with Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel. On air, Ravi Shastri offered an insight into how playing a lone ranger was taking its toll on the team’s best bowler. “It puts pressure on him. He was the one in control, but when others leak (runs) at the other end, at almost six runs per over, it takes a toll, even if you are the best bowler in the world,” said the former India head coach.
Bumrah has been stingless in this game — 95 runs in 28 overs for a wicket. A stat mentioned by the host broadcaster revealed that only one per cent of his deliveries in this innings were above 140kph.
Bumrah bowled just one over with the second new ball before trudging off the field. When he returned, he was feeling his left ankle. He bowled after tea but didn’t look like making an impact. If Bumrah’s body cannot take the rigours of two consecutive Tests even after a seven-day gap, then that’s a problem. It’s unlikely that he will play the final Test at The Oval.
Brief scores: England 544/7 (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 77 batting; Washington Sundar 2/57, Ravindra Jadeja 2/117) vs India 358 all out.
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