Boria Majumdar in London
Finally, we got a pitch that well and truly tested the batters. In tough overcast conditions, with a drizzle around, the green on the wicket made sure that the ball moved all day. At no point was a batter in and each time the bowlers bowled good balls, they were rewarded.
Take the example of Josh Tongue. He bowled two brilliant balls and both produced wickets. For the rest of his spells, he was all over the place. And that’s what sums up England’s effort. They should have had India on the mat by now, but the reality is they let India off the hook somewhat in that final hour. And with Chris Woakes unlikely to play any further part, this game is finely balanced at the moment.
Put bluntly, England are ahead, but only just. A team that won the toss in these conditions should at least have started batting by the end of Day 1. England were not able to do so and that’s what India will take heart from. The second new ball is still 16 overs away and if Karun Nair and Washington Sundar manage to negotiate that one hour of play, India will be more than likely get to 260-270, which will be a very decent score on this wicket. That’s what India will bank on.
Washington is the man in form and Nair will take a lot of heart from his half-century, his first in Test cricket after the triple century against England in 2016. He was restless when nearing the milestone and had Ben Stokes been leading instead of Ollie Pope, he would have found it difficult. Stokes would have brought the field in and made it tough for Nair. Fighting for his career, this is one of the most important innings for Nair and if he can make the morning count, it could be a telling innings in the context of the series.
Every Indian batter should put a price on their wicket. That’s the ask. Akash Deep needs to remind himself of what he did in Brisbane. Mohammed Siraj should try and do a Lord’s and with Washington and Nair still there, a lot can happen in this Indian innings. Add to it the fact that Woakes won’t bowl. With Jamie Overton and Tongue bowling, there will be loose balls and that’s where you need to cash in.
The other thing that should encourage India is that the ball moved all day. Even a 55-over ball was moving consistently and Akash Deep should be a handful in these conditions. The weather on Days 2 and 3 is expected to hold up well and I will be surprised if this doesn’t become another closely contested match.
It might yet again boil down to the first hour on the second morning. If India make the most of the old ball and get to 270, England will find the going tough. That is as good as 400 in Manchester and both teams will know that well. Add another 50 runs to the Indian total, for Woakes is not going to bowl in the second innings. All said and done, the scoreboard might show England are ahead, but the difference is marginal. And a good second morning could well even things out for India.
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