In willing to look ugly, England ended up looking better than they have in a long time this series.
Though all the intent, positivity and application could only get them so far as 205 all out in 75.5 overs on the opening day of the fourth Test against India at the Narendra Modi stadium in Motera on Thursday, they at least showed that they weren’t in India for a participation badge.
They also managed to pick up the wicket of Shubman Gill to ensure the day didn’t tilt heavily in favour of the hosts. India finished the day on 24/1 from 12 overs to trail the visitors by 181 runs at stumps with Rohit Sharma (8 n.o.) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15 n.o.) to take guard on Friday.
As cosy as the situation seems, India will not want to take this situation lightly. Given the harsh sun in Ahmedabad, the pitch will deteriorate far quicker. Also, England have entered this contest with two full-time spinners in Jack Leach and Dom Bess, and have Dan Lawrence and Joe Root to go to when the need arises.
On the opening day, though, the pacers dictated terms for a far longer period than they were allowed to in the two preceding Tests. While Ishant Sharma was sporadically effective, Mohammad Siraj (in place of Jasprit Bumrah), consistency landed the ball in areas batsmen typically have a problem with and ended with the crucial wickets of Root (5) and Jonny Bairstow (28).
The pace duo sent down a combined 23 overs for 68 runs and two wickets. A useful base for the spin trio of Axar Patel (4/68), R Ashwin (3/47) and Washington Sundar (1/14) to build on. They accounted for eight wickets, that too on a pitch which didn’t assist them to a point where their skills seemed redundant.
When the toss was won, Root understood that their best chance of a decent tally was to bat first and hope his batsmen remember some of what was discussed, incessantly perhaps, at team meetings since the second Test in Chennai.
It eventually came to light that they did and didn’t in equal measure.
Unlike the previous two games where sub-standard batting remained in the background while the pitch and the ball (to some degree) were front and centre, this time around, quality bowling from India’s well-rotated unit dictated the narrative.
Virat Kohli, the skipper, read the wicket expertly and went to the pacemen when he felt the need. Even when Axar picked up his first scalp of the game in the sixth over, Kohli didn’t immediately bring Ashwin on. He allowed Siraj to get into the thick of things, even enabling a war of words between the left-arm seamer and Stokes.
In fact, the spin tandem only came together in the 23rd over. By then, however, Stokes (55), in particular, looked immaculate. Crisp footwork, clarity in shot selection and unparalleled confidence in every stroke.
Stokes looked the long-game, but for Kohli’s decision to bring on Washington and rid India of what could have quickly turned into an untenable stay. Washington’s consistency was key in the dismissal but Stokes’ lapse in judgement meant the left-hander didn’t stretch to the pitch of the ball enough to counter the lbw decision.
Speaking of errors, Lawrance (46) looked in cracking nick from the get-go, smashing eight boundaries - including two stunning straight drives, but as England’s tail began to show, he lost patience. Premeditating and subsequently charging out to Axar, he was stumped by Rishabh Pant, tainting the wonderful innings with a moment of madness.