England – The Happier Side At Stumps on Day 3
The 3rd day’s play in the 4th test between India and England at Old Trafford, Manchester saw the crucial tie drift further into England’s lap. England closed out the day at 544/7 a good 186 runs ahead of India. The hosts scored 319 runs in the day, losing 5 wickets in the process, a bargain they would be much happier with than their opposition.
A Day Of Root & Tumbling Records
The day, however, belonged to Joe Root, who in one day progressed from 5th in the all-time Test run-getters list to 2nd, eclipsing Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and on-air Ricky Ponting. In the process, Root recorded his 38th hundred in his 157th test match, his 21st ton in the last 4 years. A tremendous achievement for the 34-year-old, who is now just behind India’s cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar.
A Determined Root Puts England in Command
Joe Root’s innings was a display of great technique, loads of patience, lots of grit and an insurmountable determination. There was nothing flashy about it, but pure, hard test cricket and the almost elusive grind. The innings was a reflection of the way Root has played in the last 5 years.
Root – A Story Of Perseverance & Dogged Resolve
Dogged resolve and persistence have been the hallmark of Root’s success. There are hardly any chinks in his armour, and if he decides to buckle down and shut the door, it is very difficult to get the better of him. The skill to play the ball late, sublime timing, the ability to find gaps consistently, and a formidable temperament have made Joe Root what he is today. No guessing, he has a great chance of reaching the pinnacle with time on his hands.
A Struggle For Indian Bowlers
The Indian bowlers gave their all, but struggled at times. With drooping shoulders, the pace dropped too. Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur were ineffective to say the least, which put lots of pressure on Bumrah and Siraj to deliver. With long spells and tiring bodies, the signs were ominous, as England batted well and took advantage.
Washington Sundar: The Only Spark
Washington Sundar was the only spark for India. His brilliant drift and the swirl in the air foxed both Ollie Pope and Harry Brook. The two quick wickets just after lunch gave India a glimmer of hope, but then Root and Stokes with their belligerence, just completely shut the door.
Dawson & Stokes Play Safe
Sundar was under-bowled by Shubman Gill as India lost the initiative. Root departed for 150, followed by Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes. But Liam Dawson ( he has scored more than 10k runs with 18 hundreds in domestic cricket) and Ben Stokes safely negotiated the rest of the day’s play.
England Hold The Cards
With a healthy lead and still some batting to come, England will look to pile up the lead against India. The visitors need to polish off the remaining 3 wickets in quick time and restrict the lead to under 200.
An exciting Day 4 awaits. England are in front at the moment. Let us see how India responds.
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