India vs England 1st Test Match, Leeds: Day Three

India vs England 1st Test Match, Leeds

Day Three :

Cricket at its glorious best, three days of fascinating game with honors tilting either side and post third day, the game is now open for a result unless there is a disruption due to unpredictable English weather.

Lot of questions for introspection; whether Ashdeep would have been better choice than Prasidh Krishna, what role Shardul played in this test? Indian team management missed the mixed weather conditions or a preset mind !

The game.

Brooks perturbed by Bumrah previous day, the last six balls he faced must have been a nightmare for him, but the way he started the day is something phenomenal. Brooks belted every bowler with maximum onslaught to Prasidh Krishna, Siraj and to some extent even Bunrah. He was pick of the English batters, taking charge on 3rd day with a well made 99, missing a much deserved Century. The rush of the blood and to cross the hurdle with Pant like aggression with a six, only miscued his shot off Prasidh to be caught in the deep by Shardul. It was a big relief for the visitors but by that time he had put England in somewhat competitive position with score at 453 for 8 and England finished their innings at 465 runs falling 6 runs short of India’s first innings score.

Pope couldn’t add much to his overnight score but Stokes (20), Smith(40) also did contributed to this score. The tail enders Woakes (38) and Carse (22) chipped in with the bat much to the delight of the home team supporters.

The advantage India had till the second day was nullified by sloppy fielding with two dropped catches of Brook at 46 and again at 82. England continued their scoring in the first session of the day only to be contained for some time with second new ball in the second session.

Bumrah was again the best amongst the Indian bowling attack scalping 5 wickets for 83 runs in 24.4 overs , his 14th five wicket haul in test, a remarkable feat indeed. The other bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Siraj though got 5 wickets amongst them but it was at a big cost of giving away 250 runs together. Jadeja with some turn and bounce was by far the most economical bowler with an average of 2.96 runs per over bowling 23 overs.

With a slender lead of 6 runs India started the innings to display their disciplined batting as put up by the openers in their first innings , but a momentarily lapse of concentration by Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) costing his wicket with only 16 runs on the board. It was a big wicket for England, as he would have been a real threat to the home team in the second innings. Sai Sudarshan the talented batter joined KL Rahul to prove himself, started his 2nd innings with couple of tentative shots slowly gaining confidence. India were cruising confidently to a decent total with KL Rahul playing some majestic drives off the front foot and also few elegant strokes all around when suddenly Ben Stokes came again forcing Sai Sudarshan to fall in his trap by getting him caught off his legs at short mid wicket. This was the second time in a row Sai falling to Stokes. He walks back with 30 runs in his kitty. At 82 for 2 Gill walks in to take charge of the situation. It now depends on KL Rahul and Subhman Gill to play the anchor role and to take India to a winning position.

At around 6 PM local time Umpires took the decision to call it a day as it was now drizzling hard and hover cover was ready to be brought in for immediate protection of the wicket. Ben Stokes though was insisting to play but Umpires did took the correct decision.

The game is now evenly poised with two days to go. The team with their disciplined approach will have the upper hand, it is for the home team to comeback with a bowling vengeance and visitors with their established bating skills to prove themselves.

A good 4th and 5th day Cricket awaits for the respective supporters but for the weather which shouldn’t play a spoil sports.

As mentioned 3rd day of test match takes you forward, and with 3rd days play, it has paved the path for an interesting 4th and 5th day game ahead.

The wicket playing good, weather permitting will 350+ runs be a winning lead with India at 90 for ?

Lot of questions will be answered on the 4th day.