India's Lower Order Deny England

The first test match between England and India will mostly be remembered for the incredibly flat pitch and the huge amount of runs both team's lower orders made in a stalemate between the two. Numerous records were broken including Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson’s partnership of 198 being the highest 10th wicket partnership in the history of test match cricket. Jimmy Anderson’s 81 was the third highest score by a number 11 batsman and Bhuvneshwar Kumar became only the second number 9 to score two 50s in a test match, after Peter Siddle achieved this feat in 2013. These extraordinary records highlight both teams’ struggles to dismiss the tail and ultimately fall short of victory.

The first day started with India winning the toss and electing to bat first on a seemingly flat track. England brought about an early breakthrough when Anderson dismissed opener Shikhar Dhawan for 12 but India safely negotiated to lunch on 106-1. England then made two quick breakthroughs to leave India 107-3 and India were wobbling a touch when Rahane was out to Plunkett for 32 to leave the tourists 178-4. Murali Vijay scored a sublime hundred before the end of play, his first outside the subcontinent before captain Dhoni added a stylish 50 to leave India 259-4 at the end of day 1.

Day two started with India comfortably crossing 300 before the first wicket of the day fell with the score on 304 and it was Vijay who departed for a very well made 146 to Anderson, in a dubious LBW decision. India reached lunch on 342-5 before a typical Indian collapse started. They lost 4 wickets for 2 runs to leave them with a seemingly below par score at 346-9. But to England’s dismay, Kumar and Mohammed Shami added 111 with both batsmen scoring their first half centuries in their Indian career. Kumar was eventually out for 58 as India were bowled out for 457. There was however still time for England’s captain Alistair Cook to be dismissed for 5, prolonging his dismal form. England ended day 2 at 43-1.

England began day three brightly moving past a hundred with both Robson and Ballance passing 50. Both batsmen were then out in a relatively short time with Ian Bell following soon after to leave the hosts 172-4 after being 134-1. England then followed India’s example in the first innings to collapse to 202-7 putting themselves in all sorts of trouble. But just like England struggled to dismiss India’s tail, India followed suit as Stuart Broad added a quick fire 47 of just 42 balls before being adjudged LBW to Kumar to leave England 280-8. Kumar then added his fourth wicket to leave England 298-9, still over 150 behind India. However it was India who left the field feeling frustrated as Root and Anderson added 50 runs for the last wicket to end the day not out.

The fourth day arrived with India hoping to get the elusive wicket quickly with a lead of around 80-90 but things soon started going pear-shaped rather quickly. Joe Root brought up his hundred as England blasted 50 runs in the opening 10 overs of the day. Thanks to India’s rather defensive tactics, Jimmy Anderson and Joe Root put on easy runs as Anderson scored his first ever 50 in any form of cricket as England rapidly approached India’s first innings score. Joe Root brought up his 150 before Anderson fell to Kumar, who claimed his 5 wicket haul to leave England with 496 after that mammoth last wicket stand of 198, which gave England a slender but priceless lead of 39. India’s openers looked untroubled before Dhawan fell cheaply to Ali but Vijay and Pujara cruised to take India to 130-1. Both passed 50 and looked in little trouble before like Dhawan, they gave away their wickets cheaply to leave India 167-3 and the close of play, 128 ahead.

The fifth and final day began with England in search of quick wickets to put India under pressure to try and force an unlikely victory. Their plans worked as India lost 3 wickets for 17 runs to leave themselves 184-6, just 145 ahead. Binny and Jadeja came to the crease and looked assured early on. They added a vital 65 before Jadeja fell to Anderson to put India on 249-7, just over 200 ahead. Binny then made his maiden 50 on test debut as India crawled ever close to safety. He then fell for 78 to Ali to leave India 340-8, with a draw all put confirmed. There was still time for Kumar to add his second 50 of the match before England’s captain Alistair Cook brought himself into the attack and took his first ever test wicket dismissing Ishant Sharma for 13 before India declared at 391-9, which confirmed the draw.

Overall both teams would agree that a draw was a fair result but both sides had chances to win the match. The final consensus will be that the pitch was ultimately too flat to force a result and both teams move on to Lords for the second test match, starting later this week.