Chennai: Joe Root’s 100th Test has so far gone almost exactly as he’d have hoped. He scored a century to mark the occasion and, by stumps on the opening day at Chennai on Friday (February 5). England were 263/3.
Root scored a fine 128*, continuing his excellent form from Sri Lanka, where he scored a double-century and a century in two Tests. As for India, there was a consolation late in the day, when Jasprit Bumrah had Dom Sibley trapped in front on 87 to break a 200-run stand. However, the home side will be aware of the threat that England, with their long batting line-up, now pose.
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Root opted to bat on a pitch that, despite initial assumptions, played out as among the more flatter first-day tracks. It wasn’t straightforward for the Indian bowlers, against batsmen determined to make themselves difficult to dislodge.
Sibley and Rory Burns almost ensured India had no joy in the first session. With their unique, unorthodox styles, they ploughed away at the Indian attack, notching up a 50-run opening partnership, and had it not been for Burns’ rush of blood, England may well have gone into the first break without losing a wicket.
Jasprit Bumrah breaks the solid 200-run stand between Dom Sibley and Joe Root, and it's stumps in Chennai!
England lose their opener for 87.#INDvENG | https://t.co/gnj5x4GOos pic.twitter.com/jt868a591f
— ICC (@ICC) February 5, 2021
As it turned out, Burns, in a bid to counter Ashwin’s line from over the wicket, attempted a reverse sweep. He missed it, and lobbed the easiest chance to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. The breakthrough exposed the young Dan Lawrence to Jasprit Bumrah, brought immediately back into the attack by Virat Kohli, and the paceman proved too good for the youngster on this occasion, jagging one in to trap him plumb in front.
England were 63/2, and in the few overs that remained before Lunch, India had their tail up. England did well to go in without losing another wicket. Thereafter, it was all England, and that was down to some smart batting. Sibley and Root had their guard up against India’s experienced bowlers – Ashwin, Bumrah and Ishant Sharma – and only really attempted anything against them when the chance presented itself.
However, against Shahbaz Nadeem, the left-arm spinner, and offspinner Washington Sundar, both of whom were playing just their second Tests, they adopted a more assertive approach, particularly Root. He used his feet, he employed the sweep, and he ensured the runs never dried up. In doing so, England forced Kohli into turning to his senior bowlers more than he’d have liked.
While Sibley was watchful and conservative, albeit effective, Root was a joy to watch. Here was an England captain, playing some of his best cricket, on a landmark occasion. He brought up his half-century shortly after Sibley had done so himself, but then raced away – his 50 came in 110 deliveries, but he took just a further 54 deliveries to bring up his century.
It was all going swimmingly for England until the final over of the day, when Bumrah speared in a trademark yorker. Sibley didn’t see it coming, and was trapped in front. Perhaps hoping that it was sliding down leg, the opener reviewed the decision, only to be told it was clean – he was disappointed as he walked off, but on the whole, it was a good day for England.
Brief scores: England 263/3 (Joe Root 128*, Dominic Sibley 87; Jasprit Bumrah 2-40) vs India.
