India’s batsmen failed once again but the bowlers struggled to skip the fourth Test against England, interestingly towards the end of day one at The Oval. Shardul Thakur hit the fastest Test half-century in England in terms of balls faced, which, along with Virat Kohli’s 50, helped India post 191. Jasprit Bumrah hit Umesh Yadav twice before getting the crucial wicket of Joe Root as England went to stumps 53 for 3.
The recalled all-rounder Thakur, who hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury during the draw series opener at Trent Bridge, went tough with India 117-6 after losing the toss on the opening day of the fourth Test.
But Thakur, in his fourth match at this level, responded with a scintillating performance of clean hitting, scoring a fifty off just 31 balls, including six fours and three sixes, before eventually turning 57 to oppose the all-rounder. But got lbw. Chris Woakes.
Thakur’s half-century surpassed England great Ian Botham’s 32 balls against New Zealand at the Oval in 1986, the fastest half-century in a Test in England.
India captain Virat Kohli, who scored exactly 50 runs, was the only other batsman to score 17 runs in the innings after England captain Joe Root won the toss.
Woakes, playing his first Test in over a year due to injuries and Covid complications, scored 4-55 runs in 15 overs.
But the Warwickshire pacer, who had replaced left-arm swing bowler Sam Curran, would have had even better figures had he not missed two catches. Root dismissed Kohli for a 22.
With the ball in hand, Bumrah dismissed Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed in the same over. Burns was bowled while Hameed was caught behind. Root and David Malan attacked without risky shots and looked ready to take the team to the stumps.
However, Umesh dismissed him for 21 in a swift one through Root’s gate. Nightwatchman Craig Overton was at the stumps with Malan.
The five-match series is tied 1-1 after England’s innings and 76-run victory in the third Test at Headingley last week.
(AFP + CricketNext staff)
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