Michael Vaughan feels that the Indian team without Ravindra Jadeja in home conditions gives an advantage to the visitors
Our Bureau
Chennai
England batsman Joe Root on Saturday became the second skipper to hit three successive 150-plus runs after Australian legendary batsman Sir Don Bradman.
Root achieved the feat in the first Test against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Root, playing his landmark 100th test, remained unbeaten on 153 runs at lunch break on day two. Root had scored 228 and 186 in his previous two Tests in Sri Lanka. He is the 7th player to make 150-plus runs in three consecutive Tests as he joins an elite list including Tom Latham, Kumar Sangakkara (4 consecutive Tests), Mudassar Nazar, Zaheer Abbas, Don Bradman, and Wally Hammond.
Resuming day two at 263/3, Root and Stokes saw off the first hour with ease, and run-scoring was done at a good pace. In the first sixty minutes, both England batters managed to add 40 runs. Both Root and Stokes marched on and the first session saw them bringing up their 150 and 50 respectively. The Indians were not able to get any wickets in the first session. Stokes and Root have extended their partnership to 92 runs. On the first day of the Test, Root had registered his century and he was also involved in a 200-run stand with opening batsman Dom Sibley.
Former cricketer VVS Laxman heaped praise on Joe Root after the England skipper hit a hundred in his 100th Test on day one of the opening match against India on Friday. Laxman loved Root’s technique and approach against Indian spinners.
Root, playing his 100th Test on Friday, hit an unbeaten 128 runs off 197 balls. It was also Root’s third consecutive hundred in the longest format of the game. The England skipper had hit 228 and 186 runs against Sri Lanka in January. “Magnificent 100 in his 100th Test for @root66Its been a Subcontinent masterclass yet again. Loved his technique and approach especially against Spinners. #INDvsENG #class #leadingfromthefront,” Laxman tweeted.
Former India Test batsman Wasim Jaffer lauded Root for leading England from the front with his ton in his 100th Test.
Great way to start the series, skipper leading from the front and showing the way! Well played @root6 100 in 100th test #INDvENG,” Jaffer tweeted.
Root and Dom Sibley put England in control in the first Test, forming a stunning 200-run partnership on the opening day. At stumps, England’s score read 263/3 with Root playing on 128 runs. However, India ended the day on a high as Bumrah dismissed Sibley (87) in the 90th over.
Opting to bat first, Sibley and Rory Burns provided England with a good start. India did have a very good opportunity to send Burns back to the pavilion cheaply but wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant dropped the catch off Bumrah’s first delivery of the second over.
The duo then played cautiously to avoid any hiccups in the initial overs, taking the team over the 50-run mark.
Root, along with Sibley, steadied England’s innings and played some fine shots. Both kept the scoreboard ticking and took the team to the 100-run mark in the 44th over. Root and Sibley kept on building their partnership while Indian bowlers struggled to get a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, dormer England skipper Michael Vaughan said that the Indian team without Ravindra Jadeja in home conditions gives an advantage to the visitors.
Hosts are without the services of all-rounder Jadeja for the first two Tests of the four-match series against England as he is nursing a thumb injury that he sustained on the tour of Australia. “Think I may need to change my series prediction … !!! #India without @imjadeja in these conditions gives England a sniff … Plus this England Test team are playing high quality Test cricket !!!#INDvENG,” Vaughan tweeted.
India are playing with two spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin and Shahbaz Nadeem — in the opening Test. England have so far dominated with the bat in the first Test after winning the toss at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
