Pope century leads England fightback against India at Headingley
Ollie Pope and his latest century spearheaded England to 209-3 after India was bowled out for 471 on Day Two, Saturday, of the test series opener at Headingley.
Pope was 100 not out and the leading scorer as England slashed its deficit to 262 runs by stumps and won the day.
Pope was far from perfect. He survived a testing opening spell from speedster Jasprit Bumrah in gloomy bowler-friendly conditions, narrowly avoided lbw on 34 and was dropped on 60.
He rode his luck to his ninth test hundred and second against India.
Bumrah was England's greatest threat as expected and took all three home wickets: Zac Crawley in the first over; Ben Duckett on 62 to break his and Pope's 122-run second-wicket partnership; and Joe Root on 28 to break his and Pope's 80-run third-wicket partnership.
Bumrah would have had a fourth wicket in the day's last over — Harry Brook without scoring — but he overstepped for the third time in the over. The world's best fast bowler was also the victim of two dropped catches in the field.
England wasn't expected to be batting soon after lunch.
India was 430-3 about half an hour before lunch. A total of at least 550 was on the cards but the demise of captain Shubman Gill for 147 sparked a collapse of 41-7 in 68 balls bridging lunch.
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Al Jazeera
7 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
Pope century leads England fightback against India at Headingley
Ollie Pope and his latest century spearheaded England to 209-3 after India was bowled out for 471 on Day Two, Saturday, of the test series opener at Headingley. Pope was 100 not out and the leading scorer as England slashed its deficit to 262 runs by stumps and won the day. Pope was far from perfect. He survived a testing opening spell from speedster Jasprit Bumrah in gloomy bowler-friendly conditions, narrowly avoided lbw on 34 and was dropped on 60. He rode his luck to his ninth test hundred and second against India. Bumrah was England's greatest threat as expected and took all three home wickets: Zac Crawley in the first over; Ben Duckett on 62 to break his and Pope's 122-run second-wicket partnership; and Joe Root on 28 to break his and Pope's 80-run third-wicket partnership. Bumrah would have had a fourth wicket in the day's last over — Harry Brook without scoring — but he overstepped for the third time in the over. The world's best fast bowler was also the victim of two dropped catches in the field. England wasn't expected to be batting soon after lunch. India was 430-3 about half an hour before lunch. A total of at least 550 was on the cards but the demise of captain Shubman Gill for 147 sparked a collapse of 41-7 in 68 balls bridging lunch.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Gill and Jaiswal help India hammer England on opening day of first Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill both score centuries for India on the first day of their Test tour of England. Centuries from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill, his first as skipper, fired India to a commanding position in their series opener against England, closing day one of the first test on an imposing 359-3. Despite the clear, humid Headingley conditions seemingly favouring the batting side, England chose to bowl first on Friday, knowing each of the previous six Leeds Tests had been won by the side bowling first. Ben Stokes's decision seemed ill-advised, with India openers KL Rahul and Jaiswal both looking in fine form, but Rahul fell for 42, with the England captain quickly removing debutant Sai Sudharsan for a duck from the final ball before lunch. Jaiswal and Gill steadied the ship in the afternoon session, however. The opener stormed to his fifth test century, with Gill's classy ton, an unbeaten 127, putting England on the back foot from the off in the five-match series. 'It was very special, it meant a lot to me,' Jaiswal told the official radio broadcaster for the series, the BBC. 'I really enjoyed it because I have worked so much before the series, after the IPL. 'I just wanted to get in and do something for my team, for my country and for myself after the work I have put it. I loved it. There is no secret. I just try to work very hard and have the will and desire to do well whenever I have the opportunity. I will just keep trying to put my team first.' The pressure was on Gill on his Test bow as captain, with a nation expecting a smooth transition following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Advertisement India's fifth-youngest captain at 25 found himself in the firing line in the blink of an eye, after England had initially toiled on an unusually humid Leeds day. Missing numerous front-line pace bowlers through injury, it was left to Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, to make the crucial breakthrough just as Rahul was settling in before debutant Sudharsan quickly followed him back to the pavilion. Supported by Jaiswal, who sailed to his sixth half century in 10 innings against England, Gill showed his class with his fastest-ever test 50. Sign up for Al Jazeera Breaking News Alert Get real-time breaking news alerts and stay up-to-date with the most important headlines from around the globe. Subscribe Your subscription failed. Please try again. Please check your email to confirm your subscription By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy protected by reCAPTCHA Jaiswal, despite receiving treatment for an injury to his hand throughout the afternoon session, quickly retook the limelight from the skipper racing to his fifth century from just 20 matches, and his third against England, to pile the misery on the hosts' beleaguered bowlers. After Stokes struck to clean bowl Jaiswal, who departed for 101, ending the third wicket stand of 129, Gill and Rishabh Pant continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with a drive through the covers taking the skipper to his first test century outside of Asia. Pant finished off a memorable day for India by reaching his half-century with a bizarre-looking shot, leaving England with a mountain to climb to avoid getting their summer off to a losing start. 'It was a tough day, but we will get our opportunity to bat soon,' England coach Tim Southee said. 'We will come back tomorrow and try to make some inroads. 'The guys are good. The strength of this side is that things can be tough at times, but they try to not to get too caught up in the emotions of bad days.'
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Rishabh Pant shares India's batting line-up change for England Tests
Agencies As India prepares for the crucial Test series against England, newly appointed vice-captain Rishabh Pant has affirmed a significant change in the team's batting order for the first Test, revealing that Shubman Gill will take up the No.4 spot, while Pant himself will bat at No.5. 'I think there is still discussion going on, who is going to play No.3. But definitely No.4 and No.5 are fixed,' Pant began. 'I think Shubman is going to bat at No.4 and I'm going to stick to No.5 as of now. And rest, we are going to keep on discussing about that.' This change signals a major reshuffle in India's top order, triggered by the double retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill, who began his career as an opener and was later moved to No.3, will now take up the No.4 position alongwith the responsibility of filling a massive void left by Kohli. The No.3 position, however, remains up for grabs wherein Sai Sudharsan is considered a strong contender for the spot, alongwith the returning batter Karun Nair. Both the players have been in outstanding form leading up to the red-ball series against England, making the selection an intriguing decision for the team management. India have picked a young squad led by a new Test captain and will be without the experience of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. This would be the first time since 2011 when India will play a Test match without at least one of those three stalwarts being present. 'Obviously, it's a new start for us, big people have left. Yes, there will be a gap, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to build a new culture from here or take a culture forward from there, just adding to it,' said Pant, acknowledging the gap in experience. 'I think being in a great frame of mind, helping the new players to learn and improve themselves in overseas conditions and sharing knowledge with each other, having that care and love in the dressing room for each other — that is something we are looking forward to do.' Shubman Gill is set to captain the side for the first time, with Rishabh Pant serving as his deputy. Despite their relative inexperience in leadership roles, Pant believes that his strong camaraderie with the new skipper will be a big positive for this fresh-looking Indian team. 'I think me and Shubman have a really good camaraderie off the field — especially off the field. If you're good friends off the field, it eventually comes on the field.' 'It's much better for cricket always, and that is something I've always believed in. Me and him, we get along really well together. We keep on having conversations, and the kind of comfort zone we have with each other — I think that is really going to be special for us.'
