Cricket: England fight back on second day of first test against India
India's Rishabh Pant celebrates reaching his century on day two of the first cricket test match between England and India at Headingley cricket ground, 21 June 2025.
Photo:
DARREN STAPLES
A superb unbeaten century from Ollie Pope has helped
drag England back
into the first test against India at Headingley, with the home side closing day two in the first of five tests on 209-3, 262 runs behind the touring side.
India were cruising late in the morning session on 430-3, only to be all out for 471, England taking the last seven wickets in an hour either side of lunch to give themselves hope of mounting a comeback following a disappointing day one.
In reply, in more difficult, overcast conditions, test cricket's top-ranked bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, struck to remove England opener Zak Crawley for four before Ben Duckett and Pope steadied the ship.
Bumrah broke their 122-run second-wicket partnership when he bowled Duckett for 62 before Joe Root became the Indian dangerman's next victim moments after Pope had reached his second successive test ton.
Root was caught at slip for 28 and Harry Brook was very fortunate to survive in the final over when he was caught at mid-wicket off a Bumrah no ball, but the day still belonged to the home side.
"We couldn't have done much more with the ball today," Duckett told the BBC.
"They could have got 600 plus so to bowl them out for under 500 we are pleased.
"We are in a good spot and if we win the first session tomorrow we are really in this game."
Resuming on 359-3, India captain Shubman Gill quickly moved past his highest test score and he was supported by the flamboyant Rishabh Pant as India took control in the morning session.
Pant was sweeping and scooping to his heart's content, often ending up on his knees, fittingly moving to his seventh test ton with another six into the crowd, celebrated with a somersault.
Gill fell for 147 chasing another maximum, while Pant's thrilling innings came to a halt when he was trapped lbw by Josh Tongue for 134. The wicketkeeper's dismissal sparked an Indian collapse as the visitors lost their last five wickets for 18 runs.
Bumrah then did his best to swing the game back in India's favour. After Crawley was caught in the slips, Duckett was dropped on 15 and survived a DRS review, both off the bowling of the Indian talisman.
Another fine sweep shot took Duckett to his 14th test half-century just before tea, before Bumrah got his reward for keeping England under pressure.
Root was given out lbw on seven, a decision that was overturned following a DRS review, while Pope was dropped by opening day centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal on 60.
The joy from Pope's ninth test century was short-lived, however, as Bumrah continued to cause problems. Root edged another ferocious delivery to slip, before Brook's fortunate reprieve after his poor shot looped into the air.
"It was a bit of a collapse, we were expecting better than that," India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters.
"But it can happen. We should have got more runs. So nobody was really happy in the dressing room."
- Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Cricket: England fight back on second day of first test against India
India's Rishabh Pant celebrates reaching his century on day two of the first cricket test match between England and India at Headingley cricket ground, 21 June 2025. Photo: DARREN STAPLES A superb unbeaten century from Ollie Pope has helped drag England back into the first test against India at Headingley, with the home side closing day two in the first of five tests on 209-3, 262 runs behind the touring side. India were cruising late in the morning session on 430-3, only to be all out for 471, England taking the last seven wickets in an hour either side of lunch to give themselves hope of mounting a comeback following a disappointing day one. In reply, in more difficult, overcast conditions, test cricket's top-ranked bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, struck to remove England opener Zak Crawley for four before Ben Duckett and Pope steadied the ship. Bumrah broke their 122-run second-wicket partnership when he bowled Duckett for 62 before Joe Root became the Indian dangerman's next victim moments after Pope had reached his second successive test ton. Root was caught at slip for 28 and Harry Brook was very fortunate to survive in the final over when he was caught at mid-wicket off a Bumrah no ball, but the day still belonged to the home side. "We couldn't have done much more with the ball today," Duckett told the BBC. "They could have got 600 plus so to bowl them out for under 500 we are pleased. "We are in a good spot and if we win the first session tomorrow we are really in this game." Resuming on 359-3, India captain Shubman Gill quickly moved past his highest test score and he was supported by the flamboyant Rishabh Pant as India took control in the morning session. Pant was sweeping and scooping to his heart's content, often ending up on his knees, fittingly moving to his seventh test ton with another six into the crowd, celebrated with a somersault. Gill fell for 147 chasing another maximum, while Pant's thrilling innings came to a halt when he was trapped lbw by Josh Tongue for 134. The wicketkeeper's dismissal sparked an Indian collapse as the visitors lost their last five wickets for 18 runs. Bumrah then did his best to swing the game back in India's favour. After Crawley was caught in the slips, Duckett was dropped on 15 and survived a DRS review, both off the bowling of the Indian talisman. Another fine sweep shot took Duckett to his 14th test half-century just before tea, before Bumrah got his reward for keeping England under pressure. Root was given out lbw on seven, a decision that was overturned following a DRS review, while Pope was dropped by opening day centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal on 60. The joy from Pope's ninth test century was short-lived, however, as Bumrah continued to cause problems. Root edged another ferocious delivery to slip, before Brook's fortunate reprieve after his poor shot looped into the air. "It was a bit of a collapse, we were expecting better than that," India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters. "But it can happen. We should have got more runs. So nobody was really happy in the dressing room." - Reuters
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Cricket: Gill and Jaiswal centuries put India in control against England
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates. Photo: AFP 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, knowing each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first. Ben Stokes' 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 storming 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. 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. India's fifth-youngest captain at 25 found himself in the firing line in the blink of an eye, after England had toiled initially on an unusually humid Leeds day. Missing numerous frontline 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. Jaiswal, despite receiving treatment for an injury to his hand throughout the afternoon session, quickly retook the limelight from the skipper storming to his fifth century from just 20 matches, a 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 mountain to climb to avoid getting their summer off to a losing start. - Reuters Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Cricket: England and India to play for new test trophy
Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson. Photo: AFP England and India will play for a new test series trophy named after cricket greats James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar when their five-match series starts tonight in Leeds. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be awarded in all future test series between the two sides, replacing the Pataudi Trophy in England and the Anthony De Mello Trophy in India. The newly designed trophy features the engraved signatures and action images of the two most-capped players in test cricket. Tendulkar played 200 matches and scored 15,921 runs, the most in the format, while Anderson, who announced his retirement earlier this year, took 704 wickets in 188 tests, the most by a fast bowler. The seamer ranks third on the all-time list, behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. "For me, test cricket embodies life... It is the highest form of the game that teaches you endurance, discipline and adaptability, against all odds," Tendulkar said. "India and England have played a big role in shaping Test cricket in a way that it remains an evolving inspiration for subsequent generations. And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more - allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden." Anderson added: "The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments. "To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I'm looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer." The Pataudi Trophy, introduced in 2007, was named in honour of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the only cricketer to play tests for both India and England, and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, former India captain. The ECB said the Pataudi family will continue to be honoured, with a new Pataudi Medal to be presented to the winning captain after each series. - Reuters
