Getting up for four in the morning was always going to be difficult. When it is for something, we love, we will always make sacrifices. To see Test cricket back on terrestrial television was still going to be one of those moments. I don’t think it will be something I often do.
The notes of ‘Mumbo Number Five’ were reassuring. The studio
chat was never a concern for me, and I thought it was okay. When you consider
that they had less than a week to get things done, it was admirable.
What I was here for was the cricket. England playing in
India would make intriguing viewing how England’s batsmen would face up to
India’s bowling attack? Do England have the bowlers to take 20 wickets.
England went with the side most expected to them to pick
even if Joe Root looked confused at the toss. It was his last moment of
nervousness; he batted for a long proportion of the day to end it unbeaten on
128.
It was a continuation of Root’s good form this year, having
struck two centuries against Sri Lanka, last month Root showed just how much he
enjoys batting in India.
With the return of Rory Burns, England looked more stable at
the top order. India’s bowlers offer different threats than Sri Lanka’s, and
with pace from the get-go, it was more to England’s liking.
England are striving for a top-order that allows an aggressive
middle-order to bat them into strong positions. Burns and Dominic Sibley proved
that by putting on 63 for the first wicket.
Whatever your thoughts of Burns shot that saw him depart for
33 it did not prove too costly for England, although Dan Lawrence might agree
with you as he was trapped in front for a five-ball duck.
England teams of old might have folded even on a decent
track. Root is in the type of form that suggested he might be among the best of
his generation. What more encouraging was the way that Sibley went about things.
He batted sensibly allowing Root to take centre stage.
It was disappointing to see him fall to the last ball of the
day, but the job he was in the side for was then done. He occupied the
crease and with Root added 200 for the third wicket. On a personal note, Sibley
would have welcomed another 13 runs and another day to bat on.
Lawerence and Sibley became Jasprit Bumrah’s first test
wicket’s in India in his first Test in his home country.
So what can we expect on day two? England will look for
another solid first session, blunting the new ball and making India’s bowlers
have to work hard. With Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler England have
players who can take a game away from you in a hurry, and if they all play
around Root England could be in the driving seat by the end of the day.
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