Leeds – England shot out India for a paltry 78 and cruised to 120 without loss in a robust reply to take early control of the third Test on Wednesday at Headingley.
Complementing the bowlers’ effort, Haseeb Hamid and Rory Burns batted through rest of the opening day forging England’s best opening partnership in the series so far.
Hamid celebrated his promotion to the opener’s role with an unbeaten 60, while Burns was on 52 at stumps with England 42 runs ahead and on course for a big first-innings lead.
“It’s been a great day for us and topped off by being none down overnight,” seamer Craig Overton, who claimed 3-14, told Sky Sports.
“It’s good for us bowlers to get some rest and be ready to go when we’re back out there.
“We know they’re a good bowling attack, we know it will still be hard tomorrow, so we need to work hard to bat them out of the game.”
India captain Virat Kohli won the toss, but he was left to rue his decision to bat as edges after edges kept flying into Jos Buttler’s waiting gloves behind the stumps.
The ageless James Anderson alone forced three of them in his magical spell that read 8-5-6-3.
India are 1-0 up in the five-Test series having won the ill-tempered second Test at Lord’s, where heated words were exchanged and tailenders from both sides were subjected to a bouncer barrage.
The visitors fielded an unchanged squad, while England brought in Dawid Malan for Dom Sibley, while Overton replaced an injured Mark Wood.
Summarised scores:
INDIA 78 (Rohit Sharma 19, Ajinkya Rahane 18; James Anderson 3-6, Craig Overton 3-14, Ollie Robinson 2-16, Sam Curran 2-27). ENGLAND 120 without loss (Haseeb Hameed 60 not out, Rory Burns 52 not out).
(Reuters)
