On what was forgettable for the Joe Root-led England, the visitors had a moment of savor as they became the first side in the history of Test match cricket to concede the most number of runs in an innings without giving away a single extra.
England started the second day of the ongoing Test needing quick wickets and that is exactly what they did. Moeen Ali claimed two wickets in the very first over of the day while Olly Stone knocked over Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj in his first six balls to ensure that India did not get close to the 350-run mark.
India’s innings ended at 329, which has now become the highest total ever conceded by a side without giving a single extra. There were no wides, no no balls, no byes, and leg-byes, and the feat is as much a testimony to the discipline of the English bowling unit as it is to the impeccable keeping behind the stumps by Ben Foakes.
The previous record was held by India, who conceded 328 runs against Pakistan in Lahore way back in 1954-55 without giving away any extra in the innings.
Highest totals not including an extra
329 Ind vs Eng Chennai 2020/21 *
328 Pak vs Ind Lahore 1954/55
252 SA vs Eng Durban 1930/31
247 SA vs Eng Nottingham 1960#INDvENG— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) February 14, 2021
Prior to that, England were the proud holders of the record on two different occasions. During the summer of 1960, England conceded 247 runs against the Proteas in Nottingham without giving a single extra.
The original record was also set by the ‘Three Lions’ against South Africa way back in 1930-31 in Durban where the latter scored 252 runs without getting any extra from their opponents.
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