ENG vs IND 2018: Sachin Tendulkar Lauds Pacers After Impressive Show In Southampton

Sachin Tendulkar, on Thursday, lauded India pacers after they impressed again in the ongoing fourth England vs India Test at Southampton.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami continued to torment England as India took the upper hand on the opening day of the game. India finished the day on 19/0 in response to England’s first innings score of 246.

Joe Root did not hesitate in batting first after winning the toss again. However, for the second Test in a row, winning the toss proved to be a poisoned chalice for Root as England lost their first three wickets in a Test for less than 100 runs for the 22nd time since January 2017. In perfect swinging conditions, Bumrah, Shami, Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya returned to haunt England’s batsmen.

Bumrah gave India flying start by dismissing Keaton Jennings for a four-ball duck. Ishant Sharma then accounted for Root to put India well on top. Jonny Bairstow, playing as a specialist batsman at No. 4, nicked one from Bumrah behind to Rishabh Pant. And when Virat Kohli took a brilliant low catch, diving to his left at third slip to dismiss Alastair Cook for 17 off Hardik Pandya, England slipped to a miserable 36 for 4.

Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler got together again and tried to steady the ship. But both fell to Shami soon after lunch. At 86 for 6, England were looking set for a humiliating total. However, Sam Curran added 81 with Moeen Ali and 63 with Stuart Broad to guide them to 246.

Bumrah starred with the ball., picking up 3 while Shami and Ishant picked up two apiece. The latest show has only extended the Indian pacers’ fine show in recent times. In the ongoing series, they have taken 46 of the 56 English wickets.  Their strike-rate of 44.2 in this series is the best for any visiting team in a series in England in last 100 years.

The pace department has been garnering praise from all over and Sachin Tendulkar also joined the bandwagon in lavishing praise on it. The batting legend took to Twitter to praise the bowlers, writing:

“Another delightful bowling performance by our pacers! They have continuously hit the right lengths and extracted the most out of this pitch. “

Another delightful bowling performance by our pacers! They have continuously hit the right lengths and extracted the most out of this pitch. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/HdC4BPU5qi

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 30, 2018