England vs India 2018, 3rd Test: Stat - The Pacers Bagged 19 off 20 English Wickets

Team India produced a sensational comeback in the five-match Test series by winning the Trent Bridge game by 203 runs and made the scoreline look 1-2 in England’s favour.

Not many would have predicted a strong Indian showing especially after the drubbing they faced in the 2^nd Test at Lord’s. However, India had the confidence and silenced all the critics who had been questioning the quality of the team in the overseas conditions. Given the kind of form the English batters have been in, a 3-2 comeback might well be on the cards.

For the seventh time in the last eight Tests, the bowlers took all the 20 wickets which gave India the much-needed foundation for a brilliant victory. The bowlers had risen to the occasion even in the opening Test. However, the batters didn’t live up to their reputation, and hence India lost the match by a close margin of 31 runs.

Even at Lord’s, the bowlers kept India in the match after they were bowled out for just 107 runs in the first innings. However, it was a Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes’ partnership which turned out the match in England’s favour. Later in the third game, India came back stunningly by registering a comprehensive victory by 203 runs.

The bowlers were yet again the trump card for India. However, the victory was possible due to the contributions from the batsmen. Virat Kohli continued his excellent run and scored 97 and a century across two innings. Ajinkya Rahane also stormed back to form with an 81 in the 1^st innings. Cheteshwar Pujara also spent some quality time in the middle and scored 72.

However, the Indian pacers bagged 19 among the 20 wickets which fell for England. Only the last wicket went to Ravichandran Ashwin when a great slider bamboozled James Anderson. It was just in the series against South Africa that the pacers had bagged all the 20 wickets in a Test. However, the fast bowlers have taken 18 wickets thrice in the past.

It was back in 1996 when it happened the first time. The match was against South Africa when the Indian pacers bagged 18 wickets. The other two occasions were against the Windies in 1997 and Sri Lanka in 2001.

Here is the list

20 v South Africa, Johannesburg, 2018

19 v England, Nottingham, 2018*

18 v South Africa, Durban, 1996

18 v Windies, Bridgetown, 1997

18 v Sri Lanka, Kandy, 2001