England vs India 2018, 4th Test, Day 1: Sam Curran Leads England Recovery after Early Jitters

India finished day one of the 4th Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton in a slightly advantageous position. Sam Curran ensured England reached a competitive 246 in their 1st innings. It looked impossible when they got reduced to 86/6 at one stage.

India put England under pressure at Southampton

The Indian bowlers were very impressive at the start of the innings. However, the lower order batters defied them for a long time. Before stumps, India batted for four overs and eventually finished on 19/0.

Earlier, It was England skipper, Joe Root who won the toss and opted to bat. For yet another time, the English top-order stuttered and was put in disarray by the Indian bowlers. It was a superb inswinging delivery from Jasprit Bumrah which gave India their first wicket in the form of Keaton Jennings’ wicket. It was a perfect set up of a dismissal. Joe Root survived a close shave, as Jasprit Bumrah overstepped in what would have been a plumb lbw.

However, it was Ishant Sharma who dismissed him without adding much after the reprieve. The ball came back sharply and thudded on to his pads. Jonny Bairstow also fell in quick succession, as Jasprit Bumrah managed to find his edge from a delivery which straightened after pitching.

Alastair Cook, after doing the hard work played a nothing shot and was dismissed in the slip cordon. Virat Kohli took a splendid catch.

Jos Buttler played a few good shots but fell prey to the swinging delivery outside the off stump. He played with hard hands and gave a pretty simple catch to Kohli in slips.

Ben Stokes looked in good touch but got dismissed by a great inswing delivery from Mohammad Shami. From there on, it was a great partnership between Moeen Ali and Sam Curran which brought England back into the game.

Sam Curran – the saviour for England

Curran who won the Man of the Match Award in the opening Test continued from where he left. He proved why he is a world-class player, and why it was a mistake dropping him in the last Test. The duo shared an 81-run stand which steadied the ship for the hosts. Moeen Ali struck a couple of fours and sixes during his knock of 40 before getting dismissed to Ravichandran Ashwin.

Sam Curran employed his attacking options when he kept losing his partners at the other end. He also shared a 50 plus stand with Stuart Broad to get England close to the 250-mark. Ravichandran Ashwin eventually dismissed him, as he went for a big heave towards the leg side. England was eventually bowled out for 246 in the 77^th over. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers with three wickets. Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami also chipped in with a couple of wickets each.

Brief Scores

England 1st innings 246 all-out in 76.4 overs (Sam Curran 78, Moeen Ali 40, Jasprit Bumrah 3/46, Ishant Sharma 2/26)

India 19/0 in four overs (KL Rahul 11, Shikhar Dhawan 3)