England vs India, 5th Test, Day 1 - Five Talking Points

Team India made a terrific comeback in the final session of day one of the final Test at the Kennington Oval against England. However, the first two sessions belonged to the hosts who lost only one wicket in the meanwhile.

As they didn’t manage to score enough runs in the first two sessions, the trouble mounted in the final session. After being in a comfortable position on 133/1, England lost three wickets for just two runs.

The visiting team bagged three more wickets before the end of the day’s play finishing on 198/7 in 90 overs. Ishant Sharma was the pick of the bowlers bagging three wickets for 28 runs. Here are the five talking points of day one of the Oval Test match.

Alastair Cook’s half-century

The veteran left-handed batsman who is playing his farewell Test was finally among the runs though he looked nowhere close to his best. However, Alastair Cook did manage to score his first fifty of the series. The former skipper missed quite a few deliveries and was troubled by the Indian bowlers on a consistent basis. He scored 71 before getting dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. It took the inside edge of his bat and disturbed the timbers.

Moeen Ali’s resistance

The all-rounder retained his batting position at number three after being elevated up the order in the previous Test match. He scored a scratchy half-century despite beaten quite regularly around the off stump. Despite missing several deliveries, he didn’t give away his wicket cheaply.

He reached his half-century off 168 deliveries. However, Ali was dismissed soon after by Ishant Sharma. The ball yet moved just enough to take the outside edge which had eluded Moeen’s bat for a long time.

Ravindra Jadeja’s tight bowling

The inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja proved to be a good decision, as he bagged a couple of crucial wickets at critical junctures of the game. The left-arm spinner was the one who provided the maiden breakthrough for the visiting team. He dismissed Keaton Jennings with a rising delivery. The ball bounced just enough to take the face of Jennings’s bat. It was grabbed quite comfortably by KL Rahul in the leg slip region.

Jadeja came back in his 3^rd spell to take the prized wicket of Ben Stokes which reduced the hosts to 172/5. Jaddu could have made a difference had he been available for the previous matches. However, the left-armer did make his presence felt on day one. He bowled 24 overs throughout the day and bagged a couple of wickets for 57 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah’s two wickets in a single over 

The right-arm speedster has been a revelation for Indian cricket in the last two years. In just six Tests, he has emerged as the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack. Yet again Jasprit Bumrah was quite spectacular on the opening day of the 5^th and the final Test at the Kennington Oval.

As England was going along quite smoothly with the partnership of Cook and Moeen Ai flourishing, Bumrah bowled tight lines and finally managed to get the wicket of the former English skipper. Alastair Cook played away from the body, and the ball took his inside edge to disturb the timbers.

Jasprit also bagged the wicket of English skipper, Joe Root in the same over to turn the match in India’s favour. The ball came back sharply, and Root was in no position what so ever to play the flick. The umpire took a bit of time to rule it in favour of India.

Ishant Sharma’s terrific spell

Ishant has had a terrific Test series so far. I haven’t seen him bowl better than what he has performed in the series so far for several years. Despite being a one-dimensional bowler, Ishant has bagged the rewards in the series so far.

He bagged the wicket of Jonny Bairstow with another inswing delivery, It took the outside edge and was taken safely by Pant.

After a long resistance, Moeen Ali also fell to Ishant’s trap. Yet again the ball moved just enough to take the outside edge of his bat. He also dismissed Sam Curran without troubling the scorers. The all-rounder has been a thorn in the flesh for India in the series so far.

However, he was not quite lucky this time around. As Ishant Sharma tried to leave the ball at the last moment he got him under the edge of his bat which was safely pouched by Rishabh Pant.