Two Quick-Fire Wickets Drag England Back into Opening Test
England’s bowlers have managed to gain some momentum in the opening test against India at Headingley, despite initially struggling to make an impact. India’s openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were looking in fine form, taking India into the nineties unbeaten as lunch approached. However, just before the break, England managed to pick up two crucial wickets, reducing India to 92-2.
Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, made the crucial breakthrough, dismissing Rahul for 42. Yorkshireman Joe Root took the catch on his home ground in the slips. The pressure then mounted on 23-year-old Sai Sudharsan, who was making his debut. From the last ball before lunch, Stokes found a leading edge, with Jamie Smith taking the catch behind the stumps to send the rookie back to the pavilion without having scored a single run.
England’s decision to bowl first may have seemed ill-advised initially, given the clear and humid Headingley conditions that seemed to favour the batting side. However, the fact that each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first may have given them the confidence to stick with their strategy. Without numerous frontline pace bowlers through injury, including Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, England’s new-look attack grew more erratic as the opening session wore on.
According to cricket analysts, England’s bowlers will need to maintain their momentum if they are to make significant inroads into India’s batting lineup. “England’s bowlers have shown some promising signs, but they will need to be more consistent if they are to put India under pressure,” said a cricket expert. With India looking to bounce back after losing two wickets just before lunch, the second session of the test match is likely to be crucial in determining the course of the game.