The second cycle of the World Test Championship kicked off with the first Test match between England and India, at Trent Bridge. And despite losing the toss, India emerged on top on Day 1. Despite Ishant Sharma’s absence, India bowled out England for 183 before finishing the day on 21 without loss.
The Indian team management had an early blow as Ishant was declared unfit just ahead of the match. They also left out R. Ashwin, played Ravindra Jadeja, included both Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, and drafted in K.L. Rahul. England recalled Jonny Bairstow for the injured Ollie Pope. England also opted for the extra batter, at the expense of Jack Leach.
Jasprit Bumrah (4-46) struck with the fifth ball, rapping Rory Burns on the pads. The appeal for DRS did not work in Burns’ favour. Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley had a torrid time against Mohammed Shami (3-28), who kept beating the bat without luck, and the relentless Bumrah.
Siraj continued with the good work, and was eventually rewarded just before lunch, when Rishabh Pant convinced Virat Kohli into a referral for a catch of Crawley (27) off an inside edge.
England went to lunch at 61/2, Sibley having batted the entire session for 18. Shortly after lunch, he mistimed a flick off Shami to short mid-wicket.
Jonny Bairstow (29) joined Joe Root (64, his fiftieth fifty), and their partnership of 72 runs the most comfortable phase of the day for England. Bairstow looked solid on comeback Shami’s fortunes turned at the stroke of tea.
Shami’s ball beat Bairstow’s inside edge and thudded on the pads. It took Kohli a referral to get the decision India’s way. Four balls after tea, Dan Lawrence attempted a flick and edged to Pant.
Jos Buttler struggled during his 18-ball duck against the Indian fast bowlers as clouds started appearing on the Nottingham sky. He was eventually sucked by one from Bumrah outside off. Root went next, pinned by Thakur in front of the stumps. Three balls later, Ollie Robinson’s mistimed pull ballooned to mid on: he became the fourth English batsman to get a duck.
Sam Curran, a thorn in India’s flesh on their 2018 tour, came to bat at No. 8. Once Bumrah took out Stuart Broad, Curran went for the slog, getting a quickfire 27 to take England to 183. The innings ended when James Anderson reviewed to overturn a leg-before decision against Bumrah, only to be yorked next ball.
The Indian openers had to survive close to an hour. Rohit Sharma and Rahul survived 13 overs for 21 runs, and will look to bat as long as possible to help India’s middle order to take control later in the day.
Brief scores: England 183 (Joe Root 64; Jasprit Bumrah 4-46) lead India 21/0 (K.L. Rahul 9*) by 162 runs.