India vs England 3rd Test: Report card for England

Feb 26, 2021

India vs England 3rd Test: Report card for England Image

India took a shade over five sessions to win the third Test match, at Motera, Ahmedabad, to go 2-1 in the four-match series. England did well to bowl India out for 145, but their batsmen did not rise to the challenge. They lost 20 wickets in under 80 overs, and did not even get 200 runs across innings. Here is how the England cricketers fared. India vs England 3rd Test statistical highlights

Joe Root: 7

Root’s 5-8, the best figures by an English captain away from home, brought the Indian innings to a quick and end probably saved England from an innings defeat. He also scored 17 and 19. While not huge scores, these were England’s second-best efforts in each innings.

Jack Leach: 6

Root might have the better numbers, but Leach’s 4-54 included the big four – Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma. Picked as the sole spinner, Leach toiled hard, keeping the batsmen guessing over 20 overs. Hit England’s only six in the match.

Zak Crawley: 4

England were 74/2 after winning the toss on Day 1. From there, they lost 18 wickets for 119 runs. Their early dominance was due to Crawley’s fabulous strokeplay. His 53 included 10 fours, and was the only high in England’s dismal batting performance. He also held two catches, but misread the length and was bowled first ball in the second innings.

Ben Foakes: 4

Batted better than most in the first innings but ran out of partners. Looked gritty in the second innings as well. England may want to promote him in the fourth Test. Kept wickets soundly. Took a superb catch to dismiss Rishabh Pant.

Ben Stokes: 3

Was looking ominous in the second innings until he was trapped leg-before by R Ashwin. Another half an hour, and who knows what might have happened? Held a controversial catch that took numerous replays to be ruled out.

Jofra Archer: 3

Bowled only five overs, but tormented Shubman Gill before dismissing him. He also bounced one that flew off a stunned Rohit Sharma’s bat over the wicketkeeper’s head.

James Anderson: 2

Did not give anything away on a pitch that had nothing for him. He could have got a wicket had Ollie Pope not dropped Virat Kohli off him.

Dom Sibley: 2

Sibley struggled against pace in the first innings and against spin in the second, and had only nine runs to show for his efforts. Took a good catch.

Ollie Pope: 1

Got a beautiful delivery from Ashwin in each innings, but did not impress until then, so they were probably not game-changers. Dropped an easy catch of Kohli.

Stuart Broad: 0.5

Six overs, no wickets. Almost had Gill, caught Stokes.

Jonny Bairstow: 0

Faced 11 balls for his pair. Looked uncomfortable throughout.