India v England, 2nd Test, Day 3 - 5 Talking Points

Skipper Virat Kohli lead his team from the front and struck an unbeaten 56 runs knock to help India gain a lead of 298 runs at the end of day three at Vizag. After initially facing problems from Stuart Broad, who snapped both the openers and James Anderson, who pocketed Chetshwar Pujara, Kohli combined with Ajinkya Rahane and brought stability by putting up an unbeaten 58 runs stand. This stand guided India through the end of the day without any further damage.

Earlier, England was wrapped for 255, twenty-two minutes before tea after coming out to bat on their overnight score of 103/5. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin snapped another five-wicket haul and was the man of the moment. Courtesy his bowling performance, India were able to restrict England to an insignificant score despite some great resilient show from Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.

1.Ravichandran Ashwin takes another 5-for:

Ravichandran Ashwin finally had a crack at the English batting order. The off-spinner, who was dealt cautiously in the opening game at Rajkot, finally got into his rhythm and completed his 22nd five-wicket haul, snapping 5/67.

His efforts saw India gain a 200 runs lead as the England was bundled out for just 255 despite Stokes and Bairstow combining together and fighting it out. Ashwin’s day began on a tough note as Stokes and Bairstow played him with defiance.

But, it was the 30-year-old who had the last laugh as he not only broke the stand later on with the wicket of Stokes but also wrapped up the opposition in quick time.

2. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow lead revival efforts:

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow’s alliance worked for England yet again as the duo showed the Indians that the resilience to bat in the India is plenty and enough in their setup. The visitors were reduced to 103/5 by the Indian spinner at the end of the previous day with both Stokes and Bairstow at the crease.

With cracks showing up and a puff of dust showing up every time the ball bounced off the good length area, a majority expected Ravichandran Ashwin to make a short work of the English batting order.

No doubt he did but not before Stokes and Bairstow put up 110 runs for the 6th wicket. The both the batsman completed their respective fifties before the exciting partnership was ceased by Yadav who extracted Bairstow for 53.

3. Quick wrap-up:

England had found some respite after Stokes and Bairstow led the revival efforts. However, once their partnership was brought an end by Umesh Yadav who bowled Bairstow through the gate with a full rapid delivery, England could not survive for a prolonged period and quickly surrendered.

The last appreciable stand after Bairstow departure came in the form of the 8th wicket partnership of 35 runs between Stokes combined Adil Rashid. The duo put some efforts before Ashwin got Stokes LBW an hour after lunch.

Later Jadeja got better of Ansari while Ashwin added two more wickets to his tally by snapping Broad and Anderson LBW off consecutive deliveries. These quick wraps up saw India restrict England for just 255.

4. KL Rahul falls cheaply again:

KL Rahul has twice failed to make any significant contribution to the team at the top. The right-hander was dismissed for a paltry score of 10 after registering a duck in his comeback match. The Karnataka batsman made a much-anticipated return to the Indian team after being sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

The injury which he picked up 1st Test at Kanpur against New Zealand, got him ruled out of the entire three-match series and also kept him unavailable for the initial selection of the squad for the ongoing England series.

Gautam Gambhir, who replaced him found limited success and there was a bit of excitement among cricket fans when Rahul was finally brought into the squad. He looked in fine form scoring a fifty and a hundred against Rajasthan playing for his state side Karnataka. But, unfortunately, his comeback has been a silent affair.

5. Bairstow makes English dressing room jittery

Jonny Bairstow today gave a sort of injury scare when hobbled back to the pavilion to get his ankle attended by the physio. The incident happened when he came out to bat with Ben Stokes after the lunch session.

The wicket-keeper batsman was seen warming up but just after he crossed the boundary ropes it seemed that he experienced some uneasiness in his ankle. There wasn’t anything serious and Bairstow soon returned to action. Unfortunately, he could bat for long after lunch and lost his wicket.

The incidents of players picking up freak injuries are quite common. The latest incident happened when Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc while attempting to take a catch during a fielding session, cut his leg so badly that he had to undergo a surgery to recover from it.