Twitter Reactions: Late strikes from bowlers guide India to the ascendancy

The first Test match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham is currently taking place. The Indians would be happy for the reason that they ended the first day on an impressive note as the Poms could only manage 285/9 in 88 overs. After all the speculations, the visitors benched chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, however, the decisions didn’t backfire, much to India’s delight.

Bairstow and Root power hosts

Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat first. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings commenced proceedings for the Brits and expertly staved off the pacers in Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma. Ravichandran Ashwin castled Cook to draw first blood for India. Ajinkya Rahane dropped Jennings early in the innings and the left-hander went on to score 42 runs after which Shami nipped him out.

Dawid Malan became Shami’s second victim and the home team looked in quite a bit of trouble. At the other end, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow built a stand of 104 runs from 138 deliveries. Both scored impressive half-centuries and looked ominous to take their team to a position of command. The duo played till the end of the post-lunch session and carried on afterward to frustrate the Indian bowlers.

Ashwin shines with the leather

The partnership came to an end when a stupendous throw from Virat Kohli accounted for Root’s wicket. A couple of overs later, Umesh pinned Bairstow. Jos Buttler, who was in jaw-dropping form in the limited-overs fixtures, fell prey to Ashwin. Meanwhile, from a position of strength, the Three Lions stared down the barrel courtesy of the clumps of wickets.

Ben Stokes looked good for the time during his 41-ball 22, but Ashwin cut short his knock owing to a leading edge that safely traced into the bowler’s hands. Adil Rashid and Sam Curran cobbled together a stand of 35 runs, but Ishant picked up his first wicket in the form of Rashid to break the stand. Ashwin eventually finished the day with four wickets when he got rid of Stuart Broad.

Here is how Twitter reacted

India pick 9 wickets on Day 1 of a Test in England … and none of them to edges behind the wicket. And 4 of them go to an off-spinner.

Mad, mad world.#ENGvIND

— Pratyush Sinha (@prat1204) August 1, 2018

Eyes are dead tired… Continuous 12 hours of looking at the screen…

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) August 1, 2018

From 216-3 to 285-9 at stumps, not much went right for England after Joe Root was run out #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/DKy5jqKDsP

— PA Sport (@pasport) August 1, 2018

Enthralling day at Edgbaston.
Just about enough in the pitch to make India sweat.
300 in the first inns should be a decent total for England.#ENGvIND

— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81) August 1, 2018

That's Stumps on Day 1 of the 1st Test.

England 285/9. A four wicket haul for @ashwinravi99#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Ty2FhiFHRr

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 1, 2018

Day belongs to India, well done guys, 24 more days to dominate. #ENGvINDC

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) August 1, 2018

Took 9 wickets, got Ashwin doing well, Dhawan not losing his wicket on the first day, only 2 catches dropped, best day India could have hoped for.

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) August 1, 2018

#ENGvIND Day 1 summary. England sleep after a start and India make most of it. pic.twitter.com/U6fOibQIbC

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) August 1, 2018

So wonderful to see the effort from Indian bowlers especially Ashwin and Shami to have Eng 9 down for below 300, after losing the toss. Hoping that tmrw India wraps up the last wkt quickly, piles up a big 1st innings total and takes control of the test #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/dRGoWOkzms

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 1, 2018

Give me today’s play over anything we saw over the last few weeks of White ball stuff … absolutely fascinating days play … all the highlights on @Channel5Sport at 7pm … #ENGvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 1, 2018

My highlight of the day has been the bowling of Ashwin

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 1, 2018

A good performance this by the Indian bowlers especially Ashwin and Shami. Should look to wrap up the tail soon and restrict England around a score of 300. #ENGvIND

— R P Singh (@rpsingh) August 1, 2018

Love watching @AdilRashid03 bat

— Liam plunkett (@Liam628) August 1, 2018

U were right @nassercricket about @ashwinravi99 is the man who didn’t let @benstokes38 score to many in india.. that’s exactly what has happen yet again today… ashwin bowling beautifully and picking important wickets…India at top 🇮🇳 England 244 /7 #EngvInd

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 1, 2018

@Athersmike @BumbleCricket Sam Curran should have ‘nudged to his right!’ Stand your ground and make Ashwin run through you to take the catch!

— Kevin O'Brien (@KevinOBrien113) August 1, 2018

🙌🙌🙌🙌 https://t.co/pd01VLZ4Ct

— Eoin Morgan (@Eoin16) August 1, 2018

Great turn around by India, Test cricket at it’s best. Ashwin has been excellent and England have lost 3 wickets for 8 runs after Root and Bairstow were looking to take away the game from India #IndvEng

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 1, 2018

On Pujara's omission i can only say that you call him your Test specialist but isn't he good enough to be in your first XI? Think.
Only Kohli has scored more runs than him in the last three years among Indians in Tests.#ENGvIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 1, 2018

Karthik knows India's Slip catching so that's why he's going for everything, better to drop it by myself than by a slip fielder 🤣#DKNahiHaiTaiyaar

— Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) August 1, 2018

Dinesh Karthik drops what could've been a sitter for first slip. #1ReasonWhySahaShouldBeWK

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) August 1, 2018

The last spinner from India to take a five-wicket haul in England was Harbhajan in 2002. Before that it was Doshi in 1982. Not an easy place to bowl for spinners. Well done R Ashwin.. That too on day 1.. #ENGvIND

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) August 1, 2018