Twitterati enjoy the Indian bowlers' dominance over England in Southampton

The fourth Test between India and England commenced in Southampton today and the sunny conditions welcomed both the sides. The strip for the match was also termed as the best in the series to bat as the hosts won the toss and opted to bat first. Joe Root was delighted but he would’ve seldom dreamt of what was going to follow later in the middle. They were reduced to 57/4 in the first session and are under serious pressure now with the Indian bowlers bowling really well.

It all started with Jasprit Bumrah surprising Keaton Jennings with the one which came back in. The batsman thought it was an away going delivery and left the ball. Instead, it thudded on to his back pad and the umpire had no hesitation in raising his finger. Joe Root survived an lbw shout thanks to the same bowler for bowling a no-ball but then Ishant Sharma was spitting venom from the other hand and got him soon.

Wickets continue to tumble

Meanwhile, Alastair Cook was leaving the ball well and had played more than 50 deliveries to get a start, not for the first time in this series. He was growing in confidence slowly but surely. But Jonny Bairstow lost his wicket to a beauty of a delivery to increase the pressure on the veteran. He was promoted to number four and is playing this game as a pure batsman due to an injury to his left middle finger. He could only score six runs and the session turned worse for the hosts.

Virat Kohli then handed over the ball to Hardik Pandya, the star of the last game, and he struck straight away. He was lucky though as Cook tried to play a shot which he wouldn’t have done on most days. He toe-ended the wide delivery and the alert Kohli grabbed a stunning low catch. The left-hander gave away yet another start and was sent back on 17.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes then made sure that there were no more hiccups. The former, however, was dropped as well by Rishabh Pant as England ended the first session at 57/4 and are left with doing a lot of repair work now in the remaining two sessions of the day.

Here’s how Twitterati reacted:

We need a new opening pair who can begin their careers at an equal stage. Ie. They won’t have the poisoned chalice of being Cooks unproven partner hanging over them. Cook has the experience to bat 3, it’s about progression not just staying where you are! Cook at 3 and Root 4!

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) August 30, 2018

Watching @JetJennings dismissal brought a flashback to @markbutcher72 bagging 'em v Curtley Ambrose in Antigua 1998. Only advice I could offer a visibly shattered & embarrassed son was "Don't worry. I still love you whatever!!" Probably didn't help!! #ENGvIND

— Alan Butcher (@abutch58) August 30, 2018

That session of seam bowling was as good as it gets … Consistent lengths & high paces … #ENGvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 30, 2018

Fantastic display of new ball bowling by the Indian bowlers. Having lost the toss, to get England ‘s top 4 in the first session is a top effort. #EngvInd

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 30, 2018

10 overs (out of the 24 overs bowled) of high pace, accuracy and consistent lateral movement in the air and off the surface. Bumrah continues to be find of Indian cricket over the last 24 months. #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 30, 2018

Lost the toss. Asked to bowl. Four wickets in the first session. Super show by India 🇮🇳 👏 #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 30, 2018

Top session for India. One of the finest utilisation of the new ball in recent times. Had Buttler ‘s catch been taken would have been even better, but Eng 57/4 at Lunch is truly India’s session #ENGvsIND

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 30, 2018

Great start for india💪 … really enthralled by the superb bowling by our seamers. Well done boys. Keep the momentum going @Jaspritbumrah93 @ImIshant @hardikpandya7 #EngvInd 4th Test

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 30, 2018

Jasprit Bumrah is a fine cricketer, and in the middle of an excellent spell, but he is letting himself and his team down too often with these no-balls.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 30, 2018

Only 30 of the 145 balls in the morning session did not swing and/or seam by a 'large' amount (1.00°+ swing & 0.75°+ seam). England's top order is struggling in this series but India's bowlers have expertly exploited exceptionally difficult conditions for batting. #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/b8BGEMzR2K

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 30, 2018

Bumrah is a fantastic bowler, more so because he is a thinking bowler. If he manages his injuries and no-balls well, he will surely be counted among the bowling legends #ENGvIND

— Pratik Hegde (@pratik1491) August 30, 2018

Congratulations Keaton Jennings for the best comedy dismissal in test cricket I’ve ever seen 😂 #ENGvIND

— JK (@J_kennealy) August 30, 2018

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