Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
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Image credit: Getty Images |
What a riveting day of Test Cricket yesterday.
Thought India would run away with things after a familiar England top order struggle? So did I. Thought Sam Curran couldn’t repeat his batting heroics from the first Test? I was also a little doubtful. Thought India are past the nightmares of not being able to clean up opposition lower orders away from home? Me too.
One thing is for sure though – we are in for a potentially special second day. Who will finish it on top?
In this short and sweet preview, I will explore three key things I think to look out for on the second day, and who I think will end up in the ascendancy by the day’s end.
India top three v England’s swing and seam
India’s seamers moved the ball around appreciably on the first day, especially in the morning and afternoon sessions. It made for fantastic viewing for India fans, but unfortunately for them, 246 is a total larger than they should really have conceded.
Now, the onus is really on the top three of India to stave off the new ball as best as possible.
I can see this pitch getting better for batting on days two and three, and the first session today is critical. Can England make inroads, or can India’s top three set a platform that gets us all set for possible Virat Kohli magic? For England, it’s important they get Virat Kohli in as soon as possible to target him with as much movement as possible. With the pace attack England have in these conditions, this is most certainly possible.
We know of the “first session is crucial” cliche, but in this case, it is just so crucial.
Influence of Sam Curran
There will be plenty of focus on James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Rightly so. These two have been superb in England for a number of years.
However, India have really struggled against Sam Curran’s angle. If you go back to the first Test, India’s openers put on 50 for the first wicket, and then capitulated against Sam Curran. In the third Test, I reckon England missed Sam Curran’s bowling. They also missed his batting, too.
A big key to how today goes is the impact of Anderson and Broad up top, and then how well India can negotiate the change bowlers, especially Curran, who will be on a high after his fantastic knock yesterday.
Will India force England into bowling lots of spin?
Yesterday, there was a big possibility that Ravichandran Aswhin wouldn’t get a bowl. In the end, he sent down almost 15 overs.
If England turn to spin, it is a sign that India are possibility on top in the play. I can’t see England turning to spin if the seamers are all over the Indian batsmen like a bad cold, so this will an interesting thing to look out for.
Of course, both Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali can’t be taken lightly. Rashid is bowling decently and has wicket taking ability, and Moeen took 19 wickets in India’s last tour of England.
My verdict….
What makes this Test potentially really special is the battles within the battle.
Because the Test result is so difficult to predict, making a call as to how this day will pan out is a tough ask.
Can India get a lead of 100 in the first innings and target England’s fragile top order? Or can England blow India away a’la Lord’s?
I think with India’s batting, following on from a good showing at Trent Bridge, will finish the day slightly in front.
Think there is something I’ve missed? Leave a comment!
Should be a good day’s play! Thanks for reading.