India and England locked horns against each other in the 1st test at the iconic M.A.Chidambaram stadium , Chennai in an all important test series as both teams are aiming a spot in the final of the World Test Championship final.
After winning the toss , England opted to bat first on a belter of a wicket at Chepauk which the experts thought to be helpful for the spinners as the game progresses which justified India’s decision to play three frontline spinners. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley who are playing their first match in India , opened the innings for the visitors and cautiously negotiated the new ball threat of Jasprit Bumrah and comeback man Ishant Sharma. Both these bowlers tested the English opening pair and did not concede any freebies in the first hour of Day 1. Both the batsmen played calmly against the Indian Spinners and played some risk free strokes.
Just in when both the English batsmen were looking in complete control and it seemed that England would go into Lunch without losing a wicket , Rory Burns departed for 33 to R.Ashwin trying to play a reverse sweep which was not needed at all at that time . He seemed disappointed as he missed out an opportunity by playing a false short . In the very next over Bumrah trapped young D.Lawrence Lbw for a duck . It was a good delivery from the pacer which nipped back and the D.Lawrence had no answer for that . Just at the stroke of lunch , England lost 2 quick wickets and allowed India to come back in the match . England went onto lunch at 67/2 with D.Sibley and J.Root not out.
Post lunch, J.Root who was in terrific form and was playing his 100th test match and D.Sibley joined hands together to get a mammoth 200-run partnership for the 3rd wicket . England didn’t lose a single wicket in 2nd session as J.Root played swept the spinners and used his feet to play some classy strokes and Sibley played a calm and patient innings at the other end . India who are being considered as favourites from the start of the series had no answers as to how to break this partnership. There were questions being raised at the selection of the Indian team’s playing 11 for leaving out Chinaman , Kuldeep Yadav. Everyone was shocked at the exclusion of Kuldeep as being a wrist spinner, the wicket would have definitely helped him as the other finger spinners were finding it difficult to spin the ball.
Root scored a superb 100 in his 100th test match which was a big milestone in his career . He was well supported by a patient Sibley (87) who was dismissed in the last over of the day . The visitors ended day 1 on 263/ 3 with Root unbeaten on 128. India will have to find a way to dismiss the English captain as he eyes up on carrying on from where he left. With the likes of Stokes and Buttler still to come , Indian bowlers will have to bowl in good areas and pick wickets at regular intervals on Day 2 in order to restrict England from posting a massive 1st innings total.
Play starts at 9.30am IST.