Image Credit- BCCI
As the phrase goes, you can only evaluate a pitch
after both teams have bashed it, especially in light of England’s absurd
performances in Hyderabad. Thanks in large part to a brilliant century that has
matched this new mission for his team with plenty of poise and attitude, India
seemed ready to make up for their first-Test shortcomings under Yashasvi
Jaiswal’s leadership.
Though prior visiting teams might have been prepared
for a batting landslide, England refused to fold and claimed six wickets on a
difficult day in the field. With Shoaib Bashir settling into his first day of
Test cricket with two wickets and a cool command of his attributes, they end
the first day of play in no worse shape than they began the first Test. And all
parties are fully aware of the outcome of that one.
In any case, Jaiswal’s magnificent 179 not out from
257 balls was the most impressive performance of the day. It was the innings
that India sorely needed to salvage this series, as well as the one that he had
confidently predicted based on the fluidity of his first-inning 80 off 74 in
Hyderabad. From his opening shot, an unrestrained four off Joe Root’s opening
delivery, to his soaring six over long-on, which brought up his second Test
century and his first at home, Jaiswal was exceptional. He was the only batter
from India who possessed the courage needed to anticipate the kind of
opposition that England would undoubtedly present when they took the pitch.
Even though Jaiswal was experiencing cramps by the end
of the day, he managed to surpass his previous best of 171, which he set on his
debut in the Caribbean last year, and he guaranteed that he will return with
much higher goals on day two.
However, the remainder of India’s batting was more of
a mixed bag, which allowed England’s reorganised attack to find solace in the
struggle on what has shown to be an excellent track thus far. India were in
danger of repeating the mistakes that hampered their performance in Hyderabad,
where eight of the top nine achieved double figures, with six men removed
between the scores of 14 and 34, including KS Bharat in the final stages of the
day.
Still, it was a gallant performance from England’s
startlingly imbalanced attack. Selecting three specialised spinners and a
single fast, their line-up was led—possibly predictably—by the one man who had
seen it all. With an ageless exhibition of cut and finesse, the 41-year-old
veteran James Anderson put his problems in the Ashes behind him. His impact was
felt in all 17 of his overs throughout three different periods, but he claimed
Shubman Gill for his 691st wicket, guaranteeing that he has now struck in every
year since making his debut in 2003.
With an economy-rate of 1.76, less than half that of
any of his teammates, his minuscule control over each-way movement ensured that
this week’s new boy was nothing less than a positive story, in contrast to
Hyderabad, where the entire first day’s attention was focused on Tom Hartley’s
struggle for control.