Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton stated England’s bowling assault regarded “rusty” as they toiled on the opening day of the Take a look at sequence in opposition to India at Headingley.
After being inserted by Ben Stokes (2-43) on the toss, India piled on 359-3 by stumps on day one of many first Take a look at in opposition to an under-cooked England assault.
Chris Woakes (0-89) missed the innings victory over Zimbabwe final month as he recovered from ankle harm, Brydon Carse (1-70) – having had toe hassle of his personal for the reason that winter tour of New Zealand – is enjoying in his first house Take a look at, whereas Josh Tongue (0-75) was enjoying at Headingley for the primary time.
“It has been a struggle today for England’s bowlers, if truth be told,” Atherton stated. “They’ve looked a bit rusty to me.
“It is the sort of floor and pitch the place you need to be very explicit about your lengths.
“There was only that short burst just before lunch when England took two quick wickets but, other than that, it was all in favour of the bat today.”
Fellow former England captain Nasser Hussain was additionally vital of England’s seamers as they struggled on day one.
“No control of length and line, in particular,” Hussain stated. “It did do a little bit before lunch, it swung around a bit, but I don’t think they nailed that top of off [line] that skippers, coaches, and bowlers themselves would want.
“After lunch, it obtained flatter. And with this outfield, if you happen to lack a little bit of management with the ball you may rapidly lose it within the discipline, the run-rate can get away from you.
“Stokes was certainly not hoping for that, and the reason India got that was because England were slightly off their line and length, and they paid the price.”
Carse claimed one wicket for his 16 overs of toil, whereas Stokes pitched in with the opposite two from his 13, as no less than the shape and health of the England captain could be taken as a constructive from proceedings in Leeds.
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Michael Atherton sits down with James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar as they focus on the rivalry between England and India forward of the primary Take a look at.
“Stokes has been England’s best bowler today,” Atherton added.
“He was asked ahead of the game as to why he didn’t play in the England Lions fixture [against India A], having played only one first-class match this year – the Zimbabwe Test – and he said he came out of that Test match feeling good and didn’t feel the need to get any extra match practice.
“He used the weeks both aspect of that Take a look at to attempt to get again to the bowling motion he had when he felt he was bowling at his greatest, which was round 2020.
“He looked in eye-catchingly good rhythm in that Zimbabwe game when he did bowl, which wasn’t very much. The short spells he bowled, though, he looked really good I thought.”
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The England Males’s and India Males’s Take a look at groups will honour Sir James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar with a brand new trophy devoted to their exceptional achievements in Take a look at cricket.
Atherton additionally questioned Stokes’ determination to insert India on a dry pitch and stated it was an “interesting” name because the stats urged in any other case, notably after the hosts solely managed three scalps.
“It was a really interesting call [at the toss]. All the numbers say bowl – the last six wins here have come from the team bowling first,” Atherton added.
“But cricketing common sense says it’s a hot day, and it’s 30 degrees over the next couple of days.
“I feel in the long run Ben has gone with the stats, what the pitch has achieved right here at Headingley this yr – it hasn’t deteriorated in county video games – and in addition England’s power: they do not thoughts a chase.”
Watch day two of the first Test between England and India live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Saturday (11am first ball) or stream with no contract.
England vs India Take a look at sequence ☀️
All video games at 11am UK and Eire; all dwell on Sky Sports activities
- First Take a look at: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – Headingley
- Second Take a look at: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – Edgbaston
- Third Take a look at: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’s
- Fourth Take a look at: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Emirates Previous Trafford
- Fifth Take a look at: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval
