When England captain Ben Stokes opted to play on Day One, saying his side were confident of chasing results like they did against New Zealand, there was much criticism and debate as Edgbaston usually prefers teams to bat first. But when England reached 259/3 in their chase of 378 on day four on Monday, one got the feeling they knew what they were talking about. Hello, Bazball! With the pitch and sun leveling, India’s much-vaunted bowling, barring captain Jasprit Bumrah, looked toothless as Joe Root (hit 76, 110 balls, 9×4) and Jonny Bairstow (hit 72, 89 balls, 8×4) played risk-free cricket and added 150 runs in the session after tea. However, India have themselves to blame as they had opportunities. Hanuma Vihari, oddly placed at wide second, with shin pads when there were better fielders in that position like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, dropped the in-form Bairstow to Mohammed Siraj for 14 when the score was 153. Shoulders of India after that chance was missed as Bairstow, with over 900 runs this year, made them pay. His fellow Yorkshire great, talisman Joe Root, put the run-out of opener Alex Lees out of his mind to produce another masterful innings in which he played on late and handled Ravindra Jadeja from the wicket in the rough with skill. The two ran singles and doubles, pushing the ball into the gaps and when the bad ball came, which was often, they got boundaries to reduce the target in a hurry. However, the two men have their openers to thank for the cushion they provided. 59, 31, 6, 12, 4, 17, 16. These were the opening stands that Lees and Zac Crowley had put up this summer before departing after India were bowled out for 245. Their modest returns sparked a meme fest on social media and have drawn widespread criticism from experts about their techniques, or lack thereof. All that went out the window, however, as both Leese, who had a reputation as a no-hit wonder in the series against the West Indies in March and April, and Crawley looked unfazed for much of the 21 overs. The Indian pacers, led by captain Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, found no movement in the air and off the surface as England raced to 107. However, India’s fate became clear when, after numerous failed attempts, they got the ball exchanged . The Dukes ball, whose quality had been criticized this summer for the regularity with which it went out of shape, was changed and India suddenly found a cherry that started to move around. Bumrah stepped in and a brilliant cutter was left alone by Crowley and crashed into his stumps. England took tea at 107 for 1 and at the break India also seemed to have siphoned some inspiration as they came out fired up. Bumrah dismissed Ollie Pope caught behind on the first ball after the break and opener Lees was involved in a tussle with Root and was dismissed. 107 for no loss became 109 for three and the game was on. But then Root and Bairstow came together and cooled India’s hopes. Earlier, just when Cheteshwar Pujara (66) and Rishabh Pant (57), who had started the day with 125 for 3, looked set to take India to a position they could not lose from, they got out when they were in good spirits . Captain Ben Stokes wiped out the tail with three strikes after tea as India lost their last six wickets for just 55 runs.
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