India vs England: England make 578, Indian openers depart early
England batted out 10 more overs in the morning session on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test in Chennai. The visitors were eventually bundled out for 578 as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin scalped the final two wickets for India. As India came out to bat, they lost openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in quick succession. Here is the session report.
How did the session pan out?
England resumed from their overnight score of 555/8, with Bess and Leach joining in the middle. The duo shared a crucial stand as the tourists extended their dominance. Team India got rid of Bess and later James Anderson as England were bowled out for 578. Later on, the hosts were reduced to 59/2 at the stroke of lunch.
England batted out a total of 190.1 overs
England batted out as many as 190.1 overs before their innings folded on 578. Notably, this has become the longest first innings in Test cricket (in terms of overs) since South Africa batted out 190.4 overs against India in Kanpur in 2004/05. In the first innings, skipper Joe Root remained England's top-scorer (218), who slammed his fifth double-century in Test cricket.
Ashwin scripts multiple feats
For India, off-spinner Ashwin bowled most number of overs (55.1). Interestingly, this is now the most overs bowled by Ashwin in a Test innings. His previous record was 53.0 versus Australia in Adelaide, 2011/12. During the innings, India's premier off-spinner became the fifth bowler to complete 300 wickets in Asia. He is only behind Muralitharan (612), Kumble (419) and Herath (354) on the list.
20 no-balls by India in the first innings
India conceded as many as 45 extras in the first innings. This included 20 no-balls, the joint-most India have bowled in a home Test. They bowled 20 as well in the Ahmedabad Test against Sri Lanka in 2009/10.
England get rid of Rohit, Gill
Indian openers Rohit and Gill needed to start well, however, Jofra Archer struck in his very second over, sending back senior opener Rohit (6). Archer made the most of the extra bounce as England opted for a heavy roller after the Indian innings. Although Gill (29) projected an array of strokes, he was caught by Anderson, having played an uppish on-drive.
