XtraTime Web Desk: Brilliant spell by the bowlers in the final session of play helped India to restrict the hosts England on 285 for the loss of 9 wickets at the Edgbaston on Day 1 of the first Test on Wednesday. Winning the toss hosts captain Joe Root elected to bat first.
Star opener Alastair Cook was the first man to go as he was clean bowled by India’s ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Another opener Keaton Jennings got a life as he was dropped by India’s vice captain Ajinkya Rahane. But he failed to capitalize on that as he was clean bowled on 42 by India’s ace pacer Mohammed Shami. Dawid Malan too didn’t last long as he was trapped plum in front of the wicket by Shami again. After that English skipper Joe Root and Joe Root held the innings together and shared a partnership of 104 runs for the fourth wicket. Root (80) was going well for a ton but he was run out by a brilliant throw from India skipper Virat Kohli.
After his departure, the England batting line-up fell like a pack of cards as they lost six wickets in the final session. Jonny Bairstow fell for 70 and after him Jos Buttler (0), Ben Stokes (21), Adil Rashid (13) and Stuart Broad (1) didn’t last long as well. At the end of day’s play Sam Curran (24*) and James Anderson (0*) were at the crease.
Indian cricket team’s star all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was the hero of the day as he took 4 crucial wickets on English soil. He was well backed by Mohammed Shami who took two wickets as well. Beside the Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma shared a wicket each. Now it’s up to the Indian batsmen tomorrow who has to bat well if the hosts want to take advantage of the current situation of the game.