On Day 3 of the fourth Test in Manchester, England amassed a remarkable total of 319 runs, showcasing a powerful batting performance that could shift the balance of the series against India. After setting a firm foundation on the previous day with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, England’s batsmen continued their strong form, led by the ever-reliable Joe Root, who helped the team extend their first-innings lead to 186. India’s bowlers struggled throughout the day, finding it hard to make breakthroughs.
At the end of the day, England stood at 544 for 7, with captain Ben Stokes remaining not out on 77, partnering with all-rounder Liam Dawson, who scored 21*. Stokes demonstrated determination, returning to bat after briefly leaving the field due to cramps. With Stokes eager to notch his first Test century in two years and a capable lower order waiting, England looked set to dominate and push India out of contention.
This marked the first time since January 2015 that India conceded over 500 runs in an innings during an overseas Test. The day highlighted the struggles of the Indian bowling attack, casting memories back to their challenging 2011 tour of England when a young Indian team faced similar issues under MS Dhoni’s leadership.
Young captain Shubman Gill seemed to be at odds with the situation as Root celebrated numerous milestones, eventually finishing the day as the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. While Root soared past legends like Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis in record books, Gill faced criticism for his decisions on bowling changes and field placements.
The pitch conditions in Manchester certainly favored the batsmen, yet India’s players appeared flat, lacking the intensity that has often characterized their performances in overseas matches over the years.
Michael Atherton, commentating during the match, humorously suggested that perhaps a pep talk from Ravi Shastri could lift the spirits of the visibly dispirited Indian side during the Tea break.
BOWLING WOES
As England relentlessly targeted Indian bowlers, the pressure mounted. Jasprit Bumrah, known for his quick pace, looked lackluster for much of the day, although he eventually took a wicket late to dismiss Jamie Smith. Mohammed Siraj seemed overwhelmed, while debutant Anshul Kamboj struggled to make an impact with his medium pace.
Washington Sundar emerged as the standout bowler, claiming two key wickets that briefly revived India’s hopes after a wicketless initial session. However, Gill’s decision to keep Sundar waiting until the 69th over delayed the shift in momentum that was needed.
Ravindra Jadeja, meanwhile, fought a relentless battle against England’s batting, ultimately earning the wicket of Root, who had already celebrated his 38th Test century on a momentous day.
BUMRAH’S STRUGGLES
Bumrah bowled 28 overs and maintained a run rate of under four per over, but he seemed to lack the fierce intensity that made him a star during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Even with a managed workload in this series, Bumrah appeared deflated, inconsistent in his performance whenever his captain turned to him for support.
His dropping pace has raised eyebrows; while he was frequently clocking over 140 kph in the first Test at Leeds, that dropped significantly in the following matches, and in Manchester, only one percent of his deliveries matched that speed.
– Ends
