Late Stokes wicket and Pant’s injury gives England edge

Emirates Old Trafford, day one of the fifth Rothesay Test.

India 264-4: Sudharsan 61, Jaiswal 58, Stokes 2-47

England: Not to bat

The toss was won by England.

Rishabh Pant from India suffered a strain on the first day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which was a success for England.

When Pant attempted a reverse sweep at Chris Woakes, he was struck on the right foot and had already scored 37 in a crucial stand with Sai Sudharsan. Pant retired hurt after receiving treatment on the field.

Before sending Ben Stokes a long-leg for 61, the recalled Sudharsan was making England pay for Jamie Smith’s drop.

At the conclusion, India was 264-4, with the tourists anticipating the outcome of a scan on Pant’s injury.

Stokes took two significant wickets after choosing to field after winning a fourth successive toss, giving England the win that would bring the series to an end.

India drilled in under a nearly constant cloudy sky and on a pitch that provided something all day. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 58, while KL Rahul scored a 46, which is typically correct.

After lunch, England improved after a little bit with the new ball.

After eight years of playing Test cricket, Stokes had opposing captain Shubman Gill playing without a hit, and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson struck with his seventh ball to replace Jaiswal.

India must consider what they must do to win the game. The coin has landed against them for the first time in any given international format.

Stokes reverted to his preferred method of fielding first, Gill admitting he had no idea what to do. The Manchester sky was cloudy for most of the day, and the England skipper frequently chose to look at the overheads rather than the surface when he plays Tests at home.

However, if Stokes wants to win the series here, his team must defy history. Not once have they won the Test, unlike 11 previous times when a captain chose to field on this ground.

How different would have been the day England would have been if Smith had defended Sudharsan with a straightforward chance. When England had the momentum of three wickets in 20 overs, it happened in the afternoon session.

India is anxious about Pant, the keyman. This appeared more concerning than his finger injury, which prevented him from playing for the majority of the third Test at Lord’s. He had to be stretchered off the field because it was obvious how uncomfortable his foot was.

Stokes has been England’s best bowler this series, trusting his body after three years of injuries-dominated bowling. No one on either side has more than 13 wickets.

The captain bowled for 14 overs with a fast-paced pace and sufficient movement to keep things moving.

After the India captain accused England of playing cricket against the spirit during the third Test, Gill must have been pleased. When Smith dropped Sudharsan, who later struggled to control his hook at a Stokes bouncer, Smith was the bowler.

England’s other standout performer was Dawson, who played his first Test since 2017. In celebration, he drew Jaiswal into a prod to slip in his second over and sprinted off into the covers. He then asserted control, operating at a three-figure budget over the course of his 15 overs.

After bowling below his best in the first three Tests, Woakes was undoubtedly fortunate to hold off Gus Atkinson for his spot, but his 1-43 bowling performance was admirably positive. In the opening hour, he frequently beat Jaiswal.

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep, both injured, were struggling to stay in the series. Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur were both hired. The biggest change is currently being made by Sudharsan, who was dropped after the first Test and Karun Nair, who was ranked third.

After Gill padded up to Stokes in the afternoon, India began to falter at 140-3 despite Jaiswal and Rahul’s defiance of England and the conditions.

Smith made a wise decision to target Sudharsan’s pads, and he gained from his poor drop, but in his 151-ball stay he displayed solid defense and good judgment. The left-hander slammed and slammed through the leg side frequently.

Pant was characterized as chaotic, in contrast to Sudharsan’s calmness. After attempting to hack Carse, he had 10 of his first 19 balls. He swept Archer for four, slammed the same bowler for a reverse sweep, and belted Carse back over his head for six.

His failure was a subsequent flamboyance attempt. When Pant’s reverse at Woakes was missed, England appealed for lbw, and the review was voided in the end. Pant continued to play no part throughout the day.