Indian Pacers Day Out

India might not have thought before the start of Southampton Test that they will be on top at the and of day one but the Indian Pacers made sure that they make most of the green top pitch to put India on top. However, Jasprit Bumrah did not expect that pitch will offer so much help for the pacers especially in the first session where England had lost 4 wickets.

"It's quite interesting (bowling) with the Dukes ball. When I was sitting out in the first two matches, I was keeping an eye on what the other bowlers were doing. We also wanted to bat, but when we started to bowl there was a lot of seam and swing early on, more than we expected. Always good when the plan works. The ball was swinging so I thought why not try the inswinger (against Jennings). Even when the ball is not reversing, the batsman tries to see the shine because the shine is prominent. I usually hide it often.



My action was different in U19. But it changed more and more. Wherever I went, in NCA and the MRF academy, the coaches said they won't change my action. We'll make you stronger and your body stronger because they were afraid I'll lose my pace. We would've taken 245 at the start of the day. We bowled well in patches and they played well too. I've not played a single ball after the IPL. I'm trying to bat in the nets," Bumrah said after day's play.

England's situation could have been even worse if 20-year old Curran did not come to rescue them with a fighting knock of 78. He has lifted England from 86 for 6 to 246. Conditions also helped England to recover as once the ball got old it became easier for batting after the morning session. But pacers led by Bumrah continued to pitch the ball in right areas that did not allow English batsmen to play freely.

Jasprit Bumrah again proved why he has become India's premium bowler. The way he set up Keaton Jennings with threoutswingerser and then one inswinger which actually got him out was excellent to watch. Jennings had no idea where that inswinger came from. Bumrah could have been Joe Root as well but he overstepped that saved Root but he nicked England's best batsman of the series Jonny Bairstow (6) to Rishabh Pant. Later he dismissed Stuart Broad as well who contributed with valuable 17 runs.



On the other hand, India's leading wicket-taker of this series Ishant Sharma bowled a tight opening spell in which he got skipper Joe Root LBW with a big inswinger. Mohammed Shami, another important member of India's pace attack too haa d a big success with h the ball. He first dismissed, Jos Buttler (21) who was looking dangerous and then Ben Stokes (23) by LBW.

It was the complete dominance of the pacers that rewarded Ravichandran Ashwin with two wickets. Moeen Ali (40) who survived through some brilliant pace bowling seek an opportunity to score runs against Ashwin and that resulted in him his wicket. He went for the expensive sweep but only managed a top edge to Bumrah. Ali put an 81-run partnership with Sam Curran that set up England's recovery. Ashwin had Curran too the last batsman of England's innings.

Overall it was a great day for India in terms of bowling where they managed to bowl England out on below par total. India started well with bat and scored 19 without losing any wicket at the end of day one. Looking at the conditions and pitch the next couple of days will be excellent for the batting so it is a great chance for India to take big first innings to lead to put England under serious pressure.

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