For once the weather forecast proved right during India’s current tour of England. A spell of rain predicted on Friday afternoon, came in at the appointed hour and the fourth Test’s second day ground to a halt with the host ahead by 85 runs.
England’s minor advantage could become a migraine for India if the lower-order, led by Joe Root (48 batting) and Jos Buttler continue to prosper.
A drizzle at 2 p.m., gained momentum and 20 minutes later umpires Marais Erasmus and Rod Tucker ordered the ground-staff to cover the centre square. When the players trooped off, England had scored 237 for six with India’s 152 receding fast.
The cricketers didn’t have to step back into the arena and at 5.40 p.m., it was announced: Play has been abandoned for the day. A vast swathe of damp turf near the pavilion end, forced the early closure.
Much before the wet curtain descended, Root, who moved sideways, practised a few shots and reached the pitch in his hop-skip routine, after night-watchman Chris Jordan was dismissed (136 for four), ensured that England stayed on course for a first innings lead.
His knock had its usual eager beaver act and the runs were quickly totted up.
Root’s unbeaten 48 and his unfinished 67-run seventh-wicket partnership with Buttler, might prove critical in a game that seems destined to dish out a blend of rain-delays, swing bowling and batsmen tentatively finding their feet.
Sense of urgency
Aware of the need to muster all they could to help England progress and also conscious of the imminent showers, Root and Buttler hastened the scoring rate to above 3.
There were hurried singles, edged fours and the duo greedily accepted a helping hand offered through over-throws and misfields.
It wasn’t entirely about reaping benefits from errors as Root cut a pleasant sight when he got on top of the ball and lashed Pankaj Singh for four. He was pinged on the helmet once when Varun Aaron let it rip from around the wicket and though Root looked ungainly, importantly for England, he stayed at the crease.
In the morning, that repeated Thursday’s template of dark skies paving the way for sunshine, England had to seize the lead and press home its advantage while India wanted early wickets and restrict its probable deficit.
Resuming at the overnight 113 for three, the host chugged along, at least in the first four overs with 20 runs pocketed while Ian Bell’s cut off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jordan’s pull off Pankaj set a fine tempo.
It was time for Aaron to come into the frame and he did that with a superb catch at short mid-wicket when Jordan swivelled and tried to despatch Bhuvneshwar over the on-side. Aaron took a blinder and India had gained the break it yearned.
Exactly 11 deliveries later, Bell (58) nibbled at Bhuvneshwar’s out-swinger and with England at 140 for five, Dhoni’s men sensed a fair chance of staying on an even keel in the first-innings stakes.
By now, Moeen Ali’s arrival at the crease triggers bouncers and three men awaiting the miscued hook. Word travels fast in this era of analytics and a million replays and, predictably, Aaron peppered Ali with the short-stuff.
One such delivery, elicited a feeble hook and Ali, tempting his fate, procured a two and bravely awaited another turn at the crease. Aaron’s follow-up was perfect: a rapid delivery zooming into the stumps. Ali’s bat-swing was late and the speedster found his target.
England by then had skipped past India’s score, but at 170 for six it was still a miniscule step.
But when Root and Buttler nudged the score to 201 for six at lunch, Alastair Cook’s men regained their gait. And just like Aaron, who wavered between quick spells, a few no-balls and a misfield that led to an all-run four, India’s fortunes rose and fell and the weather added its share of drama.
Scoreboard
India — 1st innings : 152 in 46.4 overs.
England — 1st innings : Alastair Cook c Pankaj b Aaron 17 (42b, 2x4), Sam Robson b Bhuvneshwar 6 (24b, 1x4), Gary Ballance lbw b Aaron 37(87b, 6x4), Ian Bell c Dhoni b Bhuvneshwar 58 (82b, 8x4, 1x6), Chris Jordan c Aaron b Bhuvneshar 13 (22b, 3x4), Joe Root batting 48 (94b, 5x4), Moeen Ali b Aaron 13 (27b, 2x4), Jos Buttler batting 22 (53b, 2x4); Extras (b-5, lb-9, nb-5, w-4): 23; Total (for six wkts. in 71 overs): 237.
Fall of wickets : 1-21 (Robson), 2-36 (Cook), 3-113 (Ballance), 4-136 (Jordan), 5-140 (Bell), 6-170 (Ali).
India bowling : Bhuvneshwar Kumar 18-6-47-3, Pankaj Singh 17-2-79-0, Varun Aaron 16-2-48-3, R. Ashwin 13-1-28-0, Ravindra Jadeja 7-0-21-0.
