Joe Root came good when it mattered to drag England away from a perilous position and into a place of relative strength in the fourth Test against India.
Yorkshireman Root has had a quiet series by his lofty standards – averaging just 12.8 – but his unbeaten 106 helped the tourists bounce back from 112 for five to 302 for seven at the close in Ranchi.
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With England 2-1 down in the five-match series with two to play, it looked as though India were about to deliver the killer blow when captain Ben Stokes was the fifth man out. But Root, in tandem with Ben Foakes, and, latterly, the recalled Ollie Robinson, led a stubborn recovery that saw England end day one on top.
Debutant Akash Deep was the pick of the Indian attack, taking three for 70 – fine figures that would have been enhanced further had it not been for an early no-ball call that saved Zak Crawley.
He refused to be disheartened, though, producing a fiery opening spell that saw him run through England’s top order.
Ben Duckett (11) edged behind to Dhruv Jurel, Ollie Pope was trapped lbw on review for a second ball duck and Crawley (42) saw his off-stump clattered as Akash claimed his third wicket in 11 balls.
Root’s county college Jonny Bairstow also came in this game out of nick but he showed flashes of his best in a breezy 38 off 35 balls before an ill-judged sweep shot to Ravichandran Ashwin saw him depart – again after a review.
And when Stokes came and went quickly, Ravi Jadeja getting in on the act with a ball that kept low and struck the Durham all-rounder just above the ankle, England were in deep trouble.
The response was as impressive as it was needed.
It also required a different approach as England made a rare departure from ‘Bazball’ to slowly and carefully rebuild.
Root brought up his 50 from 108 balls as he and Foakes guided England through a wicket-free afternoon session to move the score on to 198 for five.
Thirty-one Test centuries.
Approaching 12,000 Test runs.
The most Test hundreds against India.He knows what he’s doing 😏
🇮🇳 #INDVENG 🏴 #ENGLANDCRICKET PIC.TWITTER.COM/O6LGBMUGHG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) FEBRUARY 23, 2024
Foakes’ impressive knock came to an end in the seventh over after the interval when he mis-timed a drive off Mohammed Siraj to fall three runs shy of what would have been a deserved half-century.
Siraj also claimed the wicket of Tom Hartley for 13 before Root brought up his 31st Test ton, and 10th against India, with a lovely cover-drive. His 100 came off 219 balls to become the slowest of the ‘Bazball’ era.
It may not have been his most fluent but it was Root at his grittiest. Sturdy defence and the ability to find gaps characterised one of his best knocks for his country.
Robinson played well for his 31 not out to keep him company to the close.
