Almost as if to make up for their horror final day at Lord's, England had the first day of their fantasies at Headingley, writes espncricinfo.
James Anderson cast a swing-bowling spell over the top order, reducing India to 21 for 3 in the 11th over, to immediately send the opposition into defence mode, reports the sports news website. It says although Rohit Sharma and AjinkyaRahane threatened, briefly, to rebuild, the supporting England seamers then came in and wiped out the last seven India wickets for 22 runs, to have them 78 all out - the third-lowest total India have ever made after choosing to bat first.
When England bowled, conditions seemed exceedingly seamer-friendly, the pitch and the atmosphere allowing the ball to move just enough and late enough to get new batters nicking, rather than missing, says the report. But, then when India's quicks had the ball, the surface appeared half-decent - even good - to bat on. The report pointed out that Rohit - India's top-scorer - batted out 105 balls for his 19; HaseebHameed needed only 43 deliveries to get to the same score. Hameed later progressed to a half-century off his 110th delivery, before finishing on 60 not out. Rory Burns made an unbeaten 52. England finished the day with the match firmly in their grip. They had ten first-innings wickets still in hand, and were 42 runs ahead.
Although Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Sam Curran, and the two England openers, imposed themselves at various points in the day, it was the maestro, Anderson, who set the tone, the report mentioned. A dusting of grey hairs at his temple, and yet evermore skilful, he laid traps for KL Rahul and CheteshwarPujara, which both batters could not resist. He bowled a string of inswingers at Rahul, all slightly short of a length, to get the batter playing back slightly, defending balls in front of his stumps. Then he snuck in a full delivery outside off, which seamed slightly away off the seam, to take Rahul's edge as he reached for it. A similar ploy worked for Pujara too. Although Pujara's was a poke rather than a big drive, the dismissal - edging an awayseamer to the wicketkeeper - was the same, said the report.
For Kohli, Anderson plugged away in the channel, and then delivered a wobble-seam ball that pitched just outside off and moved away - Kohli venturing a big drive only to also be caught by Jos Buttler, said the esmncricinfo report. He was out for 7 off 17, leaving India reeling while Rohit was attempting his best cave hermit impression - leaving, blocking, and dead-batting.
Rohit and Rahane then threatened to right India's innings, batting out 15 overs together and putting on 35, but Rahane edging Robinson behind on the penultimate ball before lunch ended what turned out to be India's best partnership by far.
After lunch, the report added, India careened into a chasm. Pant was out to Robinson - again nicking behind (this was Jos Buttler's fifth catch out of five). A few overs later, Rohit's patience ran out and he tried to pull a short ball from Overton over the leg side, but managed only to bunt it to a catching mid-on. Next ball, Mohammed Shami was squared up, and he sent a catch to third slip.
The following over, bowled by Curran, brought another double strike - RavindraJadeja and JaspritBumrah both out lbw, both pretty plumb. India lost four wickets while the score was 67, and were all out soon after, having slipped from 56 for 3.
The report mentioned that perhaps India felt their bowlers would be able to replicate England's success in such conditions, particularly after their heroics on the final day at Lord's, but they began with far less discipline than the England attack had shown. Ishant Sharma, who opened the bowling ahead of Mohammed Siraj and Shami, was especially wayward, frequently straying into the batters' pads, and rarely finding movement on a line outside off stump. JaspritBumrah was much better, and even drew an edge at one point that fell short, but was not especially menacing either.
Hameed and Burns did not have to be particularly patient through the early overs, getting frequent enough deliveries that could be scored off, but were nevertheless solid when the good balls came as well. They were not beaten as often as India's batters were with the new ball. And they were more confident with their scoring strokes. Hameed was particularly severe on errors of line, dusting off an excellent cut shot repeatedly, the report said.
Later, burns hit the most memorable shot, however, thumping Siraj over deep square leg for the day's only six. Hameed got to his half-century with an edge through the outstretched hand of Rohit at second slip - the fielder getting some flesh to the tough chance, but unable to hold on. Burns got to the milestone in the penultimate over of the day, punching the 123rd ball he faced through mid-on.
Such was England's dominance on day one, India will probably need a dramatic session or several to get themselves back into the match, according to the report.
