IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill's ton the most in-control in England since records started being kept
In fact, the extra scrutiny seems to have worked in his favour as he scored his second century in as many games on the opening day at Edgbaston. Not only did the skipper extricate the team from a tricky position with half the side gone with only all-rounders and tail-enders to accompany him, the ton is statistically the most secure ever scored on English shores, since such records have been kept.
According to CricViz, Gill's false shot percentage during Wednesday's knock was just 3.5 percent. The average in England is 12 percent. The BBC said this statistic made it the most controlled hundred in England since 2006, when such numbers began being collated. It contained just two outside edges off Chris Woakes – both before Gill had reached 20.
There was an inside edge off Brydon Carse that helped Gill survive an LBW appeal. England took a review, but burnt it.
Any edge, play-and-miss or mishit is considered a false shot, and there were three more of these from Gill – one off Woakes and two off Gill's counterpart Ben Stokes. Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara, all of whom have scored memorable hundreds in England, didn't exhibit this level of control. Neither did home team stalwarts such as Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Joe Root.
In recent times, England's greatest tormentor was been Aussie legend Steve Smith, who has scored eight hundreds there. But the lowest false-shot percentage in any of those tons was 9 per cent.
The previous lowest by any overseas player in England, according to CricViz, was 4.4 percent managed by South African great Jacques Kallis during the 2012 Oval Test.
What could have worked in Gill's favour was that it was the second-easiest on record on the opening day of an Edgbaston Test, behind the one provided for the 2017 game against the West Indies, but nevertheless Gill has to be commended for the degree of control he exhibited under so much personal pressure, with the team already 0-1 down in a five-match series.
The achievement is all the more significant as he averaged just 14.66 across six innings before the current tour.
'When he last came to England, he played with hard hands and pushed at the ball. Now he allows the ball to come and hit the bat. He is trusting his defence,' former India head coach Ravi Shastri told Sky Sports.
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Deccan Herald
2 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Gill's ton keeps England at bay
Shubman Gill played a captain's knock for a second game in succession but debatable selection decisions by the Indian team management, coupled with England's uncanny ability to rise when the tide is flowing against them saw the hosts sign off an engrossing opening day of the second Test the happier lot here on Wednesday. Shouldering responsibility like a skipper should do and batting with immense maturity after the quick dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar, Gill made it after tea, the 25‑year‑old Gill ensured India didn't bungle up completely against a gritty England with a beautifully composed seventh Test century at a sold‑out and noisy Edgbaston. Hardly playing a loose stroke in brilliant batting conditions and well aware of how important his innings would be in the larger context of the game after the in‑form Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) threw it away following all the hard work, Gill struck a dogged unbeaten 114 (216b, 12x4) to take India to stumps at 310/5 with seasoned Ravindra Jadeja giving him company with an equally fighting 41 not out. The duo forged an unbroken 99‑run partnership. Gill, who in the pre‑match press conference admitted he needs to be more careful with his shot selection following his dismissal in the first innings of the Leeds Test that triggered a sensational collapse, did exactly what he said. He saw from the non‑strikers' end how Jaiswal, looking to counter for a second straight century and fourth versus England, and Pant played loose shots that brought about their downfalls. With KL Rahul and Kumar Nair too back in the hut earlier in the day, he knew he, being the only specialist batter remaining, had to take all the responsibility. And he did so in exemplary fashion, becoming the third India captain with hundreds in consecutive Tests against England after the great Vijay Hazare and Mohammad Azharuddin. At the start of his innings, he was very watchful as Jaiswal started to open his shoulders after having done all the hard yards in a probing first session where England's lead pacer Chris Woakes asked several difficult questions with his sharp pace, late swing and bounce off a good length. Gill just opted to defend but didn't get sucked into a shell with the occasional boundary and quick singles. Very bizarrely, he started to up the tempo after Pant played a false shot and got out right after tea. India lost even all‑rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy cheaply and at 211/5 with the bowlers to follow, India were in trouble. England skipper Ben Stokes, who was exceptional with his field placements and rotation of bowlers, sensed blood but Gill hit four of the challenge along with Jadeja. He trusted his attacking game and started to play his shots a lot more. Less‑rashly than how to hold one end up without conceding too many runs. More than Tests, they were exceptional in one‑dayers. Yuvraj was a proper all‑rounder, as effective with his left arm spin as he was when smashing the bowlers with the bat in his hands. All of them were effective whenever the bowlers had a carry on the wicket. They end rugby players and educate them on Asia. 'I think an ability to bat the tail was what we were chasing,' said skipper Rohit Sharma, explaining why India needed 310 to 324 to win.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Gill's 269 puts India in control, Eng struggle at 77/3
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India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Shubman Gill will average 45 by end of series: Vaughan's India captain prediction
Michael Vaughan joked about his own prediction for India captain Shubman Gill after he scored a record-breaking 269 on Day 2 of the Edgbaston Test. Gill registered the highest Test score by an Indian captain with his knock from 387 balls as he hit 30 boundaries and three sixes. This helped India post 587 runs in the first innings. Ahead of the series, Vaughan commented on Gill's average and said that it should be higher than 35. Speaking to the broadcasters, the former England captain said that Gill be averaging 45 by the end of the series given the fantastic start he has made to the series. advertisementENG vs IND 2nd Test Day 2 Updates "At the start of the series, I said that his average of 35 in cricket, that's not high enough for his quality. I said by the end of his career he'll be averaging 45. I think probably by the end of this series he will be averaging 45. He's made a terrific start. He is the captain, second time out and he's now two from two. Magnificent," said Vaughan. Interestingly, Gill's average has gone up to 40.65 after his knock at players assess conditions wellVaughan went on to say that Gill assessed the conditions well on the day and his technique looked absolutely pure and had the mindset to perform. "It was a great toss for him to have lost, but I think as Sunny said, when you get really quality players, when they get on a good surface, and they know there's not a great deal of swing or seam, there's the odd ball that bounces. There's not a great deal of spin just yet. I think great players realise it, and his feet have been going great. His technique looks absolutely pure. And he just had the mindset to perform," said Vaughan. Gill is leading the way in terms of most runs with 424 runs in just three innings. - EndsTune InMust Watch
