Two quick-fire wickets drag England back into opening test just before lunch
LEEDS, England :Two wickets late in the session dragged England back into their opening test of the five-match series against India on Friday, with the tourists 92-2 at lunch having previously cruised into a strong position.
Despite the clear, humid Headingley conditions seemingly favouring the batting side, England chose to bowl first, safe in the knowledge each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first.
Skipper Ben Stokes' decision initially seems ill-advised, with India openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal both looking in fine form, taking India into the nineties unbeaten as lunch approached.
Without numerous frontline pace bowlers through injury - the lightning Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in particular - England's new-look attack grew more erratic as the opening session wore on.
It was left to Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, to make the crucial breakthrough just as Rahul was really settling in on 42, Yorkshireman Joe Root taking the catch on his home ground in the slips.
The pressure then got to 23-year-old Sai Sudharsan on debut, as from the last ball before lunch, Stokes found a leading edge, with Jamie Smith taking the catch behind the stumps to send the rookie back to the pavilion without having scored a single run.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Draper reaches Queen's semis, seals top-four seeding at Wimbledon
LONDON :Britain's Jack Draper continued his Wimbledon build-up by reaching the semi-finals at Queen's Club for the first time with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 defeat of American Brandon Nakashima on Friday. Draper not only kept himself on track for the prestigious ATP 500 title, but also secured the win that guarantees a top-four seeding at Wimbledon where he will be the big home hope. The 23-year-old was fully tested by world number 32 Nakashima and his powerful game began to misfire as he lost the second set on a baking hot day on Andy Murray Arena. But Draper settled back into the groove in the deciding set and broke serve in the seventh game with one of his trademark forehand pile drivers. The left-hander had to save a break point when serving for the match at 5-4 but recovered to seal victory and set up a clash with Czech Jiri Lehecka who had earlier beaten Britain's Jacob Fearnley 7-5 6-2. "It means the world to me to reach the semi-finals here," Draper, bidding to become the first British player to win the title at the prestigious west London club since Murray won it for the fifth time in 2016. While being ranked fourth means Draper will avoid either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or world number one Jannik Sinner until the semi-finals at Wimbledon, Draper shrugged off the significance of that when asked about it. "I kept getting asked about that by the journalists but I've got to reach the semi-finals first," he said. "But it is an incredible position, I was at Wimbledon last year ranked 40 so to go there as fourth seed is a testament to all the hard work my team has done so very proud of that."
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Jaiswal century puts India back in command of opening test
LEEDS, England :A superb century from India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal helped put India back in command of the opening test of their five-match series against England on Friday, with the tourists on 215-2 at tea having previously cruised into a strong position. Despite the clear, humid Headingley conditions seemingly favouring the batting side, England chose to bowl first, knowing each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first. Skipper Ben Stokes' decision initially seems ill-advised, with India openers KL Rahul and Jaiswal looking in fine form, taking India into the nineties unbeaten as lunch approached. Missing numerous frontline pace bowlers through injury, it was left to Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, to make the crucial breakthrough just as Rahul was settling in on 42, before debutant Sai Sudharsan fell last ball before lunch for a disappointing duck. Returning from the break on 92-2, the pressure was on new India skipper Gill to shift the momentum back in India's favour, with their fans expecting a smooth transition following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Supported manfully by Jaiswal, who sailed to his sixth half century in 10 innings against England, Gill showed his class with his fastest-ever test 50, and, most crucially, first as captain. Jaiswal, despite receiving treatment for an injury to his hand throughout the session, took the limelight from the skipper, however, storming to his fifth century from just 20 matches, his third against England, to put India in control at tea.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Jaiswal century puts India back in command of opening test
Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 20, 2025 England's Joe Root celebrates with teammates after taking the catch to dismiss India's KL Rahul, off the bowling of Brydon Carse Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 20, 2025 England's Zak Crawley appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of India's Sai Sudharsan Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 20, 2025 England's Ben Stokes celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India's Sai Sudharsan, catch taken by Jamie Smith Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS LEEDS, England - A superb century from India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal helped put India back in command of the opening test of their five-match series against England on Friday, with the tourists on 215-2 at tea having previously cruised into a strong position. Despite the clear, humid Headingley conditions seemingly favouring the batting side, England chose to bowl first, knowing each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first. Skipper Ben Stokes' decision initially seems ill-advised, with India openers KL Rahul and Jaiswal looking in fine form, taking India into the nineties unbeaten as lunch approached. Missing numerous frontline pace bowlers through injury, it was left to Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, to make the crucial breakthrough just as Rahul was settling in on 42, before debutant Sai Sudharsan fell last ball before lunch for a disappointing duck. Returning from the break on 92-2, the pressure was on new India skipper Gill to shift the momentum back in India's favour, with their fans expecting a smooth transition following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Supported manfully by Jaiswal, who sailed to his sixth half century in 10 innings against England, Gill showed his class with his fastest-ever test 50, and, most crucially, first as captain. Jaiswal, despite receiving treatment for an injury to his hand throughout the session, took the limelight from the skipper, however, storming to his fifth century from just 20 matches, his third against England, to put India in control at tea. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
