Kohli will like his main bowler, Ashwin, to have a go at England and somehow get a wicket and run through England’s strong batting line-up.
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Rajkot: Joe Root and Moeen Ali produced a calm and composed performance as England made a remarkable recovery from a shaky start to move to a respectable 311-4 at stumps on Day One of the opening Test against India at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Wednesday.
With Ali standing tall at one end, England looked set for a big first innings total, vindicating captain Alastair Cook’s decision to bat first.
“I know a lot of responsibility has been taken by Cooky and Rooty (in recent Tests), and I think it’s important for the other lads to help them out”, he said.
Alastair Cook won the toss and rode his luck in a bright start, before England was reduced to 55-3 in the first session.
Without doubt, it was a commanding display of classical batsmanship from Root.
In the five-test series in England in 2014, Kohli managed just 134 runs at an average of 13.4 with the highest touching 39.
But Ashwin extracted his revenge on England two overs later by sending back Hameed with a ball that turned in a bit and got past the defensive shot of the rookie opener who played outside the line to be rapped on back foot.
Root and Ali did well to rotate the strike and did not allow India to formulate any particular plans for them. As the partnership gained strength, the crowd became quieter and Virat Kohli became less proactive.
With Shami regularly needing extensive treatment on an apparent hamstring injury, having pulled out mid-over before tea, India were in comparative disarray. In this session, there was no pressure on Root-Moeen as they managed to get runs in nearly every over and played each ball to its merit. It has been a long wait for the review system’s Test debut in India, and it has come with all the bells and whistles in place, including letting the viewers at home have a listen-in. Some flew over the slip cordon, some in front of the slip fielders. In the first over of the match, Cook edged an away going delivery off Shami that was grassed at gully by Ajinkya Rahane.
Ashwin returned figures of 2/108 while Jadeja notched up 1/59. With not much turn on offer, the England batsmen seemed rather happy dealing with them.
But Hameed insists they have the personnel, and the belief, to push for series victory over the next six weeks – as Cook’s England did on their last trip four years ago. He considered taking a review, but after consulting Hameed, deciding against it.
India, incidentally, had not taken the second new ball till stumps. But TV umpire Rod Tucker deemed Root out.
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Following lunch, Moeen Ali joined Root at the crease and the duo put up a show for the English fans. He played a busy knock, cutting, driving and sweeping the spinners. Then after being struck for three fours by Duckett, Ashwin had the left-hander, who edged to Rahane. Moeen Ali built a 179 runs partnership with Root and after Root’s dismissal, he kept the momentum going. This time, however, without losing a wicket.
