4 things we learned from the first day's play in the England vs India test match

The first test match between England and India got underway at Edgbaston on Wednesday. This is going to be a 3 test match series and India are playing their first test on English soil since 2014. England finished the day with a respectable score of 285 for the loss of 9 wickets. 350 seemed to be the par score in the first innings on this pitch, but anything over 300 would be a fighting total.

England would also like to cross the psychological barrier of posting a first innings total above 300. They would definitely like to add some more runs which might prove to be crucial in determining the fate of the match ultimately. Sam Curran is unbeaten on 24 and would want to keep as much strike as possible to help England go past 300.

For India, Ravichandran Ashwin took 4 wickets and Mohammed Shami took 2. The turning point of the match came in the 63rd over when Joe Root was run out in an unlucky fashion. The English skipper made 80 before being dismissed. Johnny Bairstow also contributed 70 valuable runs to the English total. The English have already posted a fighting total though credit has to be given to the Indian bowlers for fighting back in the last session of the day.

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#1 The pitch might deteriorate considerably as the match progresses

Adil Rashid

There was already much variable bounce on display on the v first day of the match. Some deliveries jumped off suddenly while some kept low. If the pitch behaved like that on the very first day, there is no reason to believe that it would be any better from the 4th day onwards.

The pitch is likely to deteriorate much as the match progresses and that does not augur well for India. Batting in the 4th innings on this abrasive surface would be an unenviable task and the Indian batsmen would have to do that precisely.

Any first innings total in excess of 300 should be a good one on this pitch. India would bat last in this test match and therefore, the Indian batsmen would have their task cut out. Moreover, England’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid might make life difficult for them. Ben Stokes’ hit-the-deck seam bowling could also prove to be effective on this surface.

#2 India’s relatively lighter batting line-up might be exposed

Dinesh Kartik

India are playing 4 specialist bowlers and an all-rounder in this test and the decision to go with a relatively lighter batting line-up might backfire. Neither Hardik Pandya nor Dinesh Kartik is a test no. 6 and therefore, it won’t be easy for them to cope on this seemingly difficult pitch. Kartik would play as the no. 6 batsman but he might be found wanting.

Although England also went ahead with the strategy of playing an all-rounder at no. 6, it is India who would have to bat in the 4th innings. It would probably have made more sense to drop Pandya and go with a specialist batsman. That would have given India a better chance of saving the match under trying circumstances in the 4th innings.

#3 Ashwin and Shami brought India back into the game

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin was the best among the Indian bowlers and took 4 wickets. He bowled with a very good line and length and did not allow the English batsmen much freedom. He also bowled around 25 overs on the first day of a test match in England and not many spinners can claim to have done that.

However, the Indian fast bowlers except Mohammed Shami did not look lethal enough. There were some shortcomings in their bowling strategies. Ishant Sharma bowled well and generated some lively swing but was too wide at times. Umesh Yadav could not bowl with an upright seam and Hardik Pandya bowled too short most of the times.

Shami took 2 wickets and bowled with a lively pace and an upright seam. He was easily the pick of the Indian fast bowlers but did not get enough support from his fellow pacers.

#4 Root and Bairstow looked really good:

Joe Root

Root and Bairstow are the 2 premier batsmen in the English batting line-up and they again demonstrated their abilities. Root is very strong off his legs and keeps the scoreboard moving with ones and twos. However, he went for an unnecessary run and got himself run out. Bairstow is a good timer of the ball and can play strokes all around the wicket. He also played extremely well under difficult circumstances.

Those 2 milked the Indian bowlers and added 104 precious runs in the 4th wicket partnership. They have given England enough impetus to stay in the match. If those two continue their good form in the second innings too, the Indians would have much to worry about.