Former cricketer-turned-commentator Nasser Hussain was left baffled by off-spinner Washington Sundar’s delayed injection into the attack as England kept piling on the misery against a hapless seam attack on Day 3 of the Manchester Test.

The hosts raced past India’s first-innings 358 as each of their top-4 batters scored over 70 runs, with No. 4 veteran Joe Root slamming his 38th Test ton (150). However, India skipper Shubman Gill was reluctant to use Sundar until the 69th over.

Hussain lauded the craft of Sundar who made an instant impact after being called up to bowl late in the innings. The Tamil Nadu lad didn’t only provide control but dismissed Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession.

Hussain criticized Gill’s decision to bowl pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah from the end that offered minimal bounce, alongside delaying Sundar’s introduction.

“Ben Stokes got his five-for from the Brian Statham End, where there is extra bounce, yet Jasprit Bumrah did most of his bowling from Sir James Anderson end. Then, when the sun did come out after tea on day two and the pitch did get flatter, they completely overlooked bowling Washington Sundar, not turning to him until the 69th over when England were 305 for two,” wrote Hussain in his DailyMail column.

"It was astonishing. You could tell he was full of confidence by the way he spoke so boldly about winning at Lord's, after taking four wickets, and I haven't seen a spin bowler in England get such beautiful drift, even against the wind. He made an impact, the moment he was introduced to the attack, getting Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession, leaving you wondering: where he's been?'"

Washington Sundar conceded 57 runs in 19 overs for the two scalps as England extended their lead to 186 by stumps. Ben Stokes (77*) and Liam Dawson (21*) will resume batting for the hosts on Day 4, with the aim to take the lead past 250 runs.