The first Test of the five-match series between India and England saw the visitors register a brilliant victory despite conceding a lead of 190 runs in the first innings. It was a nice display of Bazball strategy by England which neutralized the Indian spin threat.
India had posted 426 in reply to England’s 246 runs in the first innings. England lost 5 wickets for 163 runs. But Ollie Pope stood tall scoring 196 runs and formed crucial partnerships with the lower order to take England to 420 in the second innings.
Though the target of 231 runs was not a huge one, the Indian batters froze and were indecisive against England's spinners and lost their wickets trying to defend instead of going after the bowlers. Tom Hartley, who was hammered in the first innings, picked 7/62 in the second innings, as India only managed 202 runs.
England won the match by 28 runs and went 1-0 in the series.
During the 66th over of the Indian innings, when the last pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj was at the crease, England keeper Ben Foakes tried a cheeky stumping to dismiss Bumrah and end the game.
Bumrah was seen getting down on his haunches having missed one of English spinner Tom Hartley’s deliveries. To get up from that position, Bumrah jumped and Foakes, who was presumably anticipating something similar behind the stumps, dislodged the bails in an attempt to dismiss the ace Indian pacer.
Replays showed that Bumrah was well inside the crease despite the jump, but questions were raised about Ben Foakes.
Here is the video:
His attempt at the cheeky stumping reminded everyone of Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s stumping of Jonny Bairstow during last year's Ashes. Foakes’ act sparked a huge debate on social media platform X, about spirit of cricket.
Here are some reactions:
