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SPORTS February 05, 2021 | The Indian Eye 52

engLand in india

in don’s shoes: Joe root shows the way

and class in run-fest at Chennai

Michael Vaughan feels that the Indian team without Ravindra Jadeja in home conditions gives an advantage to the visitors

Our Bureau
Chennai

ngland batsman Joe
Root on Saturday be-
Ecame the second skipper
to hit three successive 150-plus
runs after Australian legendary
batsman Sir Don Bradman.
Root achieved the feat in the
first Test against India at the MA
Chidambaram Stadium. Root,
playing his landmark 100th test,
remained unbeaten on 153 runs
at lunch break on day two. Root
had scored 228 and 186 in his
previous two Tests in Sri Lan-
ka. He is the 7th player to make england's Joe root celebrates his
150-plus runs in three consec- double century during day two of
utive Tests as he joins an elite the first Test match between India
list including Tom Latham, Ku- and england at MA Chidambaram India's shahbaz Nadeem celebrates the dismissal of england's Joe root
mar Sangakkara (4 consecutive stadium in Chennai on saturday. during Day 2 of the first test match between India and england at MA
Tests), Mudassar Nazar, Zaheer (eCB/ANI Photo) Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on saturday. (BCCI/ANI Photo)
Abbas, Don Bradman, and Wal-
ly Hammond. on Friday, hit an unbeaten 128 read 263/3 with Root playing on Meanwhile, dormer England
Resuming day two at 263/3, runs off 197 balls. It was also 128 runs. However, India end- skipper Michael Vaughan said
Root and Stokes saw off the first Root’s third consecutive hun- ed the day on a high as Bumrah that the Indian team without
hour with ease, and run-scoring dred in the longest format of dismissed Sibley (87) in the 90th Ravindra Jadeja in home condi-
was done at a good pace. In the the game. The England skipper over. tions gives an advantage to the
first sixty minutes, both England had hit 228 and 186 runs against Opting to bat first, Sibley visitors.
batters managed to add 40 runs. Sri Lanka in January. “Magnifi- and Rory Burns provided En- Hosts are without the ser-
Both Root and Stokes marched cent 100 in his 100th Test for @ gland with a good start. India vices of all-rounder Jadeja for
on and the first session saw them root66Its been a Subcontinent did have a very good opportuni- the first two Tests of the four-
bringing up their 150 and 50 re- masterclass yet again. Loved his ty to send Burns back to the pa- match series against England
spectively. The Indians were not technique and approach espe- vilion cheaply but wicket-keeper as he is nursing a thumb injury
able to get any wickets in the cially against Spinners. #IND- Rishabh Pant dropped the catch that he sustained on the tour of
first session. Stokes and Root vsENG #class #leadingfrom- off Bumrah’s first delivery of the Australia. “Think I may need to
have extended their partnership thefront,” Laxman tweeted. second over. change my series prediction ...
to 92 runs. On the first day of Former India Test batsman The duo then played cau- !!! #India without @imjadeja in
the Test, Root had registered his Wasim Jaffer lauded Root for tiously to avoid any hiccups in these conditions gives England
century and he was also involved leading England from the front the initial overs, taking the team a sniff ... Plus this England Test
in a 200-run stand with opening with his ton in his 100th Test. over the 50-run mark. team are playing high quality
batsman Dom Sibley. Great way to start the se- Root, along with Sibley, Test cricket !!!#INDvENG,”
Former cricketer VVS Lax- ries, skipper leading from the steadied England’s innings and Vaughan tweeted.
man heaped praise on Joe Root front and showing the way! Well played some fine shots. Both India are playing with two
after the England skipper hit played @root6 100 in 100th test kept the scoreboard ticking and spinners -- Ravichandran Ash-
a hundred in his 100th Test on #INDvENG,” Jaffer tweeted. took the team to the 100-run win and Shahbaz Nadeem -- in
day one of the opening match Root and Dom Sibley put mark in the 44th over. Root and the opening Test. England have
against India on Friday. Laxman England in control in the first Sibley kept on building their so far dominated with the bat in
loved Root’s technique and ap- Test, forming a stunning 200- partnership while Indian bowl- the first Test after winning the
proach against Indian spinners. run partnership on the opening ers struggled to get a break- toss at the MA Chidambaram
Root, playing his 100th Test day. At stumps, England’s score through. Stadium in Chennai.

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