Page 50 - The Indian EYE 021921

SPORTS February 19, 2021 | The Indian Eye 50

Indian team celebrates after winning the 2nd test match against England at India's Rishabh Pant gestures after winning the 2nd test match against
MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/BCCI Twitter) England in Chennai on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/BCCI Twitter)

just focused on doing well in this day.
Test,” he added. Indian bowlers produced a
On Monday, Ashwin cred- sublime performance on day
ited batting coach Vikram Ra- four as England only managed to
thour for his success in the red- score 164 runs in their second in-
ball cricket with the bat. “I will nings. Axar Patel, who made his
sleep well through the night, that Test debut in the match, picked a
is all that I am thinking. Even af- five-wicket haul during England’s
ter the last Test, we spoke about second innings while Ravichan-
how we are going to counter dran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav
Leach and probably bring sweep scalped three and two wickets re-
to the game. Last time, I was spectively.
sweeping, I was 19 years old, I hit Analysing the game, Root
a bit of sweep shots well today. also admitted that they “could’ve
I am thankful the plan has paid played that extra spinner”.
off,” Ashwin told host broadcast- India's Axar Patel appeals for the wicket during the 4th day of the 2nd test “Credit to India, they out-
er after the conclusion of play on match between India and England in Chennai on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/BCCI Twitter) played us in all three depart-
Monday. ments. It has been an education
India levelled the four-match a flat batting pitch. Take a bow et in the second innings. Openers for us, you could come up with
Test series 1-1 against England af- @ashwinravi99, you’re truly a Dom Sibley (3) and Rory Burns conditions like these and we
ter an emphatic 317-run win in the modern day legend. What a per- (25) failed to provide a solid have to learn from this and find
second Test here at the MA Chi- formance!!! #ashwin #IND- stand for the visitors and were a way to score runs. We need
dambaram Stadium on Tuesday. vsENG,” Sridhar tweeted. picked by Patel and Ashwin re- to learn to build pressure and
India fielding coach R Sri- Fielding coach further added spectively. bowl six balls at one batsman.
dhar on Monday applauded that Kohli, who scored 62 runs, After losing openers ear- On day one we could have been
spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s gave a master class on how to ly, England sent Jack Leach as a bit tighter, squeeze the game a
all-round performance in the build an innings on a turning pitch. nightwatchman but that move bit more and make it harder for
ongoing second Test against En- “At the other end, @imVkohli also did not work for the visitors. them to score,” Root told host
gland at the MA Chidambaram quietly gave a master class on Leach was sent back to the pavil- broadcaster Star Sports.
Stadium. how to build an Innings on a turn- ion on a single ball duck by Patel. “From day two it was a very
After taking a five-wicket ing pitch.#moderndaymaster Root and Lawrence played cau- difficult wicket to bat on. But
haul on Sunday, Ashwin came to #INDvsENG,” Sridhar added. tiously and made sure that the we have got to be smarter about
rescue India with the bat on day Ashwin’s scintillating century side did not suffer any hiccup on how we’re building an innings.
three and amassed the fifth ton and early wickets helped India to the day. We are 1-1 and we are excited
of his Test career. His 108-run dominate on day three after set- After suffering a humiliat- about the next two games given
knock helped the side to reach a ting a 482 target. ing defeat, England skipper Joe the way we played in the first
respectable total in the second in- At stumps on day three, En- Root on Tuesday admitted that game. We could’ve played that
nings on the spinning wicket. He gland’s score read 53/3 with skip- India outplayed them in all three extra spinner, it is always easy
was also involved with the skipper per Joe Root and Dan Lawrence departments. to look at balancing a side at the
Virat Kohli in the 96-run part- still unbeaten on two and 19 runs India levelled the four-match end of the game. It will be dif-
nership for the seventh wicket. respectively. Visitors still require Test series 1-1 against England ferent again when we turn up
“When he bowled, the pitch 429 runs to win the game. after an emphatic 317-run win in for the third game which will be
appeared like a rank turner, Axar Patel bagged two scalps the second Test here at the MA a day-nighter, and very exciting
when he batted it looked like while Ashwin clinched one wick- Chidambaram Stadium on Tues- last two games,” he added.

www.TheIndianEYE .com