India Vs England
Fitness, technique helps Root get back among 'Big Four' batsmen
Root, 30, who hit 228 and 186 in the two Tests in Sri Lanka prior to Friday's knock, had an ordinary last year in which he scored just four half-centuries in 13 Test innings. At the moment his average is 50.16.Root, who had earlier said that Kohli, Smith, and Williamsonabove are above him, has come roaring back and is looking to regain his place among the 'Big Four'.
To get a 100 in 100th Test is special but hope more follows: Joe Root
"It's an unusual-looking surface but it played pretty well... I was just trying to get used to the surface, get used to the bounce. And as I got in, I found it easier. The longer you are in, the easier it becomes. It was about trying to build a partnership and take it as deep as we could into the day," said Root after the first day's play.
Chennai Test: Root scores 3rd consecutive ton, England take upper hand
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Sibley on 87 off the last ball of the day to help India end it on a positive note for themselves. However, Sibley and Root's partnership, coupled with a 63-run opening stand between the former and Rory Burns helped England take the upper hand on the first day of the Test.
'My name is Washington, I want to go to DC': Rishabh Pant trolls Washington Sundar in Chennai test (Watch Video)
After a delivery in the 70th over by all-rounder Washington Sundar, which was defended by England batsman Sibley, Pant in a loud voice was heard saying “Mera naam hai Washington, mereko jaana hai DC.” This translates to ‘My name is Washington, I want to go to DC.’
Joe Root becomes 9th batsman to hit century in 100th Test
Root brought up his 20th century off 164 balls, with the help of 12 boundaries. This was his third century in as many Tests, with earlier two coming in Sri Lanka in the previous series that England won 2-0, just before the team reached India for this series. Root also became only the third cricketer to play both his first and 100th Test match in the same country he was touring.
Chennai Test: Dominic Sibley, Joe Root take England to 140/2 at Tea
Both the batsman showed immense patience during the course of the session, playing each ball on its merit and collecting boundaries whenever the Indian bowlers erred on their lines and lengths. The visitors collected 73 runs in the second session and look on course for a big first-innings total.
Chennai Test: Jasprit Bumrah scalps 1st wicket in India as England reach 67/2 at Lunch
Lawrence, who came into bat after opener Rory Burns' dismissal, went back to the dressing room without troubling the scorers as he got out lbw against Bumrah. Before the ongoing first Test, Bumrah, 27, had played 17 Tests, all overseas, in which he had picked 79 wickets. Earlier, winning the toss and electing to bat, Burns and Sibley provided England with a solid start as they brilliantly tackled the two Indian pacers -- Ishant Sharma and Bumrah.
Chennai Test: Joe Root becomes 15th England cricketer to play 100 Tests
Before the start of the first Test where England opted to bat, Root had scored 8,249 runs in 99 Test matches, including 19 hundred and 49 half-centuries. He is the fourth-highest Test scorer for England, only behind Alastair Cook (12,472 runs), Graham Gooch (8,900 runs) and Alec Stewart (8,463 runs).
Chennai Test: England players sport black armbands to pay tribute to Tom Moore
The 100-year-old British army veteran, who raised millions of pounds to help Britain's health service in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic last year, passed away with coronavirus. Joe Root's men wore black armbands when the teams stood for their respective national anthems before the visitors came out to bat.
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill set to get long rope as opening pair: Kohli
While Sharma had cemented him place in the opening slot back in the home Tests in 2019, Gill made his debut in Australia on the recent tour and impressed with his strokeplay, and notching scores of 50, 31, 7 and 91. The two added 70 and 71 in the third Test in Sydney. They, however, failed to score big in the two innings of the second Test.
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