The Cricketer assesses the displays of both sets of players following the second Test in Chennai...
India v England: 2nd Test scorecard
INDIA
Rohit Sharma (161 & 26): Majestic in the first innings as the rest of the top order struggled. One of the most fluent players around when in full flight and like so many, England had no answer. 8.5
Shubman Gill (0 & 14): Inexplicably didn't play at a good length ball from Olly Stone on the first morning. Got a good one from Leach second time around. That's Test cricket. 3
Cheteshwar Pujara (21 & 7): His curious series continues as Leach again got the better of him in the first innings. Run-out when he returned summed up his lack of fortune. 4
Virat Kohli (0 & 62): First innings dismissal was one of the images of the Test but it was a sign of things to come as far as the pitch was concerned. As with the first Test, a classy second-innings fifty amid tough conditions calmed fears over his form. Will be lucky to avoid fine after a confrontation with umpires. 6
Ajinkya Rahane (67 & 10): Didn't take his second life in the first innings with much gusto, but by then the damage had already been done. Played with real determination alongside Sharma. 6
Moeen Ali impressed on his Test return
Rishabh Pant (58* & 8): Backed up his talent with the bat behind the stumps. Following his first-innings half-century, he produced two golden moments behind the stumps, diving to his left to dismissal Ollie Pope and then stumping Dan Lawrence. 7
Ravichandran Ashwin (13 & 106; 5-43 & 3-53): Only Sir Ian Botham has collected more centuries and five-fors in the same Test. This was an ideal surface for Ashwin, so in many ways, his fifth hundred in this format was more impressive. 9
Axar Patel (5 & 7; 2-40 & 5-60): A Test debut to remember as he snared the England captain in both innings. Was always a threat on this pitch, but how he performs then conditions are against him will be intriguing. 7
Ishant Sharma (0 & 7; 2-22 & 0-13): Not a particularly relevant force in this game, therefore, the way he bowled with control in the England first innings was impressive and he set the ball rolling by getting rid of Burns. 5
Kuldeep Yadav (0 & 3; 0-16 & 2-25): Might be one and done for Kuldeep in this series after plenty of discussion around his recall. Outbowled by Axar and Ashwin. 4
Mohammed Siraj (4 & 16*; 1-5 & 0-6): A cricketer who can't fail but makes things happen when given the opportunity. Will hope to have a more senior role with the ball as the series goes on, should he be retained. 5
ENGLAND
Rory Burns (0 & 25): Coming into a run of rotten form at just the wrong time. His dismissal set the tone for England he improved the second time around his place is certainly far from secure. 3
Dom Sibley (16 & 3): Hasn't shown the same amount of authority against the turning ball as in Sri Lanka. Not a lot he could do about either dismissal. Has probably done enough to remain. 3
Dan Lawrence (9 & 26; DNB & 0-7): As under threat as anyone in the England top three. While his first-innings effort looked like a struggle from the outset, the second was ended in ignominious circumstances: stumped off a ball through his legs. 3
Joe Root (6 & 33; DNB & 0-15): A thump down to earth for the England captain is almost every respect. His side failed to play the conditions and that is a worry with two Tests to play. Called wrong at the toss and it went from there. 3
Ben Stokes (18 & 8; 0-16 & DNB): Struggled to make anything resembling a positive impact. Bar his fifty in the first game, looks extremely rusty. Will have nightmares about the first-innings dismissal to Ashwin. 3
Ollie Pope (22 & 12): Desperately trying to play his way into form. Contrasting dismissals but both preventable. Strange down he legside followed by top-edge sweep into the deep. 5
Ben Foakes (42* & 2): One of the few players to emerge with any credit after a fine game behind the stumps. Produced a masterclass on the third morning as England rallied. The only player to master the pitch, playing late and nullifying India. 7
Rishabh Pant produced another entertaining performance
Moeen Ali (6 & 43; 4-128 & 4-98): May not have exerted much control, but there is no doubting Ali's wicket-taking ability. His beauty to Kohli was one of the images of the Test. An eight-for after 18 months out of Test cricket isn't a bad return. Lovely cameo with the bat on day four. 7.5
Olly Stone (1 & 0; 3-47 & 1-21): Probably the outstanding seamer of the Test in what was his first outing for nearly two years. Will need to improve how he bowls when the ball goes soft. 6
Jack Leach (14* & 0; 2-78 & 4-100): Remains guilty of relinquishing the pressure but this was another step in the right direction for Leach who continues to grow into this series. Seems to have the wood on Pujara. 6.5
Stuart Broad (1 & 5*; 0-37 & 0-25): This was as quiet a Test as Broad has had for England in many years. Could not even tie-up an end, even when the wickets weren't coming. Bowled second change in the third innings, which says it all. 3
All pictures courtesy of BCCI
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Posted by David Rimmer on 17/02/2021 at 13:06
One cannot disagree with too many of the ratings. However, instead of a 3, I would have been tempted to give Root 4.5 or 5. He did actually bowl well in the first innings taking 1-23 from 11 overs. He had some luck in the second innings before receiving an unplayable ball. The fact that he survived almost 100 balls in the second innings is a testament to his technique. With regard to his skill level and general technical ability, compared to other specialist English batsmen, he is a Gulliver amongst Lilliputians. I would say, he had as a player, a better game than Ben Stokes for example. As for Ben Foakes, he proved conclusively that he is the man for the wicket-keeper's job. He picked up neat stumpings but will be annoyed he did not take chances off Moeen Ali that would have meant the latter getting a fiver (of five for). He also missed a sharp one of Stuart Broad. He will be remembered for finishing wicket less in this game but the cognoscenti will know this should not have been the case. I would argue he did give Root some control when Ashwin was bashing it about. Coming back to Foakes, the narrative is interesting. His sharp stumpings showed his class but if Jos Buttler had missed the stumpings Foakes did, the noise on social media would have been incessant. Perceptions are not always accurate. Thanks for these ratings, it made one think.
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