Despite Rishabh Pant’s impressive half-century, India is struggling in the fourth Test against England. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley put on a huge 166-run partnership, helping England reach 225/2 by the end of the second day. This happened at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday, during the ongoing fourth Test of the five-match series. England now trails India by just 133 runs, as India’s total score was 358.
England started the third session at 77/0, with Duckett (43) and Crawley (33) still at the crease. Duckett reached his fifty on the opening ball of the 19th over, which was bowled by Shardul Thakur. That hit also pushed the team past 100. Later, in the 21st over, Crawley got to his half-century with a boundary off Shardul’s bowling. England reached 150 runs in the 29th over when Duckett hit another boundary, this time off Mohammed Siraj.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain wasn’t happy with Gill’s captaincy. He said on Sky Sports that India bowled poorly, giving away too many runs, and he questioned the captain’s choices, such as giving Kamboj the new ball over Siraj, especially since Kamboj wasn’t even in the squad a week ago. Hussain suggested Siraj should have bowled a short spell and then switched ends to work with Bumrah. He also pointed out the uneven bounce and sideways movement on the pitch where Stokes had previously taken five wickets.
Hussain added that Rishabh Pant scored valuable runs despite his injury, but India gave those runs right back to England due to poor leadership.
England’s first wicket fell in the 32nd over when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Zak Crawley (84 runs from 113 balls) at 166. Soon after, England lost their second wicket at 197, with Anshul Kamboj taking his first Test wicket by getting rid of Duckett (94 runs from 100 balls). The team reached 200 runs in the 39th over when Pope hit a boundary off Kamboj.
By the end of Day 2, England was at 225/2 after 46 overs. Pope and Root had an unbroken 28-run partnership from 47 balls. For India, Kamboj (1/48 in 10 overs) and Jadeja (1/37 in 8 overs) each took one wicket.