1st Test, Day 2: Rain halts play after India lose a flurry of wickets

Opener KL Rahul (57) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (7) were the batsmen at the crease as India finished play on Day 2 of the opening Test against England, on a score of 125 runs for the loss of four wickets. The visitors trail by 58 runs, having accumulated the tally of runs in 46.4 overs at a run rate of 2.68. Openers Rohit Sharma and Rahul nearly struck a 100 run partnership in 37.3 overs, before the former’s dismissal opened up an opportunity for the hosts to bounce back. Veteran pacer James Anderson accounted for the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli one after the other to leave the Indian batting line-up in an uncertain scenario. Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed soon after following a fine run-out by Jonny Bairstow, bringing Pant to the crease.

James Anderson equals Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 Test wickets

Anderson achieved a unique milestone on Thursday when he dismissed Kohli, after equalling legendary Indian bowler Anil Kumble’s record, as he became the joint third-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game. The pacer has taken a total of 619 wickets in his Test career so far. It goes without saying that Anderson will eventually break Kumble’s record. It is also the first time the England pacer has dismissed Kohli since 2014. He is only behind Kiwi pace Tim Southee in the list of bowlers that have dismissed the Indian skipper the most with nine dismissals. Southee has 10.

England collapse after tea on Day 1

The hosts were bowled out for 183 in the first innings after skipper Joe Root won the toss and opted to bat. Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were criticised following a performance not at the same level as expected, in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand. Bumrah and Shami were termed as bowlers who did not prepare well for a vital encounter, which could have earned a lot of prestige for the nation. However, they brought their A-game on Day 1 of the first Test against England, chipping in with four and three wickets respectively.

Bumrah accounted for the dismissals of Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Shami sent back Dominic Sibley, Jonny Bairstow and Daniel Lawrence respectively. Shardul Thakur chipped in with two wickets, as Mohammed Shami completed one dismissal. The hosts were bowled out for 183, having lost their last seven wickets for just 45 runs with a flurry of wickets after tea. Root was the top run-getter for England, accumulating 64 runs in 108 deliveries with 11 boundaries to his credit. The England skipper further became England’s leading run-scorer in international cricket, during the course of the innings.

Joe Root becomes England’s leading run-getter in international cricket

Root needed 22 runs to surpass Alastair Cook, who has retired from the game with 15,737 runs in 387 innings. The England skipper reached the score in the 33rd over of the first innings. Root surpassed Cook in his 366th inning, following a boundary off a wide half-volley by Mohammed Siraj. The England cricketer bent down on one knee, got close to the pitch of the ball before creaming the drive through cover.

Kevin Pietersen is the third-highest run-getter for England across formats, with 13,779 runs across 340 innings. Ian Bell occupies the fourth spot having scored 13,331 runs in 370 matches. Graham Gooch rounds off the top-five list with 13,190 runs in 337 innings.