Virat Kohli ran out England captain Joe Root to inspire an impressive fight back from India on day one of the first Test.
Half-centuries from Root and Jonny Bairstow put the hosts in a commanding position at Edgbaston but Kohlis athletic run out saw momentum swing in Indias favour.
The tourists, buoyed by Roots dismissal for 80, took five more quick wickets for just 60 runs as England reached the close on 285-9.
They could have been bowled out on day one after winning the toss but wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik put down Sam Curran off the penultimate delivery.
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THE ROOT OF INDIAS PROBLEMS
With Kohlis battle in English conditions and Adil Rashids shock recall dominating much of the build-up to the series, little was made of how important this series was for Englands captain.
The pressure on Root to perform in a team that has been skittled out numerous times over the past two cannot be underestimated, and yet he continues to be the sides star performer.
Coming to the crease with the home side 26-1, he immediately looked a class apart as he and inexperienced opener Keaton Jennings looked to make the most of a fresh pitch.
Root reached his 12th consecutive fifty against India in the afternoon session, before becoming just the 15th Englishman – and the fastest – to score 6,000 Test runs.
Much has been made of Roots failure to convert fifties into centuries over the past 18 months but more attention ought to be placed on his remarkable ability to get to 50 in the first place.
That being said, he was kicking himself as he left the field for 80 after being run out by Kohli, who took great joy in the dismissal, proceeding to blow kisses in the England skippers direction as he strolled off with his head in his hands.
ENGLANDS FAMILIAR COLLAPSE
As Root and Bairstow combined to put on over 100 for the fourth wicket – taking the score to 216-3 – it appeared as though England may complete their innings without succumbing to a familiar collapse.
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But the home side crumbled after Roots run out, losing four wickets for just 27 runs as Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes all followed Root back to the shed.
There was more joy for India soon after as Rashid, recalled to the side despite turning his back on red-ball cricket in February, and Stuart Broad were dismissed cheaply.
Mohammed Shami was the most impressive of Indias seamers and should have finished with three, but had to settle for two as Karthik dropped Curran diving across first slip.
ASHWIN PROVIDES SPARK
An abnormally dry and hot summer has got spinners licking their lips at the prospect of bowling on tired and worn pitches.
But even on a day one wicket, with conditions far from in his favour, Ashwin made a substantial impact for India, the No.1 Test team in the world.
Brought on in the seventh over as opening duo Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma failed to find their rhythm, Ashwin struck almost immediately, bowling Alastair Cook with a superb delivery.
He claimed the two prized wickets of Buttler and Stokes in the evening session, finishing with figures of 4-60 and offering a glimpse of what could be to come for England as the summer progresses.
More: Cricket
MORE: Virat Kohli taunts Joe Root after brilliant run out at Edgbaston
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Virat Kohli ran out England captain Joe Root to inspire an impressive fight back from India on day one of the first Test.
Half-centuries from Root and Jonny Bairstow put the hosts in a commanding position at Edgbaston but Kohlis athletic run out saw momentum swing in Indias favour.
The tourists, buoyed by Roots dismissal for 80, took five more quick wickets for just 60 runs as England reached the close on 285-9.
They could have been bowled out on day one after winning the toss but wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik put down Sam Curran off the penultimate delivery.
More: Cricket
Advertisement Advertisement
THE ROOT OF INDIAS PROBLEMS
With Kohlis battle in English conditions and Adil Rashids shock recall dominating much of the build-up to the series, little was made of how important this series was for Englands captain.
The pressure on Root to perform in a team that has been skittled out numerous times over the past two cannot be underestimated, and yet he continues to be the sides star performer.
Coming to the crease with the home side 26-1, he immediately looked a class apart as he and inexperienced opener Keaton Jennings looked to make the most of a fresh pitch.
Root reached his 12th consecutive fifty against India in the afternoon session, before becoming just the 15th Englishman – and the fastest – to score 6,000 Test runs.
Much has been made of Roots failure to convert fifties into centuries over the past 18 months but more attention ought to be placed on his remarkable ability to get to 50 in the first place.
That being said, he was kicking himself as he left the field for 80 after being run out by Kohli, who took great joy in the dismissal, proceeding to blow kisses in the England skippers direction as he strolled off with his head in his hands.
ENGLANDS FAMILIAR COLLAPSE
As Root and Bairstow combined to put on over 100 for the fourth wicket – taking the score to 216-3 – it appeared as though England may complete their innings without succumbing to a familiar collapse.
Advertisement Advertisement
But the home side crumbled after Roots run out, losing four wickets for just 27 runs as Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes all followed Root back to the shed.
There was more joy for India soon after as Rashid, recalled to the side despite turning his back on red-ball cricket in February, and Stuart Broad were dismissed cheaply.
Mohammed Shami was the most impressive of Indias seamers and should have finished with three, but had to settle for two as Karthik dropped Curran diving across first slip.
ASHWIN PROVIDES SPARK
An abnormally dry and hot summer has got spinners licking their lips at the prospect of bowling on tired and worn pitches.
But even on a day one wicket, with conditions far from in his favour, Ashwin made a substantial impact for India, the No.1 Test team in the world.
Brought on in the seventh over as opening duo Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma failed to find their rhythm, Ashwin struck almost immediately, bowling Alastair Cook with a superb delivery.
He claimed the two prized wickets of Buttler and Stokes in the evening session, finishing with figures of 4-60 and offering a glimpse of what could be to come for England as the summer progresses.
More: Cricket
MORE: Virat Kohli taunts Joe Root after brilliant run out at Edgbaston
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