Birmingham,
July 2, 2025 – On Day
One of the second Test in the newly christened Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, India
produced a resilient batting display against England’s bowlers, finishing the
session strongly at 182 for 3 at tea.
Key Highlights:
- England win toss and bowl
first
under overcast skies as Captain Ben Stokes opted to exploit swinging
Duke’s balls on the green-tinged track.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an aggressive 87
off 107 balls, slicing through England’s attack before being caught
off a wide delivery from Stokes
- Shubman Gill held firm with a composed 50+
unbeaten, shielding the lower order and steering India through the
afternoon session.
- Rishabh Pant contributed a brisk 14*,
including the match's first six, showing India’s intent to accelerate.
- Early breakthroughs included
KL Rahul’s dismissal by Chris Woakes and Karun Nair’s 31, marking
disciplined bowling that kept India in check.
- India's strategic shift saw key pacer Jasprit
Bumrah rested and three fresh faces—Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar,
and Akash Deep—added in a bid to strengthen lower-order resilience.
Tactical Battle & Series Context
- England’s unchanged line-up reflects their confidence
following a dramatic five-wicket win at Headingley, chasing 371 to take a
1–0 series lead.
- Ben Stokes, recovering from
fatigue,
has stepped up his bowling workload and captaincy following a grueling
first Test .
- Joe Root is on the cusp of breaking
England’s non‑keeper Test catch record (210), potentially overtaking Rahul
Dravid—a milestone to watch in upcoming sessions.
What Lies Ahead
- India aims to avoid collapse without their spearhead
pacer Bumrah and build partnerships to counter England’s sustained
pressure.
- England looks to exploit
swing and seam,
especially in the early sessions on this pace-friendly pitch.
- Weather remains a factor, with rain possible today
and on the final day, which could impact strategic declarations and
session pace .
Summary
India
ended Day 1 on firm footing thanks to stellar batting from Jaiswal and Gill.
England, buoyed by their Headingley success, will look to make breakthroughs
early tomorrow as seamers sense swing under cloudy conditions. The series now
hangs in balance at 1–0 to the hosts.
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