Simply put, England had a shocker on day two at Chennai. Rolled out for 134 – their second lowest first innings total in Asia this century – England are staring down the barrel of a mauling.
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom for the tourists. Here are a selection of reasons why England and their fans can still carry some optimism going into the rest of the series.
Scale of first Test victory increasingly apparent
It didn’t completely feel like it given the manner in which they dominated, but England accomplished something really quite rare in the first Test of the series. India have reacted to that defeat, just their second at home in the last eight years, with a pitch that turned appriecably from day one.
While India are on course for an emphatic victory, preparing such a pitch was a reasonably high-risk strategy. With the surface guaranteeing a result and India having to avoid defeat to remain with a chance of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, India were vulnerable had England bowled more consistently in the first innings, or offered more resistance with the bat. England can take India’s reaction to the first Test result as an indication of the threat the hosts see in this England side.
Ben Foakes serves reminder of his pedigree
England’s laudable concern for the wellbeing of their all-format players has seen and will see some of their stars rested from sections of this winter’s tour of Asia. The timing of the break afforded to Jos Buttler – a formidable player of spin enjoying the best run of his Test career – was the decision that raised the most eyebrows.
Fortunately for England, Ben Foakes has slotted seamlessly back into the XI. Immaculate behind the sticks in the first innings – a missed stumping chance blotted his copybook in the second – and assured with the bat, Foakes, after a two-year break from Test cricket, has made it look that Buttler will not be quite as sorely missed as once feared.
Jack Leach is having an increasingly encouraging winter
Jack Leach has been unlucky to pick up just three wickets so far this Test. A moment of alarming oversight from the third umpire on the first day cost him the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane, a dismissal that would have given him figures of 3-61 at the time – a more accurate reflection of his performance than his final analysis of 2-78.
After a challenging year in 2020, Leach is visibly growing in confidence this winter. The left-armer has established himself as Root’s go-to spinner, and his form should give his team encouragement that should one of his spin-bowling partners find similar rhythm and consistency, they have an attack to that can make the most of the spinning tracks on offer.
Olly Stone comeback highlights impressive bench strength
One of three players making their first Test appearance since 2019, Stone was both hostile and reliable in India’s first innings as he picked up a well deserved three-for. With Mark Wood returning ahead of the third Test, it may well be that this Test will be Stone’s sole outing of the series but it bodes well for England that in Stone, England have a bowler with genuine pace at their disposal even when they are without the services of Wood and Jofra Archer. Fitness permitting, you’d think Stone is now a shoo-in for next winter’s Ashes series, fitness permitting.
Is Joe Root England’s most reliable off-spinner?
Joe Root doesn’t get the action, dip, drift or bounce of a typical Test-level finger spinner, but there is a reasonable case to be made that he’s been the most accurate of the three off-spinners used by England this tour. Root was excellent with the ball at the back-end of day one, prising the wicket of Ravichandran Ashwin. With Moeen not quite finding his groove just yet, the skipper’s performances with the ball may give England a bit more leeway should their twirlers underperform at any point in the remainder of the series.
Bairstow’s back
Since his impressively assured debut performance at Galle, Dan Lawrence has endured a tough time of it. Batting at three – not his usual position for Essex – in India was always going to be a tough ask for the youngster after the injury to Zak Crawley prior to the series opener. Bairstow’s return to the squad after his break in the UK comes at a good time for England; a good player of spin who averages 40 from six Tests in India, his experience will be a welcome addition to the top order.
Day/night Test offers England batsmen hope of Ashwin respite
The third Test of the series is a day-nighter. If India’s previous home pink-ball Test is anything to go by, England can expect less emphasis on spin. In their sole home day/night Test against Bangladesh in 2019, all 19 Bangladesh wickets to fall in the Test were taken by the India quicks. In their most recent day/night Test, India were famously bowled out for just 36. With a ball that’s generally more susceptible to movement through the air, James Anderson set to return, and Stuart Broad a possibility of playing consecutive Tests after a minimal workload at Chepauk, England can be hopeful for a very different battle to the ongoing affair at Chennai.
