Former England captain Michael Atherton hailed England’s triumph in the IND vs ENG 1st Test as the greatest win of the “Bazball era.” Despite being on the back foot in the first innings, England staged a remarkable comeback, securing a 28-run victory.
“This is undeniably the greatest win of the Bazball era”, said Michael Atherton.
England, propelled by Ollie Pope’s stellar 196, posted 420 in their second innings, setting India a target of 231 runs. Pope forged crucial partnerships with Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, and debutant Tom Hartley to establish a substantial lead.
India, facing a seemingly manageable target, encountered a stern test from the England spinners in their second innings. Hartley, in particular, proved instrumental, claiming four of the first five wickets. At one point, India found themselves at 119/7, still needing 111 runs for victory.
A resilient stand between KS Bharat and Ravichandran Ashwin added 57 runs, bringing India to 176. However, Hartley continued to wreak havoc, dismissing Bharat and Ashwin in quick succession. With Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah offering some resistance, there was a fleeting hope for India. Yet, Hartley secured the final wicket, stumping Siraj, and clinching a memorable victory.
Despite limited bowling resources due to injuries, with Jack Leach sidelined and Mark Wood unused on a spinning pitch, Hartley’s exceptional performance in the second innings, taking 7/62 in 26 overs, earned him the Men of the Match award and sealed England’s impressive win.
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