INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Joe Root celebrates his century in front of a raucous Manchester crowd © Getty
Joe Root’s milestone-filled century powered England to a commanding position on Day 3 of the fourth Test in Manchester. During the course of his 38th Test ton, Root climbed to second on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, going past three legendary cricketers, and stitched together two century partnerships – 144 with Ollie Pope for the third wicket and 142 with Ben Stokes for the fifth. Although Stokes retired hurt (and returned later) and Root fell soon after for 150, England closed the day in complete control at 544 for 7, leading by 186 runs.
England enjoyed a dominant morning session with Root and Pope extending their overnight stand into a century partnership. Batting under clear skies and on a surface offering little help for bowlers, both batters brought up their half-centuries as England added 107 runs in 28 wicketless overs to reach 332 for 2 at Lunch, just 26 behind India’s first-innings total. India cycled through their options, opening with Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj before turning to Jasprit Bumrah. While Bumrah occasionally troubled Pope with probing lines, England were largely untroubled. Siraj proved expensive, India burned a review on a hopeful lbw appeal against Root, and Ravindra Jadeja missed a run-out chance – moments that summed up a frustrating session for the visitors.
Root and Pope found regular boundaries and maintained a brisk scoring rate, with Root reaching a few personal milestones during the course of his knock. He became the first batter to score 1000 Test runs at Old Trafford, went past Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis on the list of most Test runs, and registered his 104th fifty-plus score in Tests, moving past Ricky Ponting into second place on that list. Pope, though occasionally challenged by Jadeja and Anshul Kamboj, rotated strike smartly and put away the loose balls as the duo ran India ragged.
After Lunch, England continued to pile on the runs, with Root glancing a leg-side delivery from Jadeja to the fence to bring up more milestones. India struck back briefly through Washington Sundar, who ended the third-wicket stand by getting one to drift and induce an edge from Pope to KL Rahul at slip. He then dismissed Harry Brook for 3 with another beautiful drifter that had the batter stumped, lifting India’s hopes of a turnaround. Considering the offspinner’s impact, India delayed taking the second new ball until the 91st over, by which time England had moved into the lead.
Bumrah bowled just one over with the new ball before walking off the field, returning later but unable to bowl again before Tea as per the rules. Siraj also hobbled off after a brief spell, compounding India’s problems. Root carried on unfazed, bringing up his 38th Test century with a glance off Kamboj, surpassing Steve Smith for most Test tons against India (12). By the time Tea was called, England had powered their way to 432 for 4, leading by 74 runs, with Root also going past Ponting to move up to second on the all-time list of Test run-scorers when he reached 120.
When he left the field late in the second session, Bumrah had tripped on the stairs and seemed to have some issue with his ankle. But he started the proceedings in the final session, with Thakur bowling from the other end. Both Root and Stokes collected a couple of boundaries as they extended their partnership past 100 and also the lead past 100, although the England captain was seen holding his left leg with some issue. Washington came back on to partner Bumrah for a while, and then Jadeja was also introduced. But they were unable to make any inroads as Stokes went on to register his first half-century of the series, capping a strong all-round performance after his five-wicket haul in the first innings.
Stokes looked to accelerate as he took on Jadeja and Washington, playing a reverse-sweep and a pull off the spinners for two fours. Siraj was brought back and he went short at both batters, only to be hit for a four by Stokes, who appeared to be cramping up and struggling to run. He eventually retired hurt, limping up the stairs to the dressing room. Root went on to bring up his 16th 150-plus score in Tests before Jadeja got one to spin away from him to have him stumped, only for the second time in the batter’s career.
Jamie Smith and Liam Dawson took England past 500 and the lead past 150 before Bumrah returned and had the wicketkeeper-batter caught behind for his first wicket. Dawson then added 13 with Chris Woakes before the latter was bowled by Siraj, who also picked up his first wicket. Stokes returned in the fag end of the day but he wasn’t looking fully fit, hobbling as he tried to run. But he remained unbeaten along with Dawson at Stumps, seeing off overs from Bumrah, Jadeja and Siraj.
Brief scores: India 358 trail England 544/7 (Joe Root 150, Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84, Ben Stokes 77*, Ollie Pope 71; Washington Sundar 2-57, Ravindra Jadeja 2-117) by 186 runs.
© Cricbuzz
