India’s ground-breaking form in match & Rohit’s recovery!

Day 3 – India is leading by 257 runs

India had the best of a stop-start day, adding 78 with their last three standing wickets and afterward taking four England wickets when they scored 78. On a day that only 39 overs were possible because of the rain, India put one hand immovably on the Pataudi Trophy, to secure which they needed merely a draw.

After Ravindra Jadeja finished his third Test century, India’s first out-and-out fast-bowler skipper (Kapil Dev was an allrounder), Jasprit Bumrah broke a record held by Brian Lara, along with George Bailey and Keshav Maharaj, even before came on to bowl, scoring 29 in a 35-run over from Stuart Broad, both a world record for most runs by a batter in an over and the most expensive over in test cricket.

After adding 41 for the last wicket with Mohammed Siraj, Bumrah proceeded to take three wickets in his most first spell, broken by rain breaks that assisted him with bowling seven overs on the trot.

With India leading by 332 runs and just five England wickets remaining at the end of two days, this Test was fast headed towards a territory from where only one team can win.

What follows is difficult to interpret

At 375 for 9, with a three-over-old ball, Broad started bowling short at Bumrah with a solid field square and behind on the leg side and no slip in place on the off side. It was practically similar to how England had erased Lord’s from their minds where Bumrah and Shami made them pay for their short lengths. 

To worsen the situation, Broad bowled five wides and also a no-ball that took off the top edge for a six. Likewise Bumrah drove a full toss through the empty mid-on region, top-edged one more four and smacked clean another hook for a six. With one four through midwicket, Bumrah himself landed on his back yet middled the shot. The only reassurance for England was that Anderson ended the India innings with his 32nd five-wicket haul in Tests.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Bumrah is on fire, India crosses 400 mark!

An absolutely torrid test followed for England’s batters. Under cloudy skies, Bumrah found just enough movement and never for once faltered his length. To aggravate it, he got two rain breaks in his first spell, similar to Anderson who got one to prolong his afternoon spells on day one.

Shami was rewarded for his diligence with the wicket of nightwatchman Jack Leach. Jonny Bairstow, who scored 394 runs at a strike pace of 120.12 against New Zealand, found nothing to hit here and ended the day unbeaten on 12 off 47. That ought to let you know that a batter’s aim can’t consistently work free of the quality of bowling and conditions.

Rohit Sharma finally tested negative for COVID

India skipper Rohit Sharma has tested negative for Covid-19 in the latest round of testing. Rohit, who missed the ongoing rescheduled Edgbaston Test because of the contamination, is now available for the white-ball series against England that starts off with the principal T20I in Southampton on Thursday (July 7).

“Yes, Rohit has tested negative and as per medical protocols is now out of quarantine. However, he is not playing today’s T20 warm-up game against Northamptonshire as he will need some recovery time and training ahead of the first T20I,” 

PTI said quoting a senior BCCI official.

Rohit had tested positive thrice, leading him being ruled out of the Test, which began on July 1. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah is leading the side.

While Rohit will now be available for all the six white-ball matches that follow, any semblance of Virat Kohli, Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja – who are a part of the Test XI – will link up just in front of the second T20I as BCCI named two distinct crews for the three-match series to manage the cost of a rest to the red-ball regulars.

According to medical protocol, any player who is out of isolation needs to go through required cardiovascular tests to check their lung capacity post COVID-19.

Rohit tried positive three times before the first morning of the Test, which began on July 1, and subsequently India had a new captain in Jasprit Bumrah.

"Records are meant to be broken." 💬

Robin Peterson saw the funny side of the Bumrah 🆚 Broad contest in Edgbaston!

👉 https://t.co/n3Lic7OwWA #ENGvIND | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/qRdQErRl1v

— ICC (@ICC) July 3, 2022