EngvInd 3rd Test, Rose Bowl.
England: 569-7 dec and 205-4 dec.
India: 330 and 178.
England won by 266 runs.
England thrashed India as they ended their run of ten matches without a win and leveled the series against India with proceedings tied at 1-1 going into the fourth and penultimate Test at Old Trafford, which starts next Thursday.
England’s players were suffering a serious lack of form going into the Test, having been torn to pieces by India in the second Test at Lord’s, and Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Matt Prior were the players whose form was getting worse and worse. Prior was ruled out of Cricket for the rest of the summer due to an achilles injury, bringing bright-prospect Jos Buttler into the side.
England’s weak batting lineup finally bore fruit, with a series of big scores and glorious innings came to pass; Alastair Cook finally started to show his form of old, scoring 95 and 70 not out in his two innings. Having not scored a century in twenty-seven innings, this could prove a huge breakthrough in his career. Ian Bell, who has had quite a torrid 2014, scored a beautiful 167 in the first innings as England strolled to 569-7 declared; Gary Ballance continued his excellent form with a typically solid 156; Joe Root managed a 50 in the second innings as he and Alastair Cook put on a partnership of 99, looking to get moving so that they could set India a big score to win with plenty of time to take their ten wickets; Jos Buttler hit a sensational 85 off 83 balls.
It seems that there is life in this England team yet. England definitely have a replacement for Matt Prior. Jos Buttler’s swashbuckling innings shows that an aggressive approach to the game is the way to go in modern Test Cricket. He is one of a selection of talented young players in the England setup. Look at Sam Robson, Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan: all players who have shown flashes of brilliance- some more than others- and it seems that in a few years time, should these players all reach their potential, England could be a real force once again.
And what of the bowlers? Anderson took another seven wickets, including a five-fer in the first innings, Broad took three wickets in the first innings, Woakes and Jordan worked hard but to no avail, taking no wickets between. However, easily the standout performer was Moeen Ali. The number six only batted in the first innings, scoring 12, but managed to take eight wickets including six in the second innings. His brilliant performance only papers over the cracks- England desperately need to a top-class full-time spinner- but the fact that Ali is capable of producing such devastating spells means that he could be a more than useful All-Rounder in the future.
England have finally won a Test match. Perhaps they’ll be able to continue their form and win their first Test series in a year.
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