Table of Contents
When Team India began Day 2 of the ongoing third Test match at 99/3, they would have sensed a chance to put England on the backfoot at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, as soon as the hosts lost opener Rohit Sharma (66) and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (7), the remaining Indian batting unit fell like a pack of cards.
England skipper Joe Root completely dismantled the hosts and ended up registering a five-wicket haul for just 8 runs in 6.2 overs. Root dismissed Rishabh Pant (1), Washington Sundar (0), Axar Patel (0), Ravichandran Ashwin (17) and Jasprit Bumrah (1) to claim his first-ever fifer in the longest format.
In response to England’s 112, the hosts were bundled out for 145 in 53.2 overs. Apart from Root, left-arm spinner Jack Leach bagged four scalps for 54 in 20 overs. Right-arm pacer Jofra Archer also got one wicket in form of Shubman Gill.
Cheapest five-wicket haul in Tests (spinners):
- 5/8 – Joe Root vs India, Ahmedabad 2020/21
- 5/9 – Tim May vs West Indies, Adelaide 1992/93
- 6/9 – Michael Clarke v India, Mumbai 2004/05
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Staggering. Rooot!!!!
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
Anything Ashwin can do Joe Root can do better…
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93)
Since the Port Elizabeth Test early last year, Joe Root averages 20.8 with the ball.
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam)
Rooooooooooot! 🙌
5 wickets for 8 runs 💪
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC)
Incredible session. Still can’t believe what happened. England well and truly back in the game.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
India's last two innings against the pink ball: 181-20
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst)
This Test is moving towards another Rishabh Pant 4th innings classic!
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
5 for 8 shameful 😂😂🏏🏏
What a Test match xx— Ryan Sidebottom 🏏 (@RyanSidebottom)
Joe Root. Unplayable.
— Felix White (@felixwhite)
Indian batsman can’t play off spinners from Yorkshire !! 😜
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
This could genuinely be over today.
— Ian Bell MBE (@Ian_Bell)
🌰🌰🌰🌰
— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1)
Who would have imagined this! The pink ball has found a new ally in a pitch that is turning without crumbling.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Test cricket really is the most ludicrous sport, which is probably why I love it. Long may it live. Longer than this match will last, anyway.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
Very unprofessional from Root. Picked up 5 wickets. Leach isn't even the best spinner in the team, despite being only full-time spinner. Must be in self-doubt.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
Joe Root has 740 runs & 8 wickets in 2021 in Tests with 2 double hundreds, 1 hundred, 1 five-wicket haul.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Not sure how often if ever dreamt of walking his team off the field while holding the ball up
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
JOSEPH. EDWARD. ROOT. 🔥🔥🔥
Scorecard:
— England Cricket (@englandcricket)
5 – Joe Root claimed figures of 5/8; the fewest runs conceded in a Test five-wicket haul for England since 1924 (AER Gilligan's 6/7 v SA). Impact.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim)
Crawley and Rohit: 119 for 2.
Numbers 2 to 11: 127 for 18.
The second lowest first-innings aggregate by numbers 2-11 in Test history. Lowest was 98, A v E, SCG Feb 1888.— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket)
It makes perfect sense for Joe Root, playing his 162nd first class match, to take his first five wicket haul with a pink ball. Perfect sense, I tell you.
— daniel norcross (@norcrosscricket)
Bangalore 1987: 1st inns
Pakistan 116 India 145
Pakistan opened with Miandad in the 2nd inningsAhmedabad 2021: 1st inns
England 112 India 145
Can England open with Stokes or Bairstow?
England has to think out of the box and go for quick runs. Can they catch India off-guard?— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
