Credit: ICC
In the first innings of the second Test getting played at Edgbaston, India are in the commanding position as they have picked up England’s three wickets after posting a mammoth total of 587 runs on the board. In star pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep are expected to bolster India’s bowling attack and showcase their best. As per expectations, Akash Deep has done a fine job so far in the match. The pacer struggled in his opening over but when he came to bowl the second one, he struck the hosts relentlessly and took wickets on back-to-back deliveries.
The speedster’s first hunt was opener Ben Duckett, who went back to the pavilion without scoring any runs, nicking it through to Indian captain Shubman Gill in the slips. After Duckett, when Ollie Pope came to bat he also failed to handle Akash Deep. Facing his first ball, he nicked it towards KL Rahul, who took the catch while standing at the second slip despite the ball popping out of his hand on the first attempt. Pope also returned to the dugout with a duck.
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Mohammed Siraj delivered third breakthrough to Team India
After the return of the top-order batters Duckett and Pope on consecutive deliveries, England opener Zak Crawley saw himself under pressure and fell against Mohammed Siraj in the eighth over of the innings. Crawley’s innings ended after accumulating 19 runs off 30 balls.
As of writing, England are 50/3 in 12 overs, with Joe Root (unbeaten 10 off 16) and Harry Brook (unbeaten 12 off 25) at the crease. India will have to be wary of Root, who enjoys batting at this venue. He possesses the average of 70.76 on this ground. Back in 2022, when India failed to defend the huge total of 378 against England, the veteran shone with his bat in the second innings and played an exceptional knock of an unbeaten 142. England won that game by seven wickets.
