3rd Test: How Axar Patel's six-for added local flavour to Motera

Local boy Axar claims six as India bundle out visitors for just 112; Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 57 helps hosts end Day One of pink-ball Test at 99-3

The pitch at the world’s largest stadium was like a dance floor as the English batsmen danced to the tune of the Indian spinners on Day One of the third Test here at Motera on Wednesday. 

At stumps, though, India were three down for 99 in response to England’s paltry 112 with Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli back in the dressing room. Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 57 while Ajinkya Rahane was on one.

Earlier, local boy Axar Patel claimed his second consecutive fifer (6-38) while Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 3-26 as England didn’t even last 50 overs. 

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates an England wicket with Shubman Gill yesterday

Such was Axar and Ashwin’s dominance that skipper Kohli didn’t feel the need to introduce Washington Sundar, his third spinner, who came in for Kuldeep Yadav. India went in with two pacemen—Jasprit Bumrah and 100-Test man Ishant Sharma while England decided to play three pacers—James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer.

Leach has the last laugh

Jack Leach was the lone spinner and was smiling at the end of Day One as he had bowled the Indian captain for 27.

Half centurion Rohit, who now has his fellow Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane for company, looked in silken touch, batting elegantly like only he can. His boundary through point in a crowded off-side field off Archer in the 13th over, was simply breathtaking.  
  
Once Ishant Sharma struck in the third over of the day, dismissing opener Dom Sibley—caught at third slip—the Indian spin duo of Axar and Ashwin did enough to break England’s back. 

Only opener Zack Crawley (53) played some positive cricket, while the rest of the English batsmen looked completely at sea. 

It was Axar’s pace and the skiddy surface that made batting difficult for the English batsmen as he dismissed Jonny Bairstow off his first ball.

Root (17) and Crawley looked to rebuild England’s innings, but their 47-run partnership for the third wicket did not blossom as Ashwin trapped the English captain leg before, as DRS endorsed.

England batsmen struggle

Another massive moment came two overs later when Crawley failed to connect an Axar delivery that skidded on to his pads without any turn. In the next 24 overs, England lost their remaining six wickets for just 32 runs. Only Ben Foakes and Jofra Archer reached double digits. 
Axar did not just rely on the pitch for his wickets. His variations also came to the fore when he lured Broad into a sweep shot that carried to Bumrah at deep square leg.  

The lights went out twice, forcing a couple of minutes of stoppage in the day’s play. A spectator ran on to the pitch in the 19th over when Kohli was batting with Rohit. But these incidents hardly affected Team India’s momentum.

08
No. of wickets England lost for just 38 runs on Wednesday

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