India v England, fourth Test, day one as it happened – Joe Root century steers England towards decent total in Ranchi
:focal(167x134:169x132)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/04/12/3041129-62378324-310-310.png)
Updated 23/02/2024 at 11:22 GMT
Re-live our live text coverage of day one of the fourth Test between India and England at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. After a humbling defeat in Rajkot, Ben Stokes' side are looking to level the series. However, the hosts know they can seal the overall series victory with another win. You can watch all of the action from the third Test live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
England batsman Joe Root in batting action watched by India wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel during day one of the 4th Test Match between India and England
Image credit: Getty Images
Watch this series LIVE on TNT Sports
TNT Sports have the rights to broadcast this full series in the UK, so tune in to TNT Sports and discovery+ tomorrow morning to see the second day’s action unfold.
The story of the day
England recover from 112-5 to close on 302-7; Joe Root hits brilliant 106*; debutant Akash Deep takes 3-70
Joe Root’s magnificent century ensures England are firmly in this fourth Test in Ranchi as they search to level the series at 2-2.
Root’s 31st Test century rescued England after a chaotic morning session that saw five wickets fall on a surface that was offering plenty for the quicks and spinners.
But Root, playing calmly against an Indian attack that is without the rest Jasprit Bumrah, worked his way towards three figures, bringing up his hundred off 219 balls and finishing unbeaten on 106*.
The big partnership of the day, between Root and Ben Foakes, was worth 113 runs and spanned the entire afternoon session as India’s bowlers pushed hard for a breakthrough, burning through their reviews in the process.
Such was the non-Bazball nature of the stand, that it was the first of 85 partnerships worth 50+ runs for England in this era to have been scored at less than three-runs-an-over.
Some deliveries did continue to stay low throughout the day and there was some reverse swing on offer with the old ball.
But the longer the day went on the harder it was for India to drag the unplayable deliveries out of the surface, as Foakes (47), Tom Hartley (13) and Ollie Robinson (31*) helped Root build a competitive first-innings total.
Debutant Akash Deep was the star in the morning session, taking three early wickets after England had won the toss, including two in an over.
And there were fears that the pitch could be a real tough one to bat on, particularly when Ben Stokes was undone by a shooter off Ravindra Jadeja that struck him on the ankle plumb in-front.
But Root and England recovered, and will hope that this is a strong enough position to push on and force a result in Ranchi.
TNT Sports: The home of England men’s tours of India
TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
How do I watch cricket live streams on TNT Sports? What is discovery+?
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
STUMPS: England 302-7 (Root 106, Robinson 31) Overs: 90
Jaiswal pops up with his part-timers to bowl the final over of the day for India.
Robinson slams away a drag down to bring up the 300 for England.
And England make it through to 302-7 at the close, thanks in large part to the brilliance of Joe Root.
England 296-7 (Root 105, Robinson 26) Overs: 89
England have their sights set on continuing this into day two as Robinson plays out a maiden off Kuldeep. Unless they are bluffing and intend a shock declaration overnight of course.
India have timed this perfectly to mean we’ll finish bang on 90 overs in the allotted time.
England 296-7 (Root 105, Robinson 26) Overs: 88
Lovely bowling from Akash Deep, who has Robinson ducking and weaving with some well-directed short balls.
It’s a set-up for the full one at the end of the over, but the England batter sees that coming a mile off and pings it for four.
That brings up the fifty partnership, but it’s a no-ball so the over continues, with Robinson flicking a full toss into the leg side.
England 289-7 (Root 104, Robinson 21) Overs: 87
It’s another over for Kuldeep, who has been used sparingly on this opening day.
Root knocks a single off the first ball and Robinson ends the over with a big old six into the leg side, lighting up Ranchi just as the floodlights also splutter into action.
England 282-7 (Root 103, Robinson 15) Overs: 86
Akash Deep carries on with the old ball, but Robinson is batting quite nicely here, doing his job for Root.
Two runs come off the over as the close of play approaches.
England 280-7 (Root 103, Robinson 13) Overs: 85
England keep on ticking over, looking to reach a total that will put India under pressure on a surface that continues to offer a little bit of inconsistent bounce.
One run comes form Kuldeep’s over.
CENTURY! England 279-7 (Root 103, Robinson 12) Overs: 84
Joe Root – 103* from 219 balls
Pure class from Joe Root, who brings up his century with the most gorgeous of cover drives. His celebration is muted, tired if anything. He’s been desperate to make an impact on this series and he finally has, giving England the platform they would have been crying out for after winning the toss.
It’s been steady too, playing to the circumstances and no doubt aided mentally by the absence of Bumrah in India’s attack. Only nine of his scoring shots have been boundaries, which shows just how steady he’s been.
It’s been a rescue job too, helping England to this point up from 112-5 at lunch.
England 271-7 (Root 95, Robinson 12) Overs: 83
Robinson’s eyes light up as Jadeja floats one up and he hammers it back down the ground for a four that had mid-on interested for a split second.
Jadeja replies with a lovely ball that turns hard past the outside edge as Robinson pushes forward with a defensive shot.
England 267-7 (Root 95, Robinson 8) Overs: 82
The reverse-swing that’s on offer persuades India not to opt for the new ball just yet as Akash Deep comes back into the attack, looking to add to his three wickets in the day.
He struggles to control the big movement early on, but Root gets a bit lucky too with a leading edge that flies away for four in the complete opposite direction from which he was intending to turn it.
There’s only a handful of overs left in the day’s play thanks to India’s rapid over rate in the afternoon session, and you’d expect Rohit to call for the new ball maybe for a quick burst just before the close, leaving it fresh enough to get a double burst. That’s what Stokes would do anyway.
England 261-7 (Root 89, Robinson 8) Overs: 81
It feels like Jadeja has been bowling all day from one end and he continues to turn his arm over. There’s a big appeal from India as the ball scoots through Robinson, with India doing everything to persuade the umpire, knowing that they have no review left.
The umpire says no, thinking it was an outside edge that cannoned onto the keeper’s thigh and down, which is what it looked like. But subsequent replays show that the nick actually came off the edge of the pad and he would have been plumb.
Jadeja’s appeal saw him skip right down the middle of the pitch and the umpire calls the captain across to give the team a warning.
England 260-7 (Root 88, Robinson 8) Overs: 80
The new ball is one over away, but India may be tempted to stick with this one given it’s moving around. Meanwhile Rohit has come back down the steps and is ready to return to the field, so it was just a comfort break for the Indian skipper, nothing serious.
A hard-run two means that Root is back on strike for the next over.
England 257-7 (Root 87, Robinson 6) Overs: 79
After a brief pause for Robinson to take a couple of pills it’s Jadeja who continues and one single comes from the over.
The captain is currently off the field for India, but he’ll be back soon I’m sure.
England 256-7 (Root 86, Robinson 6) Overs: 78
Siraj has been great with this old ball and he continues, but there’s no sign that Root sees this as a moment to go on the attack, and England’s main man continues to tick over.
There are a couple of tight singles, particularly off the last ball of the over as Root looks to keep the strike, but five runs come from it.
England 251-7 (Root 82, Robinson 5) Overs: 77
A rare howler from Jadeja reaches Robinson as a chest-high full toss. It’s a stinker and a clear no-ball and Robinson pulls it away for four.
He’s bowled a lot today has Jadeja and that’s one of the only poor balls he’s sent down all day.
WICKET! England 246-7 (Root 82, Robinson 1) Overs: 76
Tom Hartley bowled by Mohammed Siraj for 13 (26b)
Siraj gets the breakthrough!
He almost bags Hartley with a lovely ball that catches the edge but falls just short of second slip and runs away for four.
But he does get his man very next ball, as a gem of a ball leaves Hartley in a tangle as the off-stump bail pings into the air. That was a lovely one, angled into Hartley and then moving away at the last moment.
Ollie Robinson is the new batter and India are into the tail. Will Root shift up through the gears now? Or will he wait and see what Robinson can do?
India appeal for an lbw as Siraj sends down another peach, but there was a big inside edge and there’s no joy.
England 241-6 (Root 82, Hartley 9) Overs: 75
Hartley scampers through for a single that could have been tight had Akash Deep not misfielded at mid-off.
England 240-6 (Root 82, Hartley 8) Overs: 74
The over rate has slowed dramatically, with India taking their time to put this pair under pressure and with the light beginning to get a little gloomy in Ranchi.
Siraj continues and he almost gets Root with one that swings back into him, with an inside edge keeping Root safe.
England 240-6 (Root 82, Hartley 8) Overs: 73
Hartley opens his stance and tonks Ashwin away for a six over long on.
And the veteran doesn’t take kindly to that, rapping Hartley in front from the next ball and launching a big appeal.
India have no reviews remaining and the umpire takes a very long time to make the decision, but he does eventually put the finger up.
Root tells Hartley to review, and there’s an inside edge on the replay so the decision is overturned.
England 233-6 (Root 81, Hartley 2) Overs: 72
Siraj with the reverse-swinging ball is a tricky test for this pair, and they get through his over with three singles.
England 230-6 (Root 79, Hartley 1) Overs: 71
Root reverse-sweeps Ashwin for a couple in the first sign that he might try and step up through the gears now that Foakes is gone.
While Hartley’s there it won’t be extravagant from Root you’d expect, but if he ends up with the tail then it could get very different.
England 227-6 (Root 76, Hartley 1) Overs: 70
Can you hear that?! It’s the reverse swing alarm, and it’s blaring out.
Siraj has got the old ball hooping around corners all of a sudden, and Hartley has little answer to a maiden over that sees him beaten on two occasions.
Reverse swing, inconsistent bounce, cracks on a length… this is a bowler’s wicket for sure!
England 227-6 (Root 76, Hartley 1) Overs: 69
There’s suddenly a lot of life and noise in the field from India, as they scent blood in the water. England’s team selection means that Hartley is the last big wicket and then it’s tailenders all the way from here.
A bit of confusion gives England a scare, but Root calms things down and avoids any run out shenanigans.
WICKET! England 225-6 (Root 75, Hartley 0) Overs: 68
Ben Foakes caught by Ravindra Jadeja bowled Mohammed Siraj for 47 (126b)
India turn back to Siraj in search of a breakthrough and he gets it, thanks to a loose shot from a frustrated Foakes, who falls short of his fifty.
The keeper batter was looking to flick Siraj away, but got it wrong and simply clipped a simple catch to Jadeja at a short midwicket.
Foakes throws his bat in the air in disgust at himself and is still chuntering away as he passes the new batter Tom Hartley on the boundary edge.
Watch this series LIVE on TNT Sports
TNT Sports have the rights to broadcast this full series in the UK, so tune in to TNT Sports and discovery+ right now to see the first day’s action unfold.
England 224-5 (Root 74, Foakes 47) Overs: 67
Where on earth did all of this come from?!
Foakes dances down and plonks Ashwin into the stands on the leg side for six, and he follows it up with a series of aggressive shots.
Sweeps have been a rarity in this partnership due to the nature of the pitch, but Foakes rolls out two in succession to pick up back-to-back fours.
India’s field was encouraging Foakes to take Ashwin on into the leg side, and he has been happy to oblige. The over yields 16 runs.
England 208-5 (Root 74, Foakes 31) Overs: 66
It’s yet another maiden for Jadeja, who has been the pick of the spinners today by some distance.
England 208-5 (Root 74, Foakes 31) Overs: 65
The calm continues as England accumulate, nudging two singles off Ashwin.
England 206-5 (Root 73, Foakes 30) Overs: 64
Jadeja’s latest over goes for just the two singles, but there’s a warning for England about the danger that lurks around every corner as the final ball of the over skids through low and Root does well to keep it out.
England 204-5 (Root 72, Foakes 28) Overs: 63
The 200 comes up for England and is met with delighted applause from the travelling supporters up in the stands.
England milk Ashwin for five runs off the over, with a misfield adding to the bowler’s frustration.
England 199-5 (Root 68, Foakes 28) Overs: 62
Jadeja is having a big day out there and he takes the ball once again after tea.
One run comes from his over, his 21st of this opening day.
The story of the day so far
Rarely have two sessions of play been so contrasting.
It was all action before lunch as five wickets fell and the ball talked for India’s quicks and spinners.
But the second session has been a real rarity in England’s Bazball era: a classic couple of hours of Test cricket.
England have accumulated, playing straight and getting a long way forward to try and negate the turn and bounce for the spinners on this surface. And India have responded with some probing spells, but also burning their third and final review in their search for a breakthrough.
Joe Root has his first half-century of the series and England have their first wicket-less session of the tour, and it means they will resume on 198-5 and with a platform from which to put up a decent first innings score.
There is still plenty in this pitch, with some inconsistent bounce and the odd ball keeping exceptionally low, one of which almost did for Ben Foakes.
But we still won’t know exactly what a decent score is on this surface until India are out there and having a bat.
Earlier on it was absolute chaos after England won the toss, with debutant quick Akash Deep picking up three wickets in his first spell, all coming after he’d clean-bowled Zak Crawley only to be denied by over-stepping for a no ball.
Deep accounted for Ben Duckett (11), Ollie Pope (0) and the impressive Crawley (42), with irregular bounce causing England some problems.
And there was turn for the spinners too, which helped do for Jonny Bairstow (38), before a pea-roller from the excellent Ravindra Jadeja removed Ben Stokes (3).
At 112-5 England were in ‘Deep’ trouble at lunch. But Root and Foakes have done a superb job to get England back into a reasonable position with the series poised at 2-1 to India with one more Test to follow after this.
TNT Sports: The home of England men’s tours of India
TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
How do I watch cricket live streams on TNT Sports? What is discovery+?
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
TEA: England 198-5 (Root 67, Foakes 28) Overs: 61
Well that has been England’s session and then some.
Root and Foakes head in for some tea after a partnership that has helped their team up into a decent position after that chaotic morning.
Ashwin’s final over of the session goes for just one run, with India having absolute raced through the overs in the last couple of hours.
NOT OUT! England 197-5 (Root 66, Foakes 28) Overs: 60
India think they’ve got Foakes with one that skids on and strikes the pad. Jadeja pleads with his captain to review, and Rohit eventually agrees, but he was right to have doubts, with DRS saying it was missing leg.
That is significant because it means India have now lost all three of their reviews.
England 197-5 (Root 66, Foakes 28) Overs: 59
Oh my, it’s not all in the batter’s favour here today. Foakes is very nearly cleaned up by the sort of scooter that did for Stokes earlier on.
Ashwin’s delivery pitched on a length but skidded through at ankle height, fizzing underneath the bat and just missing the stumps, beating the keeper in the process too.
That’s a reminder that this pitch is far from flat, and the final ball of the over hammers that point home, as a delivery that pitches on almost the same point goes completely the other way and bounces big on Root, catching the glove and dropping safe.
England 196-5 (Root 66, Foakes 28) Overs: 58
Jadeja isn’t best pleased as he’s cut away for four by Root. He played that shot so late, showing all of the touch and class that has made him the best English batter of his generation and possibly the best of all time.
England 191-5 (Root 62, Foakes 27) Overs: 57
Every now and again Root shows something really class, and a punched drive off Ashwin is the latest such example, punishing the bowler for a ball that dropped just a fraction short.
There’s no Bumrah for Root to worry about and he looks a totally different player today. Whether or not those two things are directly linked is up for debate.
England 186-5 (Root 58, Foakes 26) Overs: 56
It’s yet another maiden for Jadeja, his fifth of the day.
England 186-5 (Root 58, Foakes 26) Overs: 55
There’s a quite hum around the ground a peaceful feel to play, as England accumulate and India probe.
From an England perspective it’s like we’ve slipped into a time machine and gone back to before the Stokes and McCullum era.
But it’s also exactly the right thing for this scenario.
England 184-5 (Root 57, Foakes 25) Overs: 54
Ashwin slides in the outfield to try and prevent a Root cover drive running away for four, but he gets his technique slightly wrong and touches the rope with his foot before releasing the ball.
England 180-5 (Root 53, Foakes 25) Overs: 53
Ashwin’s latest over goes for one run.
We know from the morning session that this pitch has irregular bounce and that it also turns. But we’re also seeing that it’s not a minefield just yet (although don’t count that out later in the match).
It could be that with the hard new ball those qualities in the surface come to the fore, but they are harder to exploit with a softer older ball. And it could also be that the early-morning moisture makes things slightly better for the bowlers.
If that’s the case then England will want to try and make sure they are bowling with a fresh ball tomorrow morning. That’s the ideal scenario, but they will have to go extremely well today for that to be the case.
England 179-5 (Root 52, Foakes 25) Overs: 52
One more single comes from the over as Kuldeep continues with his tight spell.
England 178-5 (Root 51, Foakes 25) Overs: 51
Two more singles come for England as their conservative approach continues. There will be a lot of pundits sitting make with a feeling of vindication as they watch Root play classic cricket through this afternoon session:
“See, he can play normally!”
It’s not quite as simple as that of course, but Root and Foakes are playing the situation and also their own natural games, which is definitely positive for England.
England 176-5 (Root 50, Foakes 24) Overs: 50
Kuldeep gets a bit of turn, but it’s played with a straight bat for Root to see out a maiden.
FIFTY! England 176-5 (Root 50, Foakes 24) Overs: 49
The cricket is classy but calm out in the middle, but it’s all going on up in the stands, where the Bharat Army have a horn section of their own and are giving the Barmy Army a real run for their money.
A single for Root brings up his fifty, and that also gives the England trumpeter a chance to strut his stuff in the crowd and land a counter-blow against the Bharat Army. I’ll bring you more updates on that exciting battle as it happens.
For Root this is a really significant moment, his first half-century of the series, and his reaction suggests it’s a big relief for him to get to that milestone.
CHANCE! England 174-5 (Root 49, Foakes 23) Overs: 48
Chance for India as an edge from Root down the leg side is missed by Jurel. It would have been a worldy of a catch, but it does count as a chance.
The ball runs away for two, meaning that Root should have his fifty, but he misses out as the umpire signals leg byes.
England 170-5 (Root 48, Foakes 22) Overs: 47
Lovely from Foakes as he pings Akash Deep to the rope for four.
Ravi Shastri on commentary says that the pitch is doing less now that the morning moisture has burned off, which is something to keep an eye on in the days to come.
And Graeme Swann thinks he’s spotted a hint of reverse swing, although it may have just been one that cut back off the crack.
England 165-5 (Root 47, Foakes 18) Overs: 46
Oh yes, this is what Test cricket used to be like.
It’s a maiden for Kuldeep and we’re in to a classic spell of probing play from both teams.
England 165-5 (Root 47, Foakes 18) Overs: 45
Root gets play back underway with a deft nudge away, a classic Root late cut, which runs away for four runs.
That’s the fifty stand and an indication that this Test isn’t going to be all about the bowlers – there are runs out there too.
England 161-5 (Root 43, Foakes 18) Overs: 44
An overpitched delivery from Kuldeep is given the treatment by Foakes, who drives it back down the ground for four.
That’s drinks.
What was all the fuss about with the pitch? It’s pure calm out there in the middle in Ranchi at the moment.
England 156-5 (Root 42, Foakes 14) Overs: 43
India have made an interesting change, immediately switching ends for Akash Deep, seeing what works best for him on this pitch.
England pick up a bonus boundary as the ball catches Foakes’ thigh pad and runs along the ground through the cordon and away for four leg byes.
England 151-5 (Root 41, Foakes 14) Overs: 42
Kuldeep Yadav has a first bowl of the day, and it’s a good first over that goes for one run.
The contrast between the start of this afternoon session and what we saw before lunch is extreme. It’s calm and there’s not much happening for India’s attack right now, whereas it was absolute carnage at times in the morning session.
England 150-5 (Root 40, Foakes 14) Overs: 41
Yet another maiden for Jadeja, who is bowling really well today.
England 150-5 (Root 40, Foakes 14) Overs: 40
The 150 comes up for England as Foakes takes a single off the last ball of the over to keep the strike.
These two are looking decent right now, playing safe and sensible cricket. It’s not thrill-a-minute stuff, and certainly not classic Bazball, but it’s what England need in the situation.
England 147-5 (Root 40, Foakes 11) Overs: 39
Jadeja gets a couple to turn pretty hard, beating the edge of Foakes and then getting the edge that runs away for a single.
It’s tough going out there for the batters, but not the minefield that it looked at times in the morning session.
England 146-5 (Root 40, Foakes 10) Overs: 38
Beautiful shot from Root, as he drives on the up for four off Akash Deep.
The pacer comes back well with a gem that leaves Root and whistles through to the keeper.
England 138-5 (Root 33, Foakes 9) Overs: 37
Jadeja races through another over that goes for just the one run.
England 137-5 (Root 32, Foakes 9) Overs: 36
India have had enough of all this calm and turn back to the debutant Akash Deep, who was the star of the morning session with his 3-24.
He got the new ball to do all sorts in the first hour of play. How will he fare with this slightly older and softer cherry?
It’s a nice return to the attack and he gets one to cut back into Foakes to end the over with a stifled appeal for lbw.
England 135-5 (Root 32, Foakes 7) Overs: 35
It’s another maiden for Jadeja, with Root getting well forward at the danger end to play him out.
England 135-5 (Root 32, Foakes 7) Overs: 34
Root looks good right now and works away three more runs from Ashwin’s latest over.
There have been no big shots and no gremlins in the pitch since lunch.
England 132-5 (Root 29, Foakes 7) Overs: 33
No concerns about over rates right now for India, as they race through another from Jadeja, which yields one single.
England 131-5 (Root 28, Foakes 7) Overs: 32
England scamper for two singles off Ashwin’s latest over, with the speedometer saying that the offspinner is firing it through quicker than he usually does today.
England 129-5 (Root 27, Foakes 6) Overs: 31
It’s a maiden for Jadeja in a real lull in the match.
Are we seeing that a certain approach against spin here could negate the pitch? Could it be that moisture and a new ball caused more to happen on the surface than you’ll get in the latter half of each day’s play?
It’s so tough to read right now, but England will be happy with this calm start to the session.
England 129-5 (Root 27, Foakes 6) Overs: 30
Ashwin continues and the pitch suddenly doesn’t look all that, with Root on strike and looking in great touch.
Just a reminder that Rehan Ahmed will not feature in the remainder of the tour. He wasn’t in the England XI in this game, but has left India for personal reasons.
England 124-5 (Root 22, Foakes 6) Overs: 29
One more run from Jadeja’s over as Root and Foakes get a long way forward, which is clearly a learning from that morning session.
England 123-5 (Root 21, Foakes 6) Overs: 28
This game is ripping along with spin at both ends.
Ashwin’s latest over goes for three as England try and get a long way forward and stifle the spin.
England 120-5 (Root 20, Foakes 4) Overs: 27
Jadeja continues and England take two off him, racing through for two quick singles.
England 118-5 (Root 19, Foakes 3) Overs: 26
Ashwin races through an over that goes for four runs, with not quite as much turn on offer from this end.
England 114-5 (Root 16, Foakes 2) Overs: 25
Play resumes after lunch with Jadeja completing his over, and he gets one to turn past the edge of the new batter Ben Foakes.
This is the last pair of recognised batters for England and a key partnership.
Watch this series LIVE on TNT Sports
TNT Sports have the rights to broadcast this full series in the UK, so tune in to TNT Sports and discovery+ right now to see the first day’s action unfold.
So… what is up with this pitch?
There will be A LOT of discourse about this pitch in the cricketing world over the next couple of days. Much of it will be hyperbolic and some of it will frankly be out of line, and yet this surface definitely still merits discussion.
England came into this series expecting to play on big turning tracks, but that’s not what was served up in the first three Tests. The first Test did turn plenty, but it was still a decent wicket with runs on offer, and the last two Tests were really good Test wickets.
This one in Ranchi certainly looks different.
It’s a wicket of almost two halves vertically, with black soil and big cracks all down one half and then a hint of green on a reasonable-looking surface down the other half.
In the two previous Tests to be held on this ground there were grumblings from the touring teams before the matches, only for the surface to be far less lively than expected once play got underway.
And England were keen to stress that they weren’t complaining when discussing the unusual nature of the pitch prior to today’s play, well aware that there’s an historically uneven and unfair nature to the discourse when talking about sub-continent wickets.
But that doesn’t change the fact that this is a pitch that will have the bowlers seriously interested.
It’s tempting to go early and say it’s a very tricky pitch to bat on, but you can’t really say that comfortably until India’s batters have had a go on it.
That being said, there are cracks and irregular bounce for the quicks, particularly those who are able to hit the pitch hard. And there is turn and inconsistent bounce for the spinners, with that scooter that did for Stokes suggesting that there will be some genuinely unplayable deliveries at times.
You’d guess that England have got their bowling picks right, and it will be fascinating to see what Anderson and Robinson can do with the new ball on this, before England’s tall spin pairing have their turn.
The story of the first session
England 112-5 at lunch on bowler-friendly surface
Wickets tumbled on a dramatic first morning in Ranchi after England won the toss and opted to bat first in the fourth Test.
On a surface that offered movement and inconsistent bounce for the quicks and turn for the spinners it was a tough test for England’s top order, with debutant Akash Deep starring with the ball to help leave the tourists 112-5 at lunch.
The pace bowler thought he had his first wicket in Test cricket with a beauty that sent Zak Crawley’s off stump cartwheeling in textbook style, only for the batter to be called back thanks to a no ball.
But the 27-year-old right-armer did get his debut wicket as one left Ben Duckett, found the edge, and was caught comfortably by the keeper.
With seam and inconsistent movement on offer, both laterally and vertically, it was an exciting opportunity for Akash Deep, and he picked up his second in three balls as he had Ollie Pope lbw with a decision that was given on review, much to the frustration of the England number three.
A wicked in-ducker did for Crawley as Deep got his man in the end, to leave England three down at drinks.
And the wickets kept on falling in a morning that suggests this will be a low-scoring game.
Jonny Bairstow’s counter-attacking knock came to an end when he reached for a loose sweep and was trapped lbw plumb in front by Ravichandran Ashwin.
And captain Ben Stokes was the final wicket to fall of the session, done up a treat by a ball from Ravindra Jadeja that scooted along the turf and raised eyebrows in the TNT Sports studio about the true nature of this pitch.
Having won the toss and batted first it’s fair to say that 112-5 is not a good position for England. But it remains to be seen just how poor this morning has been.
There were chances and reviews throughout an action-packed session, with India also losing two of their reviews as they strived for breakthroughs.
Conditions could flatten out at times, and perhaps it’s the quality of the India attack that have extracted so much from the pitch. Or maybe it’s a wicket on which 200 is going to be a good score. We’ll know when India have a bat… which may well be in the next couple of hours at this rate.
TNT Sports: The home of England men’s tours of India
TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
How do I watch cricket live streams on TNT Sports? What is discovery+?
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
WICKET & LUNCH! England 112-5 (Root 16) Overs: 24.1
Ben Stokes lbw to Ravindra Jadeja for 3 (6)
What a session, England are in trouble!
There’s absolutely nothing Ben Stokes can do about this one though, as a delivery from Jadeja basically doesn’t bounce, scoots along the floor and traps him plumb in-front.
England are five down, but that sort of delivery on the first morning of a Test means that it’s not going to be a high-scoring match.
However, there’s low-scoring and then there’s 112-5. Yikes.
With that wicket it’s lunch and India depart full of smiles.
England 111-4 (Root 16, Stokes 2) Overs: 23
Jadeja is convinced he has Root lbw and turns to celebrate as Kumar Dharmasena shuffles in his stance… but it’s an unintentional dummy from the umpire and the finger stays down.
Rohit Sharma goes upstairs, but there was an inside edge just before the ball hit the pad and Root survives.
WICKET! England 110-4 (Root 16, Stokes 1) Overs: 22
Jonny Bairstow lbw to Ravichandran Ashwin for 38 (35b)
Bairstow misses with a wayward sweep and the ball strikes him on the back leg, but the finger stays down as Ashwin appeals.
Rohit makes the signal and it’s DRS time. There’s no bat and it’s clearly going on to hit the stumps, but did it pitch in line?
Yes it did. In fact it’s plumb. Bairstow has to go for 38 from 35 balls.
Sir Alastair Cook wonders whether that was a premeditated shot from Bairstow, who has gone on the attack in search of form but mainly played the ball on its merits in his innings so far.
And Cook also says that his guess is that 250 is par on this surface. Can England get there? Ben Stokes is the new batter in.
England 105-3 (Root 16, Bairstow 34) Overs: 21
Was that a chance? Jurel spills one behind the stumps as Jadeja rips a delivery past Bairstow. There was a noise, but it’s hard to tell whether that was a feather of an edge or the bat clipping the pad. A later replay shows that it didn’t take the edge, which will be a big relief for the keeper.
Bairstow is relieved to get off strike, and Root has to face an absurd few deliveries, with Jadeja getting the ball to turn with serious spite off this pitch. It’s not a horror surface, but there’s a lot in it for the bowlers, and I wouldn’t be banking on a fifth day, and maybe not a fourth either.
The last ball of the over is a touch short and Root puts it away for four.
England 100-3 (Root 12, Bairstow 33) Overs: 20
It’s time for R Ashwin for the first time in this Test as Rohit shuffles his pack.
But Bairstow is in the mood for a bit of a counter-attack and he launches the man with 500 Test wickets over deep midwicket for a monster six.
He picked the length well, timed it nicely, and it was met with complete silence from the home fans.
A nudged single from the final ball of the over brings up the 100 for England.
England 89-3 (Root 11, Bairstow 23) Overs: 19
Delightful from Root, who cuts late and sends Jadeja away for four runs. That’s peak Root, who will be desperate for runs here after a lean series so far.
England 83-3 (Root 6, Bairstow 22) Overs: 18
Bairstow muscles one back down the ground, swiped back past the bowler, giving Siraj a glimmer of hope for a second before realising that the ball is destined for the rope.
And it’s back-to-back fours for the England man as he drives uppishly away through the covers.
Bairstow’s not going to scratch around looking for form here. He’s going to have a go and see what happens, which is probably his best bet in truth.
England 71-3 (Root 5, Bairstow 11) Overs: 17
All three wickets have fallen to pace this morning, but it’s a surface that will offer plenty for the spinners too, and Jadeja gets one to turn off a length that fizzes away past Root.
It’s a maiden for the left-armer.
England 71-3 (Root 5, Bairstow 11) Overs: 16
Akash Deep’s lengthy spell comes to an end, but it’s such a good morning for the quicks that Rohit turns back to Siraj rather than using his additional spin options.
Bairstow finds the deep third boundary and there’s a brief pause as the grumpy England number five spots some movement above the sight screen and has a gripe about it in his trademark friendly fashion…
There’s a little criticism of Bairstow for that on the broadcast, but in his defence there are some rows of seats right above the sightscreen where there are a handful of fans sitting and moving. It’s only an issue at one end really.
England 67-3 (Root 5, Bairstow 7) Overs: 15
Bairstow prods forward and a turning delivery from Jadeja rips past the outside edge.
When Bairstow’s out of touch he has a tendency to make a lot of deliveries look like jaffas, but that did get plenty of purchase in fairness.
Three runs come from the over as England tick things over.
England 64-3 (Root 5, Bairstow 4) Overs: 14
Akash goes deep into this first spell (sorry, couldn’t help it). It’s his seventh over on the bounce, but this is one of the least concerning for England as Bairstow and Root play it safe.
England 60-3 (Root 4, Bairstow 1) Overs: 13
Jadeja continues and England knock him for three singles as they look to rebuild.
Akash Deep has bowled absolutely beautifully on debut here and he has England in serious trouble. Whether it’s a genius spell or an indication of things to come on this surface is hard to tell right now.
WICKET! England 57-3 (Root 2, Bairstow 0) Overs: 12
Zak Crawley bowled by Akash Deep for 42 (42b)
It’s another for Akash Deep, what a morning for the debutant!
One jags back short of a length and cuts Zak Crawley in half, taking out off stump and ending the opener’s stay in the middle, with Crawley heading back for 42.
There’s another nervy moment for the bowler as he waits to hear about the no ball, but the umpire signals that all is good and India have three wickets before drinks, which they take before the final ball of the over.
The out-of-form Jonny Bairstow is the new batter and he blocks out his first ball.
England 50-2 (Crawley 37, Root 1) Overs: 11
It feels like a big exhale as Jadeja goes for three singles in a quiet over following that dramatic one from Akash Deep last up.
That means the fifty is up for England. The cliché goes that you never know what a good score is on a surface until both teams have batted, but you’d hazard a guess that this isn’t a 450-par strip.
DOUBLE WICKET OVER! England 47-2 (Crawley 35, Root 0) Overs: 10
Ben Duckett caught by Dhruv Jurel bowled Akash Deep for 11 (21b)
Ollie Pope lbw to Akash Deep for 0 (2b)
Akash Deep does have his first Test wicket, seaming one away from Duckett and luring the edge, which carries to the keeper. It’s a lovely delivery.
The debutant glances back at the umpire nervously, worrying that there could be another no-ball siren to undo his efforts, but it’s all good and Ben Duckett has to go for 11.
Ollie Pope is the new batter and he is hopping around all over the place early on, with Akash Deep getting the ball to talk.
There’s a huge appeal as the second ball Pope faces cuts back into him and strikes him on the pad, but the finger stays down. Rohit goes upstairs and it’s DRS time… and it’s three reds!
Pope throws his head back. He was a long way down the wicket and it was tight on height,and must have been millimetres away from umpire’s call on leg stump too, but it’s out and Pope goes for a two-ball duck.
Steven Finn in the TNT Sport studio says that the DRS tracker took him slightly be surprise there, acknowledging that the technology is more likely to be accurate than his eye.
Joe Root is the new batter and there’s a big appeal first ball, with Rohit going upstairs once more.
DRS time again, but on this occasion impact is marginally outside the line, and India lose a review. Had that been just a touch further across then Root was in big trouble, and you wouldn’t say that was a poor review, but it does mean that India have lost one of their three.
England 46-0 (Crawley 34, Duckett 11) Overs: 9
Here we go then, it’s spin for the first time in the match, with Jadeja getting the chance to turn his arm over.
Slight irregular bounce in the first couple of deliveries is a good sign for the spinners, and a worry for the batters on both sides, and Jadeja launches an almighty appeal as Duckett misses with a sweep shot off the fifth ball of the over.
Jadeja is convinced and the appeal goes on and on, waiting and pleading for the finger to go up, but it doesn’t. Rohit appeals, but it’s umpire’s call on both impact and wickets, so Duckett survives.
The diminutive opener rubs salt in the wounds with a beauty of a driven four to finish off the over.
Watch this series LIVE on TNT Sports
TNT Sports have the rights to broadcast this full series in the UK, so tune in to TNT Sports and discovery+ right now to see the first day’s action unfold.
England 39-0 (Crawley 32, Duckett 6) Overs: 8
Duckett hasn’t seen much of the striker in these early stages, but he gets to face the entirety of an over from Akash Deep, picking up a well-run two as he calms things down.
England 37-0 (Crawley 32, Duckett 4) Overs: 7
The Barmy Army trumpet rings out, and England are on the charge!
Crawley gets on strike and survives one that nips back in and loops up to where a short leg would have been. And he responds to that by going full attack.
An off drive for four is followed by a classy clip through mid on for four more. And a hat-trick of fours comes up with a stylish flick away to square leg.
Crawley then has Siraj turning his head with a snap as he stands tall and monsters a huge six away over long-on.
That’s 19 runs off the over.
England 18-0 (Crawley 14, Duckett 3) Overs: 6
Another good over from Akash Deep ends with a thick outside edge from Crawley that flies wide of the cordon and away for four runs.
England 14-0 (Crawley 10, Duckett 3) Overs: 5
More threat for Crawley as Siraj gets one to whip back in to the pads, but it was high and there’s no review.
A first boundary of the day for England and it comes from Crawley, who spots one that’s pitched up slightly further and drives it through the off side for four.
But the ball continues to jump around all over the place. Will this sort of movement continue? What constitutes a good score? And what on earth will the spinners get to happen on this interesting surface?
NO BALL! England 9-0 (Crawley 5, Duckett 3) Overs: 4
Oh wow! Akash Deep thinks he’s got his first wicket in Test cricket with an absolute gem that nips back in off the wicket and cleans up Crawley’s stumps. He’s in the midst of his celebrations when the umpire tells the batter to stop walking, and the dreaded no-ball siren goes off moments later to offer Crawley a reprieve.
Replays showed that he did overstep, looking for a touch more effort, and it’s the right call. Heartbreak for Akash Deep and a big let-off for England.
Four runs come from the over in total, with three singles along with that new ball, and it’s a crackerjack of an over from the new bowler, with the ball seaming all over the place off this pitch.
It could just be that the new ball is talking and it’ll flatten out, but England will be delighted by their decision to pick the tall and controlled Ollie Robinson for this match. Based on the early evidence he should be exactly the sort of bowler who can extract something from this surface.
But for now the challenge for England is to make it through this new ball test against India’s pace duo.
England 5-0 (Crawley 3, Duckett 2) Overs: 3
There’s a bit more news from the England camp, with Rehan Ahmed heading home for personal reasons for the remainder of the tour. He will not be replaced in the travelling party.
Hopefully it’s nothing too serious for young Rehan, who bowled with plenty of promise in the first three Tests.
He wasn’t set to be involved in this game as England turned to the extra height of Shoaib Bashir in their spin attack, and with the last test being held in Dharamsala where three quicks are expected in the team then it shouldn’t make a huge impact on England’s cricketing plans from here on in.
Back to this game and Siraj continues, bowling really nicely. England have made a watchful start and three more runs come from the over, all in singles.
England 2-0 (Crawley 1, Duckett 1) Overs: 2
India have opted to hand another debut in this series in the absence of Bumrah, and it’s Akash Deep who gets it, coming in as the second seamer. He’s not express pace, but he’s a right-armer who sends them down at a decent enough lick, and he shows off those skills with a tidy first over.
High spirits from India as Jurel is given plenty of love for preventing leg side byes from one that hoops away.
But England do get their first runs with two nudged singles in an over that shows more inconsistent bounce. There’s been a lot of chat about this wicket before the match, but early signs are that picking two pace options was the right approach from both teams.
England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 0) Overs: 1
It’s Siraj with the first ball of the Test, with India having rested Bumrah for this match of course.
His first over is a box of tricks on a surface that looks like it’ll offer a bit for the quicks early on, with a relatively lush outfield and some flecks of green on the surface of the wicket, particularly on one half of a two-faced sort of strip.
He gets a beauty to beat Crawley’s outside edge and then strikes the big England opener with a bouncer that shows off the surface’s expected uneven bounce. It's a maiden to kick things off.
03:55 – The Teams
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Robinson, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson
India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj
03:50 – Toss News
England have won the toss and have chosen to bat.
For the first time since that opening Test, the toss has gone Ben Stokes’ way and he has unsurprisingly chosen to bat first. That is just what you do in Indian conditions, almost all of the time.
It doesn’t mean that England are favourites for this match of course, but it’s an excellent start. Decent first innings runs would give them the platform to control the Test on a pitch that looks like it’ll turn big, maybe from the start, definitely in the back-half of the match.
03:45 – Hello and Welcome
Good morning. Feeling fresh?
The prospect of a fascinating fourth Test in Ranchi had me leaping out of bed a little while ago, and it’s great to have you here with me.
It’s been a fascinating series so far and promises to be another belter of a match, and the first ball is only 15 minutes away.
I’m Tom Bennett and I’ll bring you over-by-over updates throughout the day, and you can follow the whole Test right here on TNT Sports, with the series broadcast in full on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'I don't know what could happen,' says Stokes on 'dark and crumbly' Ranchi pitch
Ben Stokes said he has "never seen something like that before" when giving his assessment of the pitch to be used in England's crucial fourth Test with India in Ranchi.
England trail 2-1 in the series and will have to adapt to the conditions if they are to prevail and force a decider.
Speaking ahead of the fourth Test, Stokes said: “I've never seen something like that before. I don’t know what could happen.
“If you looked down one side of opposite ends it just looked different to what I am used to seeing, especially out in India.”
He added: “It looked green and grassy up in the changing rooms, but then you go out there it looked different - very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks in it.”
The unpredictable surface could make it difficult for batters, which might play into the .visitors’ hands following their 434-run defeat in Rajkot last week.
Full story here.
Robinson and Bashir in as England make two changes for fourth Test
England have made two changes to their side for the fourth Test.
Into the attack come fast bowler Ollie Robinson and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, with Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed missing out.
It will be a first game of the series for 30-year-old Robinson, who last featured for England in last summer’s five-Test clash with Australia.
Bashir, meanwhile, took four wickets on his debut in the second Test against India in Vizag and joins fellow spinner Tom Hartley as England look to bounce back from a disappointing showing in Rajkot.
Elsewhere, Jonny Bairstow keeps his place despite coming under scrutiny for his poor batting form. The 34-year-old has averaged just 17 runs in six innings, with a top score of 37.
The visitors trail 2-1 after back-to-back defeats. England won the first Test before India levelled the contest in Vizag before thrashing the tourists by 434 runs in Rajkot last week.
TNT Sports: The home of England men’s tours of India
TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
How do I watch cricket live streams on TNT Sports? What is discovery+?
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement