ICC Test Championship 
India VS England Test Series 
First Test 
Brief Scorecard 
England 1st Test: 578 All Out in 190.1 Overs (Joe Root 218, Don Sibley 87, Ben Stokes 82, Don Bess 34, Rory Burns 33, Jos Buttler 30, Jasprit Bumrah 3/84, Ravichandra Ashwin 3/146, Ishant Sharma 2/52, Shabaz Nadeem 2/ 167) 
And 
England 2nd Innings 178 All Out (Joe Root 40, Olie Pope 28, Don Bess 25, Jos Buttler 24, Ravichnadra Ashwin 6/61, Shabaz Nadeem 2/ 68) 
India 1st Innings 337 All Out 95.5 Overs (Rishav Pant 91, Washington Sundar 85, Cheteswar Pujara 73, Ravichandra Ashwin 31, Don Bess 4/76, James Anderson 2/46, Jofra Archer 2/75, Jack Leach 2/ 108) 
And 
India 2nd Innings 192 All Out in 5681 Overs (Virat Kohli 72, Shuvman Gill 50, Jack Leach 4/76, James Anderson 3/17,) 
England Won by 227 Runs 
Player of the Match: Joe Root. 

Well-prepared England won big against buoyant India fresh from historic series victory in Australia by 227 runs and forged ahead 1-0 in the very crucial ICC test championship. 

World Cricket is well aware that the fate of the final of ICC Test Championship largely hinges on the outcome of the series. India is still at the Top of the table and needs winning by 2-1 only in the series for meeting New Zealand. India needs winning by 3-0 at least. Whatever happened in the first test the remaining three will be much more closely fought we can assure all.

England had a memorable series at Sri Lanka where they whitewashed home side. They came prepared with horses for the courses stuffed with quality pace attack capable of reverse swing and two talented maturing spinners.

England winning the toss was a great help. England could use the wicket at possibly the best two days and a bit. India could not bowl well as a unit. The brilliant English batsman Joe Root (218) produced an exceptional double century innings back-to-back in tests in 2021. Don Bess (87), Ben Stokes (82) and three other batsmen batting well led England wearing out India for over two days producing huge 578 all out. Usually, any team after such a long time in the field in hot humid conditions melts. India however, did not completely fail. But English bowlers bowling exceptionally well-kept India restricted to 337. Flamboyant Rishav Pant played a cameo of 91, Washington Sundar produced unbeaten 85 and Pujara produced his trademark workmanlike innings of 73. English bowlers bowled exceptionally well as a team and fielders took some stunning catches. Don Bess (4/76) paid India back on their own coin. Anderson (2/46) mopped up the tail with reverse swing and Archer (2/75) struck some early blows. 

England did not enforce the follow-on sensing that the wicket was crumbling. They did very well not completely collapsing in the second innings as Ashwin exploited the turn and bounce to the best of his ability taking 6 /51. England could master 178 setting a target of 419 

The wicket developed crack and was keeping low. English bowlers in alien condition bowled exceptionally well again. This Jack Leach (4/76) did most of the damage. Off course English Champion James Anderson delivered some killer punches taking 3/17. Indian superstar Virat Kohli was at his brilliant best. It required a freak delivery from Ben Stokes keeping low to dislodge him for well-played 72. Excepting Shuvman Gill (50) none could withstand relentless good bowling on difficult wicket as India succumbed to 192 all out conceding a 227 runs defeat.

The margin of defeat may indicate that India was shocked and awed. Yes, England utilized the conditions to the best of their abilities. But this Indian team never gets rattled from defeat and is expected to bounce back.

The second test starts at the same venue next Saturday. Then the group would move to Ahmedabad (the new Iconic Stadium) for two more tests. 

BDST: 1511 HRS, FEB 09, 2021
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