English pacers humiliate India

England’s veteran pacer James Anderson put up a brilliant exhibition of seam and swing in his morning spell on day 1 of the third Test.

His spell put the hosts in complete command in Headingley on Wednesday.

Led by Anderson, England bowlers ripped through the opposition’s batting order to bundle out India for just 78 in the first innings.

This was England’s best first day in a Test since the 2015 Ashes clash at Trent Bridge where they dismissed Australia for just 60, with Stuart Broad taking 8-15.

Later, they had reached stumps on 274-4, with Root unbeaten on 124.

However, today, England openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed scored unbeaten half-centuries as the hosts finished day 1 on 120 for no loss.

At stumps, Hameed was batting on 60 while Burns was on 52.

Burns and Hameed – England’s 22nd Test-opening partnership since Andrew Strauss retired nine years ago, posted only England’s second century first-wicket stand in five years at this level.

Kohli wins toss

India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first against England though the conditions were overcast.

Kohli kept faith in the same playing XI that got India the lead at the Lord’s with a sensational 151-run win.

However Joe Root has made two changes – one forced and one tactical.

Dawid Malan replaced the out-of-form Dom Sibley while Craig Overton took the place of the injured Mark Wood.

Kohli’s ploy failed miserably as India’s famous batting unit’s technique against swing bowling was laid bare by Anderson and his band which got them all out in little over 40 overs.

Anderson took 3-6 in eight overs, including the prize wicket of India captain Virat Kohli.

Both Sam Curran and Craig Overton took two wickets in two balls after lunch, with Overton finishing with 3-14 in 10.4 overs.

Rahul disappoints

Rahul, fresh from his 129 at the ‘home of cricket’, fell for a duck when he edged a booming drive to give wicketkeeper Jos Buttler the first of five catches in the innings.

Pujara lasted just nine balls for one, undone by a superb Anderson delivery that both swung away and seamed.

Rohit who made a fine 83 at Lord’s, fell when he mishooked a looping bouncer from Overton to Ollie Robinson at mid-on.

Kohli fell for seven when he tried to drive an Anderson ball he might have defended to give Buttler another catch.

India, 56-4 at lunch on Wednesday, lost their last six wickets for 22 runs.

Rohit Sharma (19) and Ajinkya Rahane (18) were the only India batsmen to make it into double figures, with extras providing 16 runs.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root(c), Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson

England 120 for 0 (Hameed 60*, Burns 52*) lead India 78 (Rohit 19, Anderson 3-6, Overton 3-14) by 42 runs