Rajkot: Southpaw opener Ben Duckett led England's strong response with a quickfire hundred as the visitors raced to 207/2 at stumps after skittling out India for 445 on the second day of the third Test here on Friday.
At stumps, Duckett was batting on 133 and his teammate Joe Root was unbeaten at nine not out as England scored their runs in only 35 overs to trail by 238 runs.
The day also saw Ravichandran Ashwin become only the second Indian bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket, with the wicket of Zak Crawley (15). Duckett got to his century in just 88 balls, the fastest by an Englishman against India.
Ashwin (98), who represent Tamil Nadu in domestic circuit, become the overall second-fastest bowler to pick 500 Test wickets after veteran Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who achieved this rare feat in only 87 games.
With this Ashwin has surpassed former Indian skipper Anil Kumble's record and became the fastest Indian bowler to pick 500 wickets in Test wickets. The only other Indian to take 500 or more Test wickets to his name is former India skipper, Anil Kumble. Kumble has a whopping tally of 619 Test wickets from 132 matches.
Speaking about the milestone, the 37-year-old said, " It's been quite a long journey. Firstly I'd like to dedicate this feat to my father. He's been with me through thick and thin, probably had a heart-attack every time he's watched me play. His health has probably gone for a toss because of that."
Earlier, in his first international outing, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel batted very well for a neat 46. India resumed the second day on their overnight score of 326/5 with Jadeja and night-watchman Kuldeep Yadav (1) at the crease. Both Jadeja and Kuldeep, however, got out quickly as India slipped to 331/7. Ashwin and Jurel then steadied the innings.
For England, returning pacer Mark Wood finished with figures of 4/114 in 27.5 overs.
Live Updates from Day Two
- Over 35 (200/2)
Ashwin comes into bowl the last over and almost did the work for the team. There was a huge appeal from the Indian players while Ashwin thought he had got his man. Rohit Sharma had took the review but the ball was pitched outside leg stump and hence umpire stayed with his decision. - Over 34 (200/2)
Just a single came from the Siraj's over, 200 up for England. - Over 32 (196/2)
Mohammed Siraj conceded only three runs in the over as England neared the 200-run mark. England are going strong and it is Ben Duckett, who is the cynosure of eyes at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. - Over 31 (193/2)
Ravindra Jadeja conceded 13 runs in the 31st over as England raced to 193/2. Joe Root walked in at number four. - Over 30 (180/2)
Siraj's bouncer hit Ollie Pope's helmet and there was an concussion test happened as per the protocol and then two balls later he lost his wicket. Indian skipper and Siraj had changed the tactics and decided to bowl barrage of bouncers. And Siraj has executed it properly, trying to drag him into the front foot and then bowled surprise bouncer, which has rewarded him with a wicket on the last delivery of the over. - Over 29 (176/1)
England batters are hitting boundaries for fun here. They both scored one four each to Ravindra Jadeja, one came from the reverse sweep while other came on conventional sweep. They have accumulated 67 runs in the last 10 overs. Looks like India are in deep trouble here. - Over 28 (163/1)
Ollie Pope continues to play conventional and reverse sweep shots. Siraj concedes seven runs in the over including a boundary on the last delivery. - Over 27 (156/1)
Jadeja, who is playing in his home ground, troubling the right-hand batter Ollie Pope after conceding two boundaries. There was an appeal for LBW against him, but the ball was clearly sliding down the leg side. With this two fours in the over, England have also crossed 150-run mark in just 27 overs. - Over 26 (148/1)
Ben Duckett you beauty! After scoring 18 runs in his first three innings in India in 2016, He has come a long long away, scoring a century for his team, When England needed it the most. He gets his third Test ton with a four and in just 88 deliveries, innings which includes 20 fours and six.
Fastest Test 100s vs India in India (balls faced)
84 A Gilchrist Mumbai WS 2001
85 C Lloyd Bengaluru 1974
88 B Duckett Rajkot 2024 *
99 Ross Taylor Bengaluru 2012 - Over 25 (140/1)
There are few signs of reverse swing as the ball tails in the direction of the shine of the ball. Duckett still two runs short of his third Test century. - Over 24 (138/1)
Ravindra Jadeja has come into the attack now. He concedes only one in his first over. - Over 23 (137/1)
The partnership is two short of 50-runs. This two have ensured that the run rate will not drop below five. Just six runs came from 23rd over. - Over 22 (131/1)
It was an expensive over from the R Ashwin as 14 runs came from his sixth over. Duckett, who has been playing aggressively, entered into the 90's now. He first drag the ball from outside and smashed it for six and then Ashwin drags his length back and Duckett was waiting for it as he pull it away for four. He even ran three on the last delivery to finish the over. - Over 21 (117/1)
Bumrah looking for a reverse swing here. There was a huge LBW appeal against Ben Duckett, but the umpire thinks otherwise. Wicket-keeper Jurel backs Bumrah to convince skipper Rohit to go for a review. It was a close call. Bumrah's yorker nearly got a wicket for India but it was the bat's slight connection with the ball at the last moment that saved the batter. - Over 20 (115/1)
Duckett continues to play his shots, smashing Ashwin for a boundary. He went on the backfoot and punched the slightly short delivery towards mid-on region. Six runs came from the over. - Over 19 (109/1)
Jasprit Bumrah replaced Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. And Ollie Pope welcomes him with boundary on the first ball towards cow corner. However, Bumrah then made a nice comeback in the over, conceding only a single on the last delivery. - Over 18 (104/1)
Ollie Pope says it's high time now and shimmies down the pitch, lofts a tossed up delivery of Kuldeep Yadav towards sight screen for a six. Eight runs came from the last two over including a four from the southpaw. - Over 16 (92/1)
Ashwin, who has a lot of experience bowling in Indian conditions, knows how to bowl in flat tracks like Rajkot's surface, showing his class, not allowing the batters to free their arms or play sweep shots. He is bowling stump to stumps, and a fractional fuller than Kuldeep Yadav which is the reason he has been the only successful bowler so far in the game for India. - Over 14 (90/0)
There's wicket number 500 for Ravichandran Ashwin! He joins an elite club and gets India a breakthrough when they desperately needed it. Ashwin tossed it up fuller, Crawley went for a sweep shot, and but an top edge landed safely in Rajat Patidar's hands, who was fielding at fine leg. The 37-year-old modern-day great for India becomes the overall second and fastest Indian bowler to reach this milestone. England vice-captain Ollie Pope is coming into the middle to bat at number three.
Fewest balls to 500 Test wickets
25528 G McGrath
25714 R Ashwin
28150 J Anderson
28430 S Broad
28833 C Walsh
Fewest Tests to 500 Test wickets
87 M Muralitharan
98 R Ashwin
105 A Kumble
108 S Warne
110 G McGrath - Over 13 (89/0)
Kuldeep Yadav continues to bowl from the other end and Duckett also continues to smack him to the fence for fours. Kuldeep have conceded 34 runs in four overs - Over 12 (79/0)
Change in bowling, Ravichandran Ashwin, who is one short of his 500th Test wicket, comes into the attack as India eyeing a wicket here. Just three runs came from it. - Over 10 (67/0)
Duckett has reached to his fifty in quick time. He was on 19 off 22 deliveries and reached to his half-century in just 17 deliveries. England currently on top of the game. India struggling to keep run rate under control while there are no signs of wicket as Crawley and Duckett are smashing boundaries for fun. - Over 9 (54/0)
England batter, especially Duckett has taken aggressive approach right from the word go after the tea break. He has scored two consecutive boundaries in three back to back overs. Indian desperately need a wicket here. - Over 7 (40/0)
Expensive first over from Kuldeep Yadav as Duckett swept him for two consecutive four before taking a single on the fifth ball. Seven runs came from the seventh over. - Over 6 (31/0)
Ben Duckett cuts a ball from backfoot to wide of cover region and earns a four runs. - Over 4 (16/0)
Maiden over from Siraj as he keeps his line constantly around off to restrict batters from freeing their arms. - Over 2 (11/0)
A economical spell from Indian bowlers so far but five penalty runs has kept the run rate around six.
England openers walk in to bat
- Over 130.4 (445)
Bumrah started the over with a boundary but there were some injury concerns around Mohammed Siraj as he got injured but painkiller and pain spray helped him get back into the action. Wood wrapped up the innings by dismissing Bumrah via LBW on the penultimate delivery. Umpire ruled him to be out but the pacer took a DRS. The review was also not able to save him as there were three reds and so the decision was unchanged. - Over 130 (437/9)
Siraj was adjudged LBW by the umpire but an inside edge saved him. He was given out by the umpire but went upstairs immediately and the snicko showed that it was outside edge from his bat. - Over 129 (436/9)
Mark Wood tried some short deliveries but the batters earned two runs from his over. - Over 128 (434/9)
Some aggression from Jasprit Bumrah as he smacked two boundaries in an over. A lofted cover drive and a lofted stroke over mid-on ensured eight runs for the Indian side. - Over 127 (426/9)
Bumrah switches gears with willow in his hand. Hartley tossed one delivery in full length on off-stump and the Indian batter played a slog which travlled a long distance to clear the boundary. - Over 126 (417/9)
A maiden over from Rehan Ahmed as both the batters shown some solid defense to play out the over - Over 125 (417/9)
Two runs from Hartley's over and the Indian team will hope that their tail will deliver under pressure situation. - Over 124 (415/9)
Rehan Ahmed bowled a back off length delivery and Jurel tried to cut it through square but he nicked it in the process. Wicketkeeper Foakes takes a sharp catch behind the wicket and Jurel walks back to the pavillion. - Over 123 (409/8)
A single run from Hartley's over and Jurel keeps strike to himself. - Over 122 (408/8)
Maiden over from Bumrah as he defends all six deliveries from the leg-spinner. Another maiden over in the Indian innings. - Over 120 (408/8)
Rehan Ahmed conceded a six in the over due to a short pitched delivery but he dismisses Ashwin on the last ball as he tried to play a lofted shot over mid-on but is caught in the process. - Over 118 (401/7)
Stokes puts down Dhruv Jurel and the mistake might turn out to be costly for the visitors as he is heading towards his half-century. - Over 117 (400/7)
The duo going strong now and India have crossed the 400-run mark. - Over 116 (399/7)
Ashwin glanced a delivery down the leg by Wood, but the express pace from Wood helped him ensure four runs. - Over 115 (394/7)
Dhruv Jurel gets a life-line as Pope drops a catch at mid-wicket. - Over 114 (392/7)
The play resumes after lunch break. England speedster Mark Wood begins the session with short of length deliveries. However, Ashwin managed to get away with one and secured a boundary to begin things with. - Over 113 (388/7)
Dhruv Jurel played a cut on the short delivery bowled by Hartley and is awarded by four runs. - Over 112 (384/7)
A couple of runs from the over bowled by Mark Wood and both the batters Ashwin and Dhruv Jurel are now steadying the innings. - Over 111 (382/7)
A couple of runs from the over bowled by Hartley. - Over 110 (380/7)
Jurel earned five runs from the over with his solid technique and the duo have steadied the innings building a brilliant partnership so far. - Over 109 (375/7)
Hartley is getting some turn every now and then in the innings so far. Two runs from the over as he is consistently bowling on off and getting some balls to turn away from the batter. - Over 108 (373/7)
Wood bowled a short delivery down the leg and he played the ball fine to get four runs as the outcome. - Over 107 (369/7)
Tom Hartley seems to be getting slight assistance from the surface as he is turning the ball away from both the batters. - Over 106 (368/7)
Three runs from Wood's over - Over 105 (365/7)
A single run from the over bowled by Tom Hartley. - Over 104 (364/7)
A short delivery from Rehan Ahmed against Ashwin. The batter went on the backfoot and played a cut through backward point. Easy four runs for Ashwin. - Over 103 (359/7)
Maiden over from Hartley. - Over 102 (359/7)
Umpires signal for five penalty runs as Ashwin ran in the middle of the pitch. Also, Ashwin hits a boundary in the over. - Over 101 (354/7)
Another tidy over in the innings as both the batters accumulate only one run from the over. - Over 100 (353/7)
Only one run from the over by both the batters as they are looking to build a partnership here. - Over 99 (352/7)
Tom Hartley is bowling in tight areas and one more maiden over in the England innings. - Over 98 (352/7)
Anderson's full-length delivery drifting into the pads was flicked by Ashwin through and the ball goes towards deep backward square leg. - Over 97 (347/7)
Only a single run from the over. - Over 96 (346/7)
Anderson is sticking to his line and lengths continuously and that has restricted both the batters from steering the scoreboard so far. A maiden over from the pacer. - Over 95 (346/7)
A top shot from Dhruv Jurel as he came up with a befitting to reply to Mark Wood's bouncer. Wood banged the fourth delivery of the over in short and it was targeted towards Jurel's body. However, the batter arched back and ramped the delivery over the stumps for six runs. - Over 94 (338/7)
Jurel is showing solid defense with his willow while Ashwin is playing his drives from the other end. Only two runs from the over. - Over 93 (336/7)
R Ashwin got off the mark with a brilliant backfoot punch through the cover. His well-timed stroke raced to the boundary and the batter adds four runs to the team total. - Over 90.5 (331/7)
Joe Root delivers with a key wicket for the English side. He bowled a full delivery with a lot of flight and Ravindra Jadeja attempted to play a big hit. However, he mistimed the shot and the leading edge was caught by Root. - Over 89.4 (331/6)
Night watchman is gone. Anderson went round the wicket and bowled a delivery on off shaping away from the batter. An outside edge and he was caught by the wicketkeeper. Debutant Dhruv Jurel walks in the middle to steer the scoreboard. - Over 89 (330/5)
A maiden over by Joe Root as Kuldeep shows brilliant defense against the off-spinner. - Over 88 (330/5)
Two runs from the over as both the batters are playing cautiously. - Over 87 (328/5)
Only a couple of runs from the over bowled by Joe Root. He bowled the fourth delivery of the over outside off and Kuldeep Yadav blocked at it to take a couple of runs.
