India 0/2: Shambolic start to second innings at Old Trafford
Nothing seems to be going right for India in Manchester. The visitors somehow managed to bundle out England shortly before lunch on Day 4 of the fourth India vs England Test. However, trouble mounted within mere seconds when it was their turn to bat again. The surface at Old Trafford, which had looked lifeless when India bowled, appeared far more challenging against the Indian batters. Chris Woakes delivered an early blow to India, already buried under a mammoth lead of 311 runs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and the next man in, Sai Sudharsan, departed off consecutive deliveries as the visitors were reduced to 0/2 before lunch on Day 4 of the Manchester Test.
Chris Woakes strikes twice in the very first over, gets two wickets in two balls! 💪
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☝️ Yashasvi Jaiswal
☝️ Sai Sudharsan
📸: ECB/JioHotstar/X#oneturfnews #engvsind #manchestertest #chriswoakes #yashasvijaiswal #saisudharsan #cricket pic.twitter.com/P0bS4g2dCd
India’s troubles in the Manchester Test worsened as they collapsed to 0/2 within just five balls, moments after England piled up an imposing 669. Already staring at a daunting 311-run first-innings deficit, the visitors were forced into a tricky pre-lunch session and faltered almost immediately. Yashasvi Jaiswal, their in-form opener, fell to a Chris Woakes delivery that straightened just enough to take the edge. Joe Root juggled but eventually completed the catch at slip as Jaiswal departed at a four-ball duck.
The very next ball brought further misery as Sai Sudharsan, playing in his second Test, misread a the attack by Woakes and offered a simple catch to Harry Brook at second slip. Sudharsan looked hesitant in his stance against the delivery as his bat touched the cherry at the very last moment. Though Shubman Gill negotiated the hat-trick ball safely, India already find themselves on the brink, staring at a possible heavy defeat in the Manchester Test
England’s pace duo, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer, continued to generate lift and movement from the same pitch that had appeared dead during much of India’s bowling effort. The contrast was striking as England’s seamers looked sharp and relentless, unlike India’s attack that had lacked any impact throughout Day 3.
Meanwhile, former England pacer Stuart Broad, offered a more sympathetic assessment of India’s shaky start with the bat. The seasoned ace suggested that mental and physical fatigue may have contributed to the quick dismissals. Broad pointed out that the Indian players were sent in to bat immediately after spending 158 overs in the field.
“Fresh legs, fresh bowlers. If you give your bowlers two nights' sleep in a Test match, they will come out and make the ball talk. It's an interesting one, Jaiswal, second ball, tried to cut one and missed, and he immediately shook his legs. You know what you do when you've got lactic acid in your legs, you've got to shake them out and get some feeling. That to me showed that mentally and physically, he was tired, and he was trying to switch himself on,” Broad said.
“Sudharsan… it was complete mental and physical tiredness, which, in your second Test match, when you have fielded for over 160 overs, is completely understandable," he added.
