BIRMINGHAM: Rishabh Pant gave Ben Stokes’ England a taste of their own medicine with a superb counter-attacking century as India recovered from a top-order collapse on the first day of the delayed fifth Test at Edgbaston on Friday. After winning the toss, Stokes bowled out India for 98-5 under overcast skies in Birmingham. Pant responded with a brilliant 146, and he and fellow left-hander Ravindra Jadeja, 83 not out, shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 222, helping India to 338-7 at stumps.
England came into this match fresh off a 3-0 series win over Test world champions New Zealand, notable for the aggressive, fearless approach shown by their new captain Stokes and red-ball coach Brendon McCullum. Pant, on the other hand, has spent his entire career playing ‘Baz ball,’ as England’s new style has been dubbed in honor of McCullum’s nickname. On Friday, he was especially harsh on Jack Leach, swinging himself off his feet while slogging a four and later driving the left-arm spinner one-handed for six runs in an over that cost 22 runs.
Leach, who had a 10-wicket haul in the third Test against New Zealand, gave up 71 runs in nine wicketless overs. Pant’s century came in 89 balls, with 15 fours and a six. It was the end of a 39-over double-century stand, the second-highest score of Pant’s Test career, his fifth hundred in 31 matches, and third against England. Friday’s match was supposed to be played in Manchester last September, but it was canceled just hours before the scheduled start time due to coronavirus concerns within the India camp.
