With international cricket making a return to India after almost a year, India and England were off to a competitive start on Day 1 of the opening Test for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai, on Friday. The visitor stayed on top at the end of day's play, while a few records scripted, as we present the same.
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Joe Root among the youngest to play 100 Tests: This is Root's 100th game in the longest format, while he has done so at the age of 30 years & 37 days. In the process, he has become the third-youngest cricketer to do so, after Sachin Tendulkar (29 years & 134 days) and Alastair Cook (28 years & 353 days).
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Jasprit Bumrah creates a unique record: This is the first Test Bumrah is playing at home. Having already played 17 Tests overseas, he has become the most experienced Indian to make his home debut in the format, going past Javagal Srinath (12). He also has claimed the most Test wickets overseas (79), before playing the first at home, going past Alf Valentine (65).
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Root's love for India: Root played a great known of an unbeaten 128. Consequently, he has also scored a half-century in all the seven Tests he has played in the country.
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Root scripts a special one: With the century, Root became the ninth batsman in the world, third from England, to score a century in his 100th Test. Furthermore, he is also the first batsman to score centuries in 98th, 99th and 100th game in the format.
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The Root-Sibley show: Root and opener Dominic Sibley contributed to a 200-run stand for the third wicket. At 198, the pair put up the highest stand for any wicket in the format, in the country, against India, since 2013. The highest stand before that was 208 between Ian Bell & Jonathan Trott, for the fourth wicket, in 2012, when Root had made his debut.
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India scripts an unwanted one: The Indian bowlers did not have a great outing on Friday. While it managed to claim just three wickets, it was the first time since 2014, when India had claimed such or lower in the opening day of a Test, against Australia in Sydney (3482), which also happened to be Virat Kohli's maiden Test as the skipper.
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Ravichandran Ashwin scalps a novel feat: Ashwin claimed the innings' opening wickets, with the new ball. Since his debut, he has become the fifth most wicket-taker with the new ball in the format, claiming 77. The record for the same is held by English pacer, Stuart Broad (121).
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English openers have been the best against India: In an interesting observation, the English openers have struggled in the sub-continent, barring India. Since 2010, they have scored the most Test runs (1,119) and possess the best average (65.82) of all the teams to tour India.
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Match summary: English skipper, Root won the toss and elected to bat. While the visitor suffered a couple of early setbacks, it was the pair of Sibley (87) and Root (128*), who helped England stay at the top of its game, on Day 1. As for India, Bumrah has been the most successful bowler, claiming a couple of wickets.Brief scores: England 2633 (Sibley 87, Root 128*; Bumrah 240) vs India.
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