Pope 196, Hartley seven-for script sensational England win
India fell short by 28 despite having a first-innings lead of 190
India fell short by 28 despite having a first-innings lead of 190
Scorer: M Venkat Raghav | Commentator: Alan Gardner
6.05pm: Wow. Test cricket, you've done it again. Bazball has landed in India and we could have a cracking series on our hands (notwithstanding that face England went 1-0 up in 2021 and then got thrashed). Sid Monga's report is in and we will have plenty more to come from Al Muthu and Vitu E at the ground. It's been a pleasure bringing you action - thanks, as always, for contributing. From myself, Deivarayan, Miller and the scorers, Raghav and Thilak, it's cheerio for now. Let's do it all again on Friday. Bye!
5.50pm: Time for the presentations, starting with Rohit Sharma: "Hard to pinpoint where it went wrong. With a lead of 190 we were in control but exceptional batting - probably one of the best I've seen in Indian conditions, well played Ollie Pope. I thought 230 was gettable but it wasn't to be. [Second innings] Thought we bowled in the right areas, we analysed what went well and what didn't. But you've got to take your hat off and say well played to Pope. Hard to look at one or two things. We didn't bat well enough to get to that score. [Last pair] 20-30 runs, anything is possible. The lower order fought well and showed the top order [what to do]. We didn't take some chances but that can happen, it's the first game of the series."
England captain Ben Stokes: "Since I've taken the captaincy on, where we are and who we're playing against, it's 100% our greatest victory. My first time coming out here and being captain in these conditions. I'm a great observer, I've watched how India operate in the field. Absolutely thrilled for everyone, Tom Hartley nine wickets, Ollie Pope first Test back after shoulder surgery. Tom came into the squad for the first time, he's heard a lot and had a lot of confidence [instilled]. I was willing to give him a long spell regardless of what happened [in the first innings]. Whether that was the reason he got seven wickets and won us the game, who knows? [Pope] Seen some special innings from Joe Root, but the whole innings on a difficult wicket, for me that's the greatest innings by an Englishman on the subcontinent. [Approach] If you lose, you wake up in the morning, still have a good crack and life and move on. We don't fear failure. Go out and express yourself and you'll be all right."
Ollie Pope is named Player of the Match for his second-innings 196: "To come here to India, toughest place as a better and put in a winning performance, it's head and shoulders above the rest. I got a bit luckier in the second innings, played and missed a few. Wanted to be positive with my sweep and reverse-sweep. I've tinkered through my career, changed my technique specifically for this series. The family have had early starts but can catch up on some sleep now."
5.42pm: Never mind Bazball, that was incredi-ball. And the McCullum-Stokes bandwagon rolls on: that is their 14th win in 19 Tests and it has lit the touchpaper for this series. Somehow they've given India a bloody nose despite limited preparation, and with their most-experienced spinner hampered by a knee injury throughout the game. India will perhaps look to the manner in which wickets fell in their first innings, when no one went on to score a hundred, as well as a couple of costly drops off Pope... their response in Vizag will be fascinating, although they have selection issues, too, with Virat Kohli missing and Ravindra Jadeja seemingly having suffered an injury while batting today
My colleague Sampath Bandarupalli points out that these were the previous instances of India losing after taking 100-plus first-innings lead in Test cricket:
192 vs Sri Lanka, Galle 2015 132 vs England, Birmingham 2022
"Now twice in two Tests for India vs England under Stokes and Baz."
5.33pm: That is among the most sensational results in Test cricket we've seen in, oooh, at least a few hours (props to Shamar and co)! India's fourth defeat at home in 48 Tests, and the biggest-ever turnaround by a visiting team on Indian soil, in terms of first-innings deficit. England were in the hole after conceding a 190-run lead but ran towards the danger in Baz-approved style, flipping the script on its head around through Ollie Pope's majestic 196 before the debutant spinner Tom "The Hitman" Hartley ripped through the home side for figures of 7 for 62
Here is Hartley speaking to the host broadcaster: "It's unbelievable. Not going to sink in for a while. I'm over the moon. [Thoughts after first innings] 'This is hard work.' It was tough out there, didn't spin as much as we thought. Testament to the coaches and Stokes, they got around me and gave me confidence. It's fantastic. In that dressing room, you can have a great day or a bad day, it's the same vibe in there. [Stokes captaincy] Never a dull moment, I'm always looking around at the field. We've all bought into it. [Batting today] I was nervous but getting a few runs always helps. Found out a few things about the pitch that helped. [Changes] Realised I didn't have to bowl as fast as I thought. Watching Jadeja and Ash, I thought we need to take our time a bit."
Mohammed Siraj st †Foakes b Hartley 12 (27m 20b 1x4 0x6) SR: 60.00
"How bloody good is Test cricket?" roars Thor. "As an Aussie I am loving todays games the quality and twists of both games is nuts!"
Just a couple more overs for England to get this done, if the light holds
The India flags are flying, this crowd getting behind the 10th-wicket pair
In the wake of a spectacular opening Test in India, Alan Gardner is joined by Andrew Miller, Matt Roller and Vithushan Ehantharajah to look back on the action
The visitors made up for a lower batting control percentage by maximising their returns off the deliveries they middled
It was the first offence in last 24 months for the India bowler, and he was handed a demerit point
Spinner channels white-ball experience after chastening welcome in first innings
Fast bowler has no regrets about limited role as India are thwarted in Hyderabad