Ton-up Jaiswal makes England toil in first Test as India take control

AFP | London

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India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal marked his first Test innings in England with a superb century and captain Shubman Gill hit an unbeaten fifty as the tourists took control of the series opener at Headingley yesterday.

India dominated the bulk of the morning’s play after being sent into bat, only to lose two wickets in quick succession as they ended the session on 92-2. By tea on the first day of the opening Test in a five-match series, India were firmly back in control on 215-2, with 23-yearold opener Jaiswal 100 not out.

Gill, in his first innings as skipper since succeeding the retired Rohit Sharma, was also in fine form on 58 not out.

The pair had so far shared an unbroken partnership of 123 in 25.2 overs, with India going through the second session without losing a wicket.

England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl, which may have been influenced by the fact the last six Tests at Headingley have all been won by the team batting second, meant England did not have to face India’s star paceman Jasprit Bumrah at the start of the match.

It also gave England a chance to strike an early blow against an India top order without experienced batsmen Rohit and Virat Kohli after the pair retired from Test cricket within days of each other last month.