This turnaround stands out significantly, especially considering that England appeared nearly out of contention in the initial two days. Having batted first and posted a modest 246/10, England faced an uphill battle. However, by the close of day 2, India had surged to 421/7, boasting a substantial lead of 175. With the dynamic duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel at the crease, the prospect of further extending the lead beyond 250 loomed, a potential game-changer that could have pushed England to the brink of defeat.
Fox Cricket’s sarcastic remark
Amid widespread skepticism that England stood little chance of clinching victory and might even be headed for an innings defeat, Fox Cricket from Australia, renowned for its candid and often sharp commentary on England cricket, seized the moment to mockingly jab at them on X by captioning the post “With no moral victories in sight, let’s break out the hypothetical ones, England,” before further elaborating on this theme in a published article.
Ollie Pope masterclass leads to England’s remarkable resurgence
Nevertheless, the tables turned in England’s favor on day 3 as they efficiently dismantled India within the first half-hour of play. The lead, initially poised to surge beyond 250, was curtailed to 190. Despite reducing the hosts to 168/5, middle-order batter Ollie Pope crafted an exceptional innings on the challenging Indian track, accumulating 196 runs and steering the score to 420/10 with commendable support from the tailenders.
Setting India a target of 231, England witnessed a resilient display from the hosts on day 4. Despite the struggle, India was eventually bowled out for 202, and England clinched a victory that surpassed expectations, defying the challenges faced in the initial two days.
Also READ: Sam Billings names England’s key player and pinpoints two major threats for India Tests – IND vs ENG 2024
Sam Billings’ witty response
Sam Billings, a crucial component of the England Team as a wicketkeeper-batter, seized the opportunity to playfully poke fun at Fox Cricket. In response to their earlier remark, he quoted their tweet and wittily added, “That aged well…..,” accompanied by some laughing emojis.
The second Test is scheduled to unfold in Vishakhapatnam on Feb 2, with England holding a commanding 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Also READ: Rahul Dravid reveals the major mistake of Team India in the Hyderabad Test against England
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