GARETH BATTY took his first international wicket for more than 11 years as the First Test against Bangladesh remained finely-balanced.
Surrey captain Batty, playing his first Test after an all-time England record gap of 142 matches, had opener Tamim Iqbal caught behind.
The last time he celebrated a victim for England was on June 4, 2005 – three years before the first iPhone was released and a year before Alastair Cook made his debut.
No wonder Batty cavorted and high-fived like a man who had won the lottery.
Batty’s breakthrough was crucial because Tamim and Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had put on 44 dangerous-looking runs for the fourth wicket.
Earlier, Moeen Ali had taken two wickets in his opening over - the final one before lunch on day two.
By the close, Bangladesh had reached 221-5 in replay to England’s first innings total of 293 all out and Cook’s men were grateful to Ben Stokes for the late removal of Rahim for 48.
Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow held a juggling catch and it was the first wicket in the match not to fall to a spin bowler.
Moeen had been the subject of a world record total of five reviewed decisions while batting on day one and it was impossible to keep him out of the action.
Brought on for the final over of the opening session, he bowled Imrul Kayes with a beauty and had Mominul Haque caught in the gully by Stokes via Bairstow’s leg.
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Wickets proved more difficult in the final two sessions and the stark truth is that Bangladesh’s slow men have so far looked better than England’s – and that’s a big worry with six more Tests in the subcontinent before Christmas.
INDIA have agreed to use the Decision Review System on a trial basis in the five-Test series against England starting in Rajkot on November 9.
They have consistently refused to adopt the system because they were sceptical about the accuracy of the ball-tracking technology.
But new captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble are more amenable and the Indian Board changed their mind after a demonstration of the gizmos this week by the ICC.
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