ENGLAND were sent spinning to the brink of the abyss as they lost four wickets for just 29 runs on day two of the Second Test.
Only Joe Root, who scored 53, provided any sort of resistance to India’s slow men and it will take a miracle for England to escape defeat.
Alastair Cook’s off stump was snapped clean in half when he was bowled for just two at the start of England’s first innings.
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Root and Haseeb Hameed then remained together for the next 18 overs and put on 47 for the second wicket.
But Hameed’s run out – courtesy of a throw by Jayant Yadav and a back flick by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha – sparked England’s demise.
The spinners took over as Ben Duckett was bowled by one that turned away from him, Root was caught by mid-off attempting a big hit and Moeen Ali was leg before following a DRS call to give off-spinner Jayant his first Test wicket.
By the close of day two, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow had managed to avoid further mishap and England were 103-5 – still 352 runs behind.
Cook’s dismissal was the most spectacular as fast bowler Mohammad Shami speared a screamer through the batsman’s defences and the top half of the off stump was sent flying – while the bottom half remained in the ground.
To lose Cook – who scored his 30th Test century in the previous match – was a grievous blow to England. And things would only get worse.
England will reflect that, although the pitch was becoming increasingly tricky, at least a couple of their dismissals were self-inflicted.
Earlier, Moeen took three wickets in the space of three overs while Adil Rashid collected two near the end of India’s innings.
One of Moeen’s victims was Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli, who was caught at slip by Stokes for 167.
It came after Stokes had dropped an easier chance from the previous ball that reprieved Ravi Ashwin on 17. The batsmen ran a single and that put Kohli on strike.
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Moeen removed Wriddhiman Saha and Ravi Jadeja in the space of three balls – both leg before.
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena took at least ten seconds before deciding to raise his finger and dispatch Saha and India’s wicketkeeper was not saved when he asked for a review. Jadeja was plumb lbw to a delivery than skidded on rather than turned.
The final few overs of India’s innings were a mixture of big hits and wickets and they were happy to start bowling on a surface becoming more and more helpful.
VERDICT
IT came as no surprise that India's spinners looked a lot more dangerous than England’s slow men.
For a start, they are better bowler and the pitch was turning sharply at times and keeping low by the end of day two.
The home side are on a mission to blow away all opposition. In recent months, they have stuffed South Africa and nailed New Zealand. Now they want to eclipse England.
They must be careful, however. Teams are only truly respected and regarded as outstanding when they can win in all conditions.
India are strong at home but vulnerable away. It’s no good just being spin track bullies.
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