India had a six-week break to explore Britain before this Test and Rishabh Pant and Ravi Jadeja kept up that vibe
After their World Test Championship final in June, the India team had a six-week hiatus that allowed them to enjoy the delights of Britain. Some disappeared into the Scottish Highlands, others to England’s hinterlands, and the youngest into the hipster dens of east London. Their break has clearly had a lasting impact: even on day three of the Test match, the holiday spirit has not quite left them.
From first thing in the morning, when Rishabh Pant emerged for his flirtatious cameo, it was clear India’s lower order were up for a good time. Jimmy Anderson had just wound up for his second over of the day when Pant smacked him through the covers for four, chasing him down the pitch like someone trying to shoo a cat off their lawn. Pant scurried out of the crease for singles that weren’t there and hooked anything short. England must have thought that if the rest of the batters took this approach, they had a shot at a first-innings lead.
Related: ‘I thought I might never play for England again’: Ollie Robinson back with a bang
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