Third LV= Insurance Test. Emerald Headingley (day 2 of 5) India 78: Anderson 3-3, Overton 3-14 England 423-28: Root 121. Malan 70. Hameed 68. Burns 61 England leads by 345 runs Scorecard
Joe Root, England's captain, continued his remarkable form with another spectacular century to flatten India in the second Test at Headingley.
Root's insatiable run-scoring made it almost certain that Root, playing on his home court, would record his third hundred in the same number of matches and sixth for the year.
His majesty of 121 led England to 423-8, an incredible lead of 345 over tourists after India were bowled out for only 78 on Wednesday.
Root scored 139 to take the third wicket alongside Dawid Malan. He marked his recall with 70 runs. Haseeb Hameed, opening bat, took on some pressure early before being dismissed for 68.
India's attack on a calm pitch was mostly toothless, Virat Kohli's men were a shadow of the side who won the second Test at Lord's.
Headingley is known for his spectacular comebacks in the past, but this match will not be one of them. England are set to tie the series at 1-1 with just two matches remaining.
England continues to make its dream comeback
This will be remembered as the greatest turnaround between two Tests. It was notable for both the failure of India to show up and the remarkable recovery that England made from the Lord's disaster.
Day one was the day India was shot out and England moved up to 120-0. This left Thursday as a magnificent procession to an almost impregnable position before a lively and colorful crowd.
Root was at the heart of it all, his previous hundreds coming this summer when England had its back to the wall.
Root, along with his team, produced his most effortless and stylish ton. Root treated Headingley to something like a 'greatest hits’ of his batting.
Malan's success was another vindication of England's selection, after runs for Hameed & wickets for Craig Overton. India will be left wondering how it all came together so quickly.
Their bowling was poor, their tactics were confusing and their fielding was uninspired. They must now prepare for the second innings. Their only real measure of success is extending this match into Saturday.
Root the hero Headingley
Root is now putting together a year that will be ranked alongside the best in the game.
England was already tied down when he arrived at the crease. But he immediately changed the pace, he moved off the mark with his first delivery, and then he could move the ball where he wanted.
Root seems to be able to guide any ball to the third man or point. India is strangely reluctant to fill the gap. He was quick in mid-wicket, and he played stunning back-foot drives while keeping both feet on the ground.
His stand with Malan was more than four runs per run. Root reached three runs per over, tying the England record of six centuries in a calendar-year. He leapt into the air when Root reached this feat. Jonny Bairstow then hugged him and lifted him off the ground.
Root's greatest moment of trouble was caused by a fly in his eyes that Richard Kettleborough had to tend to. Root then experienced what appeared to be cramps and required assistance from the physio.
Root was soon bowled out of the game after a tiring drive that Jasprit Bumrah managed to nip back. Root left the field with his helmet and bat raised. He received 1,398 runs by 2021.
With five more Tests to go, he is just 83 short of Michael Vaughan’s England record for a calendar-year.
Malan makes his point
Malan will play his first Test match since 2018. He was dropped by Ed Smith, the national selector. Smith said Malan was better suited for playing abroad.
Malan acknowledged that those words had affected him. However, in the last three years, he has been the number-one Twenty20 batsman in world rankings. He also made a point about his red-ball returns.
He played flowing drives and cuts and looked ready for his second Test hundred. Then he feathered Mohammed Siraj down one side and gave out on review.
Rory Burns had been bowled by Mohammed Shami's bail-trimmer for 61 and Hameed was run out by Ravindra Jadeja's spinner Ravindra Jadeja for his off stump. It was still the first time that all four of England's top players had reached 50 in a Test for eight years.
Late in the afternoon, Shami was beaten by Bairstow to become the first to slip Kohli. Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali were caught on the leg side. Sam Curran also played loose strokes.
England was already ahead, so the crowd mocked Kohli by singing "Virat, what is the score?"
They said that England would win the Test.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, BBC Test Match Special: "It's been two perfect days in Test cricket.
"England will have to work harder than in India's first innings. They will win the Test regardless of whether tomorrow is tomorrow or Saturday.
Ebony Rainford Brent, former England batter: "England won day one by a country mile. It was a question of whether they could repeat it on day 2. They did.
