On day two of the first Test at Headingley, Ollie Pope’s impressive unbeaten century propelled England to a score of 3-209, significantly reducing their deficit to India, who had been bowled out for 471. Pope’s innings of 100 not out marked his ninth Test century and showcased his resilience as he navigated a challenging opening spell from Jasprit Bumrah in unfavourable conditions. He survived a possible lbw at 34 and was fortunate to be dropped when on 60.
Bumrah posed the biggest threat to England’s batting efforts, claiming all three wickets of the day: Zac Crawley in the first over, Ben Duckett for 62, and Joe Root who managed only 28. England were indeed facing a tough challenge after India reached a commanding 3-430 before lunch, thanks to centuries from captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. However, a dramatic collapse occurred as India lost seven wickets for just 41 runs, triggered by Gill’s dismissal for 147. Pant fell shortly after for 134, contributing to a disappointing end for the Indian innings, with Josh Tongue making a significant impact by taking 4-8.
Despite early misfortunes, England pushed forward with partnerships that steadied their innings. Duckett reached his fifty but was ultimately bowled by Bumrah. Meanwhile, Pope’s gradual build-up to his century included some fortunate strokes, culminating in a century off 125 balls, showcasing his ability as a key player for England. Both Duckett and Pope benefitted from their partnerships, though Bumrah’s relentless bowling kept England on edge throughout the innings.
As the day progressed, conditions worsened with light rain necessitating the use of stadium lights. Bumrah’s threat continued, evidenced by his near miss against Harry Brook in the final over after overstepping thrice. Duckett expressed optimism about their position, pointing out that winning the first session on day three would be crucial for England.
In a historic moment, India achieved a unique statistic with three centuries but also faced the unfortunate record of three ducks in the same innings, highlighting the dramatic highs and lows of Test cricket. Overall, the day was a rollercoaster, with England regaining a foothold after a shaky start and India lamenting missed opportunities in the field.