Southampton, United States- Jasprit Bumrah led the way for India as Englandslumped to 36 for four after winning the toss on the first morning of thefourth Test at Southampton on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Bumrah was a thorn in England´s side with a second-inningshaul of five for 85 during India´s 203-run win in the third Test atNottingham that cut the hosts´ lead in the five-match series to 2-1.
He was quickly into the wickets again on Thursday after India lost the tosson what captain Virat Kohli said was the “best pitch of the series”.
Fast bowler Bumrah produced a superb delivery to have struggling KeatonJennings lbw for a duck, with the struggling left-hander leaving a ballthat cut back into him when he thought it was going the other way to leaveEngland one for one in the third over.
Number three batsman Root, reprieved after a Bumrah review for lbw revealeda no-ball, fell for four when leg before, aiming across the line, to IshantSharma, with England now 15 for two in the eighth over.
Jonny Bairstow had been promoted to bat at number four despite a brokenfinger suffered at Trent Bridge that means he is unfit to keep wicket, withJos Buttler set to deputise again behind the stumps.
Bairstow, however, edged Bumarah on six to give India wicket-keeper RishabhPant a simple catch.
All the while, Alastair Cook, England´s all-time leading Test run-scorer,had watched the collapse from the other end.
But the veteran opener, himself looking to end of a run of low scores, fellfor 17 when he carelessly played outside off stump to all-rounder HardikPandya and saw the ensuing edge well caught low down by Kohli at third slip.
England were now 36 for four in the 18th over — the 32nd time in theirlast 63 Test innings they had been four wickets down with 100 or fewer runson the scoreboard. – APP/AFP