HUMILIATED
England collapsed in the fifth Test as
India wrapped up a thrashing 4-1 series win. But there was one reason for celebration as James Anderson hit his landmark 700th Test wicket. England were thumped by an innings and 64 runs Credit: Reuters India wrapped up a convincing 4-1 series win Credit: Reuters Ben Stokes’ side were thumped by an innings and 64 runs in the final Test at the iconic Himachal Pradesh
Cricket Association stadium. Having conceded a lead of 259, England were all out for 195 in the second session on day three of the contest. Joe Root made 84 and Jonny Bairstow, who got 39, also got a start while other England batters simply surrendered before India’s formidable spin attack. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 5-77 in his 100th test for a match haul of nine wickets. Earlier resuming on 473-8, India could add only four runs before losing their last two wickets. England warhorse Anderson became the first fast bowler to claim 700 Test wickets, when he dismissed Kuldeep Yadav caught behind for 30. The travelling “Barmy Army” fans gave Anderson a standing ovation but their morale sagged soon after England walked out to bat, having conceded a significant first-innings lead of 259. India harnessed Ravichandran Ashwin with Jasprit Bumrah for new ball duties, and the off-spinner bowled Ben Duckett for two in his first over. The opener had charged so far down the track that he would have been stumped even if he was not bowled. Ashwin struck again in this third over, dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck. Cricket star suffers horror injury after bowl smashes into head raising fears batsman will never play again Crawley, England’s leading scorer in the series, could only turn the ball to Sarfaraz Khan at backward short leg. Ollie Pope made a breezy 19 before attempting a sweep against Ashwin, and Yashasvi Jaiswal took a running catch to dismiss the England vice-captain. Jonny Bairstow smacked Ashwin for three sixes in an enthralling duet between two fierce competitors both playing their 100th tests. Kuldeep Yadav, replacing Ashwin in the attack, ended Bairstow’s entertaining knock of 39, trapping him lbw. Ashwin returned to disturb Stokes’ stumps with the final delivery before the lunch break. There was a comical moment when Shoaib Bashir tried to review – only to be told by non-striker Root that he had in fact been clean bowled. Root waged a lone battle but did not get much support from the other end and was the last man dismissed after he holed out to Jasprit Bumrah at long-on. It means the tour of India ended on a real low for Stokes and his side, who have not won a Test series for 15 months after draws with
New Zealand and Australia. England return to red-ball cricket in July with a three-match series with West Indies, starting at Lord’s. Then there is another three Tests against Sri Lanka, ending the summer at the Oval in early September. Jimmy Anderson claimed Test wicket No700 Credit: Getty The Burnley Express was congratulated by his team-mates Credit: Getty Ben Foakes was clean bowled Credit: AP Jonny Bairstow went for 39 Credit: AP Joe Root was the last man to go after his knock of 84 Credit: AFP Ravichandran Ashwin finished with figures of 5-77 in his 100th test Credit: Rex Publisher