Life comes a full circle: Karun Nair eyes fresh start in familiar territory

Eight years after his Test career came to a halt in England, Karun Nair is back in the mix in the very country as India began a new chapter post the retirements of stalwarts—Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in red-ball cricket under new skipper Shubman Gill on Friday.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Players of both India and England teams were spotted wearing black armbands on day one of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy first Test at Headingley as a mark of respect for victims who lost their lives in the plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also said a moment's silence was to be observed at the stadium before the national anthem begins. "Both teams will wear black armbands on Day 1 of the Test match as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash last week in Ahmedabad."

"A moment's silence will be observed prior to the respective national anthems. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible events that took place in Ahmedabad last week," said the ECB.

On June 12, more than 240 people, majority of them being Indian and British citizens, died when an Air India plane bound for Gatwick Airport in London crashed just moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed into the hostel of BJ Medical College located just outside the airport, with just one survivor found.

Late strikes help England

opener Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed his first Test century on English soil, while Shubman Gill hit his first fifty as the Test captain and number four batter as the duo's unbroken 123-run partnership for the third wicket propelled India to a commanding 215/2 in 51 overs at tea on Day One of the first Test of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Headingley on Friday.

On the other hand, Gill showed his best-attacking version to bring up his half-century off just 56 balls, his fastest in Tests, and be unbeaten on 58 off 74 balls, as India didn't lose a single wicket in what was a session totally going in their favour.