Spinners clip English wings

On a fast-forward Day One, both Bazball Indian tweakers had moments to cherish

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

A SMALLISH electronic scoreboard left of the Mohammed Azharuddin stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium gave a piece of information a few overs after tea on Thursday. "11 OVERS AHEAD," it read. Test cricket, in its original, imagined form, is slow and rhythmic, like the breathing pattern of a resting, healthy individual. Classic rock. Sometimes, it can get a bit heavy metal. Ish. For vast swathes on the opening day of the five-match series between India and England, it felt like the Test had already entered fast forward mode. Wickets falling in a heap. The ball relatively ragging off the strip.

Partnerships were run-scoring was the focus rather than survival. The one constant in all of this was India's spin trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

The last time India played a Test, Jadeja didn't bowl, Ashwin wasn't in the XI and Axar wasn't in the country. In the entirety of the series against South Africa, only of them bowled (Ashwin sent down 19 overs at Centurion). In these conditions, though, they decide the songs, set the tune and lead the orchestra. With Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah slightly off radar the visitors' Bazballing ways had already given them one of the best starts in India in a decade (41/0 after eight overs) Rohit summoned the cavalry.

Pretty soon, Jadeja and Ashwin had found their sweet spot on the surface which had plenty of turn and some bounce too. The reward(s) followed.