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A couple of weeks ago, it appeared unlikely Stuart Broad would make it through this series and until a few days ago it was by no means certain that James Anderson would be available, either.
As it was, the pair combined to take nine wickets – Broad the bulk of them with 6 for 25 — as India were removed for 152 inside two sessions at Old Trafford and by the close England were strongly placed only 39 runs behind to suggest a significant swing in the series.
Within six overs India were in tatters at 8 for 4; three of the top four having collected ducks, including the struggling Virat Kohli who fell second ball to his nemesis Anderson.
From the rubble of the first half an hour, their final total was something of a recovery.
MS Dhoni, back at No. 6 after another reshuffle of the batting order, played excellently for his 71 but Broad, who according to reports will have knee surgery after the series, cleaned up the lower order.
The six ducks in India’s innings equalled the world record as, for the first time this season, England managed to exploit what could be termed “English” conditions although they were by no means frightful.
It was certainly the quickest pitch seen so far but, by and large, England found the correct, full length which found the edges which they had failed to do at Headingley against Sri Lanka and Lord’s in this series.
England did not have it all their own way in reply, certainly against the new ball as Sam Robson and Alastair Cook departed cheaply to leave them 36 for 2.
However, on a gloriously sunny evening Ian Bell, after wild pull first ball, clicked into gear with a string of boundaries which included advancing down to loft R Ashwin for a straight six.
Gary Ballance continued his fine form and the third-wicket pair looked set to see out the day but Ballance was trapped lbw by the impressive Varun Aaron, playing his second Test and first since November 2011, from around the wicket in what proved the final over the day. It should be noted that eight overs were lost.
There was a stroke – or should that be a flip – of fortune for England before a ball was bowled. Cook lost the toss and Dhoni was happy to bat first; it has been the route taken by every Test captain at this ground since Graham Gooch against Australia in 1993.
Cook admitted he would have batted, but as he said that he glanced skywards at the clouds, which had been heavy enough to delay the start by half an hour with drizzle, and pondered what could be on offer.
Stood at first slip, Cook would immediately have been delighted by what he watched. A manic 13-ball period began when Broad made the opening incision in the fourth over when Gautam Gambhir, playing his first Test since December 2012 in place of Shikhar Dhawan, was squared up in a manner similar to the 2011 tour and edged to gully.
Anderson had already found his groove and now started to find the edges. M Vijay, the pillar of India’s batting in the series, nicked a perfect outs-winger to Cook at first slip and two deliveries later there was a near replay when Kohli moved across his crease and felt for another delivery which curved away. It was one of those spells where another wicket, if not more, felt inevitable and Dhoni’s uncertain technique was given a working over by Anderson. -ESPN.
Online Reporter