Joe Root celebrates a century of Tests in Chennai
England captain Joe Root celebrated his 100th Test appearance on the opening day of the first Test against India, with the tourists making four changes and batting first in Chennai.
Root has now become just the 15th Englishman to reach the landmark and was awarded his milestone cap by his deputy Ben Stokes in a pre-match huddle.
He returned to the middle soon after for the toss, winning and eagerly opting to make first use of what both skippers felt would be the best run-scoring conditions.
The captain walks out for the toss in his 100th Test match for England! 🏴
Live Scorecard: https://t.co/gEBlUSOuYe#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/RV5zgyFZf7
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 5, 2021
England brought Stokes, Rory Burns, Jofra Archer and Ollie Pope in to the side which played the previous Test in Sri Lanka, but resisted two further alterations.
That meant Dom Bess held his spot as first-choice off-spinner over Moeen Ali and James Anderson held off Stuart Broad in the seam attack.
Dan Lawrence was scheduled to bat at three following Zak Crawley’s freak wrist injury, sustained after slipping on a marble floor.
India included left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem in their side after he was called up as a late replacement for the injured Axar Patel, with Jasprit Bumrah making his first appearance at home.
Latest
-
NewsMatt Henry and Ben Green help Somerset keep perfect record
Umpire Sue Redfern wrote her name into the history books when she became the first female to officiate on-field in a Blast fixture.
-
NewsUmpire Sue Redfern makes Blast history as Gloucestershire brush aside Middlesex
Redfern is the first female umpire to officiate on-field in a Vitality Blast fixture.
-
NewsJoe Root cannot wait to perform in Ashes without burden of captaincy
Root has skippered England in the past three Ashes series, but hit 460 runs without the captaincy in 2015.
-
NewsHuge blow for England with spinner Jack Leach ruled out of Ashes
Leach experienced low back symptoms during England’s win over Ireland at Lord’s.
-
NewsJosh Hazlewood set to be fit for Ashes despite missing Test Championship final
The 32-year-old has been managing an Achilles issue as well as a side injury in recent months.
-
NewsJosh Tongue impresses and Ben Duckett shows pedigree – 5 England things
Ben Stokes’ side beat Ireland inside three days but Australia will provide a much sterner test.
-
EnglandBen Stokes plays down fitness fears after not batting or bowling against Ireland
England won by 10 wickets after being set 11 for victory.
-
EnglandJosh Tongue claims five on debut as England beat battling Ireland by 10 wickets
England made it 11 wins in 13 Tests under Ben Stokes’ and Brendon McCullum but endured a frustrating day at Lord’s.
-
EnglandResistance of Ireland tail-enders ensures England must bat again at Lord’s
Debutant Josh Tongue claimed a five-wicket haul but Mark Adair and Andy McBrine hit fifties for dogged Ireland.
-
IrelandHarry Tector half-century helps Ireland hold up England victory charge at Lord’s
Josh Tongue, Jack Leach and Joe Root claimed wickets but Ireland made it through until lunch on day three.