England vs India 2021, 3rd Test – Who Said What

The third Test between England and India got underway at Headingley, Leeds. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that whatever confidence India gained on their side after winning at Lord’s went down due to a clinical loss in the 3^rd contest. Failing to make any substantial mark, India lost the third Test by an innings and 76 runs. The story of India’s downfall began right from the first innings where they folded cheaply on 78 runs.

It was the home side’s premium pacer James Anderson who ran through India’s batting set up in the first innings and gave some early success to hosts. While England returned to bat in their first innings, they posted huge 432 runs on the board as the top order of the team made substantial contributions. England skipper Joe Root stole the show once again with his third century (121) in the series so far.

Ollie Robinson’s outstanding spell helps England wrap India quickly

Dawid Malan added crucial 70 runs alongside Root to help England cross the 400-run mark. Mohammed Shami scalped four wickets under his belt but none of the bowlers remained successful in keeping England’s run flow in check. When India took the field again with willow, it looked great to see Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara back in good touch but it couldn’t last long.

Pujara missed a close century (91) while Kohli returned collecting a half-century in his bag (55). Ollie Robinson made an outstanding effort on day four of the game and picked up a classy five-wicket haul to wrap visitors quickly. He was ultimately declared as the player of the match.

Losing skipper, Virat Kohli said:

 It’s down to scoreboard pressure. We knew we were up against it when we were out for 80 and the opposition put up a big score. We put up crucial partnerships and saw the day through, but the pressure from the English bowlers was brillaint this morning and we didn’t respond well. Batting collapses can happen in this country, the pitch was good to bat on, but their discipline with the ball forced us to make a few mistakes, and it was difficult to deal with spells where we weren’t getting runs. We didn’t make good decisions as a batting side. The pitch looked good to bat on, and when England batted it hadn’t changed much, so they had a lot more intent with the bat, made better decision. They were the deserving side to win to be honest. You could say that we don’t have enough batting depth, but the top order has to give enough runs to the lower middle order to step up. The lower order can’t bail the team out all the time. We don’t have much other than the batting in the second innings to take from this game in terms of positives. Playing another spinner would depend on the pitch and we’ll take a call later. It depends on the moisture and how it will hold up for the five days. The pressure from the fourth seamer is important sometimes and sometimes we have to make sure taking only three seamers means that the spinners have to come in quickly.

Winning skipper, Joe Root said:

 It was a fantastic and clinical performance from the bowlers. The two big lads put loads of pressure with three maidens, and we had a really good opportunity to take wickets and we took them ruthlessly. We know we are capable of perfomances like this, and we have the talent, that opening stand was fantastic too. We controlled and hung in with the new ball, and we reaped the rewards. Anderson churns out performances like that and that’s why he’s the GOAT of Test cricket. He’s very fit and sets an example for the other bowlers. Dawid played beautifully and started a bit cautiously, but once he got going, he was fluent like he’d been playing the last few years, so the international experience came to the fore. As a batter you are expected to go out and score everytime and I am happy I’ve managed to score a few. It’s been a while since I got a hundred in my home ground and I hope we can carry this form forward as a team into the Oval. Robinson has been brilliant, and he’s asked good questions of their defence. He’s managed to move the ball throughout the innings, not just with the new ball. Sam is a talented player, and he may not be at his absolute best, but he will do special things for England. He showed last time we played India that he could play wonderful knocks, take key wickets, so I’m not worried about him at all. He has a lot of character and he will get better sooner rather than later. As this is my home ground, I’ve watched a lot of cricket here, so I thank them for all the great support.

Player of the match, Ollie Robinson said:

It’s a dream to be honest, to get a man of the match award in my first win for England. I enjoyed bowling here before, and it’s nice to use the conditions here, so I’m happy to get a five-for here. To bowl with Jimmy and learn from him is an honour. It has only improved my game. I keep learning and trying to be as good as possible.  It’s nice to get Kohli, after he got me for two fours in the over – it’s a simple plan to Virat, fourth and fifth stump, get it to angle away, and hope he nicks it and he did.