England vs India: Ravi Ashwin castles Alastair Cook with a peach of a delivery

Cook's miserable form in Tests continued as he could only muster 13 runs.

Published - 01 Aug 2018, 16:51 IST | Updated - 01 Aug 2018, 16:51 IST

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The first of the five-match Test series between India and England finally got underway at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The hosts have won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch which looks good for batting. But who would’ve thought for Ravi Ashwin to come into the attack in the seventh over of the innings? With moisture in the pitch, one would always expect for the fast bowlers to dominate the proceedings.

Virat Kohli is known to surprise everyone with his decisions which he straightaway did by dropping Cheteshwar Pujara and introducing Ashwin early. The openers were looking comfortable against the new ball bowlers and both Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings were growing in confidence.

However, they were also perplexed to see Ashwin bowling at them so early in the Test match. Now honestly speaking very few would’ve expected to take the first wicket of the series. He bowled extremely well up front and extracted turn out of the pitch. He got into his groove quickly thanks to the left-handed openers.

Magical delivery

Ravi Ashwin was setting up Alastair Cook nicely by bowing consecutive dot deliveries. In the 9th over, Jennings took the single off the first ball and the offie got a chance to have a crack at the vulnerable left-hander. He varied his pace beautifully then over the next three balls and kept Cook guessing.

The fifth delivery though was magical. After bowling a mix of slower and quicker balls, Ashwin unfurled the ball slower out of his hand which pitched around the leg-stump as Cook prodded forward to defend. But the fact that it was not fuller in length didn’t allow him to reach the pitch of the ball and it turned right across his defence to hit the top of the off-stump.

It was the classical off-spinner’s dismissal which left everyone including Cook stunned. There was a delight on Ashwin’s face though who helped India draw the first blood when a lot was expected off the seamers. Cook’s miserable form in Test cricket continued as he could only muster 13 runs and was dismissed by Ashwin for the eighth time in his career.