Skipper Joe Root put on a masterclass of subcontinental batting against Indian spinners with a classy century in his 100th Test as England reached a comfortable 263 for three at stumps on the opening day of the first match in Chennai on Friday.
Watch: Rishabh Pant’s chirping behind the stumps provides entertainment on day one of first Test
Root (128* off 197 balls) showed his mastery over slow bowlers during his 20th hundred and third in as many Tests, becoming the ninth player in the history of the game to score a ton on his 100th appearance.
He also admirably guided opener Dom Sibley (87 off 286 balls), who showed commendable game awareness and enormous doggedness during their 200-run partnership for the third wicket before Jasprit Bumrah (2/40) got the latter in the final over of the day.
Watch day one highlights here:
Root’s innings was an exhibition of how to construct an innings on a low, slow track while countering a hostile post-lunch spell from Ishant Sharma…