IND vs ENG 4th Test, Day 2 Live – Joe Root hits an unbeaten 106 to lead England's recovery from early troubles with India's fast bow…
England, fighting for survival with two wins and one loss in the five-match series, reached 302 for seven after opting to bat first at Ranchi.
The tourists slipped to 112-5, but Root had scored just 77 runs in his previous six innings and was back in form to counter wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes, who had scored 47 runs, with 113 runs. .
Mohammed Siraj broke Forks' partnership with the wicket, but former captain Root stood firm and was joined by 31-year-old Ollie Robinson, who had an unbeaten 57 at the end of the game.
Root's 31st Test ton came after heavy criticism for throwing away his wicket in a reverse scoop as England lost the third Test.
The veteran batsman reached 100 hits off the deep coast, took off his helmet and raised his bat to a standing ovation from England players and fans.
Root and Foakes kept their cool during England's unusually patient batting show, briefly breaking away from their attacking 'buzz ball' style, which meant India failed to pick up any wickets in the afternoon session.
Siraj returned to the attack after tea, with the pace spearhead swinging the ball to catch Foakes at midwicket before bowling Tom Hartley for 13.
Root persevered with just nine off the mark during his 226-ball stay, giving his team a much-needed boost on a cracked pitch that expected more rotation.
The 27-year-old Deepu shone as a replacement for the rested Jasprit Bumrah and got off to a bright start, winning his maiden Test cap from coach Rahul Dravid.
Deep thought he had scored the first batter, Zach Crowley, in his fourth at-bat, but had simply crossed the crease on a no-ball.
Crawley, who went on to score 42, counter-attacked Siraj and slammed him with four consecutive boundaries, including three fours and a six.
Deep picked up his first international wicket when Ben Duckett was caught for 11 runs.
He then hit two balls again, trapping LBW Ollie Pope for a duck. This decision was denied by the field umpire, but was successfully reviewed by India after the chaser indicated that the ball may have hit the top of his leg stump.
Deep bowled Crawley with another beauty, diving into the opener and rattling the stumps, leaving England 57-3 behind just an hour into the match.
Root and Jonny Bairstow put together 52 runs before Ravichandran Ashwin scored Bairstow lbw for 38 in another successful Indian review.
Captain Ben Stokes was trapped for three seconds by Ravindra Jadeja just after lunch, putting England in a serious predicament.
