Ben Stokes has been left bemused by an unlucky dismissal with curators under the microscope for the pitch produced at Ranchi.
True to their style of play, England were aggressive in the first session of the fourth Test against India and were 4-112 after 24 overs.
Stokes, who was on three, then had Ravindra Jadeja bowling around the wicket with his delivery straightening and failing to bounce at all, trapping him on the pads.
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Both Jadeja and Stokes didn’t even look at the umpire as his finger was raised with the latter laughing as he walked off.
Stokes’ dismissal brought about the lunch break with half the side dismissed inside one session.
Former England cricketer Nick Knight put the captain’s departure down to two factors, with Jonny Bairstow criticised heavily for getting out sweeping only a few overs before.
“There’s a number of factors at play here, I don’t think he should be in at this point, we go back to the Jonny Bairstow (dismissal) five minutes before, that opened it up a little bit,” he said on Fox Cricket’s coverage.
“… The ball kept really low let’s be honest, I don’t think there’s much he can do.
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“That’s the kind of dismissal or ball you want when you’re 30 or 40 and seeing the ball really well and you might jab down on it, he had absolutely no chance … his reaction said it all.”
England were in trouble early on at 3-57 with Zak Crawley the top-scorer on 42.
As the top order crumbled, former England captain Michael Vaughan vented his frustration at the pitch on X.
“The old saying … do not judge a pitch till both teams have batted and bowled on it … but let’s be honest … this one looks a shocker,” he wrote.
However, despite the frustrations, England’s fortunes began to change after the lunch break with Joe Root and Ben Foakes putting together a partnership of 113 runs.
Despite Foakes and Tom Hartley departing, Root managed to stick around and reached his hundred off 218 balls.
The much-needed century came for Root as he battled a form slump and copped significant criticism for getting out attempting reverse hit Jasprit Bumrah in the third Test.
England then ended the first day 7-302 with Root 106 not out and Ollie Robinson on 31.
Vaughan’s view towards the pitch changed as England’s score progressed after lunch, posting on X: “This pitch is clearly no longer a shocker”.
