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Updated August 11th, 2018 at 09:42 IST

Ashwin, Shami steer India into the driver's seat on Day 1

England collapse after Joe Root run-out by Virat Kohli and finish day one at 285/9 at Edgbaston.

Reported by: Dylan Dsouza
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With Joe Root opting to bat on a pitch that looked to have a bit of moisture in Birmingham, England posted 285 runs for nine after winning the toss at stumps on the first day of the first Test against India at Edgbaston.

India's seam attack struggled to extract much help from the pitch, with England openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings starting off strongly against the bowling attack. In an attempt to break their rhythm, Kohli brought in Ravichandran Ashwin to get rid of Cook. Ashwin recorded his eighth dismissal of Cook and provide India with the first breakthrough through a magical delivery.

After that early setback, Root walked in next and joined Keaton Jennings at the crease. The duo started playing the bowlers, especially Ashwin wirh much caution. They steered the ship for the hosts posting 83 runs for the loss of one wicket in the opening session of the first Test at the Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham.

Root managed to stitch a crucial 72-run partnership with Jennings, before Mohammed Shami dismissed the opener shortly after lunch. Root steadied England and notched up his fifty off 107 deliveries lacing seven boundaries in all.

The England skipper joined an elite 6000-Test-runs club and became the quickest from debut to the milestone. The 27-year-old just needed 40 runs to reach the landmark, before the start of the first Test match.

After Jenning's dismissal, Shami sent few alarms for the England batsmen through his dangerous bowling. Dawid Malan could only score eight before becoming Shami's second victim of the day.

After that, England were seen cruising at 216 for the loss of three wicket and Joe Root was the anchor. Root was looking set to get a big one but a brilliant piece of fielding from Kohli saw the right-hander getting run-out for 80. Kohli celebrated the dismissal with a 'mic-drop', something Root had done after guiding England to a 2-1 ODI series win against India last month. 

Root's dismisaal proved to be turning point of England's innings. The hosts batting order crumbled and ended up losing losing six wickets in the final session. At stumps, Sam Curran was 24 not out and James Anderson unbeaten on nought.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took four wickets for 60 runs in 25 overs while paceman Mohammed Shami had two for 64 in 19. While Hardik Pandya was the only wicketless bowler for India as all other four bowlers picked wickets.

Day 2 is set to be a cracking contest with the tourists hoping to get the hosts out as quickly as possible and get past the total set for them. 

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Published August 1st, 2018 at 23:59 IST

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