India secured victory in the third Test against England in Ahmedabad after one of the most bizarre days of Test cricket.
The day/night game was the shortest completed Test since 1935, which saw 30 wickets fall in just two days.
Seventeen of those came on day two, in a remarkable set of events.
The pitch was heavily criticised in the media, with both sides failing to score higher than 150.
Another dismal batting performance from England saw them bowled out for a measly 81, and India comfortably claimed victory within 7.4 overs.
India began the day on 99-3, 13 behind England’s first innings total of 112.
Jack Leach soon made the breakthrough as he struck Ajinkya Rahane on the pads who was given out lbw.
Rohit Sharma soon followed with an identical dismissal, again by Leach as India suddenly found themselves 115-5.
England captain Joe Root then introduced himself into the attack, and what an introduction this would prove to be.
With just his first delivery, he sent Rishabh Pant packing as he nicked to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
Ducks for Washington Sundar and Axar Patel followed to put the hosts 125-8, with a lead of just 13.
Ravichandran Ashwin then skied another Root delivery straight to Zak Crawley to give the England captain a remarkable fourth wicket.
Jasprit Bumrah became Root’s fifth victim, securing an unlikely five-wicket haul as he was given out lbw.
India had collapsed to 145 all out, and Root had finished with superb bowling figures of 5-8, putting England right back in the game as they only trailed by 33.
However, no sooner after England’s innings had begun and they were right up against it already.
Crawley saw himself trudging back to the pavilion as he was bowled with the very first ball of the innings.
It was Axar again who was proving to be a thorn in England’s side, continuing on from where he left off in the first innings.
After claiming Crawley, Axar was now on a hat-trick as Jonny Bairstow arrived at the crease.
It looked as if he had got his hat-trick after Bairstow was struck on the pads and was given out lbw.
The Yorkshireman – who was already dismissed for a duck in the first innings – instantly reviewed the decision and, unfortunately for Axar, saw it overturned.
Bairstow wasn’t to be let off the hook for long though as with the very next ball he was clean bowled, meaning he had a pair of ducks, with England in a disastrous position of 0-2.
Axar claimed Dominic Sibley next as he edged behind to Pant after making just seven.
Ashwin then got Ben Stokes before Axar got his 10th wicket of the game and arguably the one that ended England’s chances.
Root was trapped bang in line after being hit on the pads and he knew it, not bothering to review the decision.
Ollie Pope, desperate for runs, could only add 12 to the total before he was bowled for the second time in the match.
Jofra Archer became Ashwin’s 400th Test wicket, after he was given out lbw, to put the tourists 68-7 and with a lead of just 35.
Foakes, Leach and James Anderson were the final three to fall as England succumbed to a dismal total of 81 all out.
This was England’s lowest-ever score against India in Tests – and the hosts required just 49 to secure victory.
India’s triumph was never in doubt and they did it with ease and in style as Rohit smacked a six to secure a 10-wicket victory for the hosts.
This also ended England’s World Test Championship final hopes, as they needed to win the remaining two Tests to reach the showpiece.
Many questions were asked of the pitch in the immediate aftermath of the game, with former England and Kent man Rob Key describing it as ‘a day eight pitch’, while former England spinner Monty Panesar compared it to ‘a Saturday club pitch’.
One match remains in the Test series, where England will look to level the series at 2-2 and gain some pride.
Coverage of the fourth and final Test begins on Thursday, March 4, at the normal time of 4am again on Channel 4.
By Josh Mann
