AFP, Birmingham :
Rishabh Pant gave Ben Stokes’ England a taste of their own medicine with a superb counter-attacking century as India recovered from a top-order collapse to 338-7 at stumps on Friday’s opening day of the Covid-delayed fifth Test.
Recalled England great James Anderson and fledgling quick Matthew Potts reduced India to 98-5 at Edgbaston after Stokes won the toss under overcast skies.
Pant responded with a brilliant 146 off just 111 balls.
The wicketkeeper hit 19 fours and four sixes while dominating a partnership of 222 with fellow left-hander Ravindra Jadeja, 83 not out at stumps.
England came into this match following a 3-0 whitewash of Test world champions New Zealand, several times hitting themselves out of trouble in their first series under captain Stokes and red-ball coach Brendon McCullum.
The aggressive approach has been dubbed ‘Bazball’ in honour of McCullum’s nickname, but the 24-year-old Pant has played this way for pretty much his entire career.
“In English conditions, especially where you know one bowler is pitching on the same spot, then it is important to disturb him,” Pant told reporters. “As a player I give my 100 percent. Yes, I might play some different shots sometimes, but I try to play my percentage (strokes).”
England assistant coach Paul Collingwood paid tribute to Pant by saying: “He is certainly entertaining, doesn’t take a backward step and he puts you under pressure.”
But having seen England reach three stiff targets against New Zealand, he added: “The guys are confident they can chase down no matter what in the fourth innings.”
Pant was especially severe on Jack Leach, swinging himself off his feet while slogging a four and later driving the left-arm spinner one-handed for six.
Leach, fresh from a 10-wicket haul and the player award in the third Test against New Zealand, conceded an expensive 71 runs in nine wicketless overs.
Part-time off-spinner Joe Root succeeded where the frontline bowlers had failed when Pant edged a drive to Zak Crawley at slip.
It was the end of a double century partnership that lasted a mere 39 overs, with Pant’s hundred his fifth in 31 Tests and third against England.
Potts, who only made his international debut against New Zealand, had earlier added to his growing reputation by removing Virat Kohli for 11.
