Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after the first session on Day 4 of the third Test, JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble praised India’s intensity with the ball:“That’s what Test cricket is all about — knowing when to raise the intensity. Day 4, with scores level and the game effectively a one-innings shootout, India needed a strong start. India bowled brilliantly, picking up four wickets in the session. The surface has changed — there was uneven bounce, which both Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had to deal with. They came in with positive intent, but on this kind of pitch, you might get away with it once or twice, not all the time. Siraj bowled really well to back up Bumrah’s opening spell. That review for Ollie Pope’s dismissal worked thanks to his height — Crawley had escaped in similar fashion earlier. Crawley’s dismissal was a bonus; it was a poor shot, trying to drive on the rise. India will be happy with that session.”JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott assessed England’s approach and shot selection:“I’m not sure England will fully know where they stand right now. They’ll want to see how the ball behaves from overs 30 to 50 — how the pitch responds as the ball ages. The Root-Stokes partnership is key. But England will feel they let themselves down. On this pitch, you’ve got to tighten your scoring zones and be more watchful. Three of the dismissals came from loose strokes — playing shots to balls that just weren’t there.”Kumble lauded Mohammed Siraj’s consistent effort and aggressive mindset:“What Siraj does so well is put in the effort with every single ball. On a surface like this, you need to hit the deck hard and in the right areas — and he’s done that consistently. In the last Test, without Bumrah, he stepped up with a five-wicket haul, and Akash Deep supported with a ten-wicket match haul. This time, Siraj knew he needed to complement Bumrah, and he’s delivered. Even yesterday, in one over while Bumrah was bowling, it was Siraj who was the most fired up. He’s that kind of character — always in the batter’s face — and that seems to bring out the best in him. The only concern is making sure it doesn’t go overboard and affect his bowling. But so far, he’s been excellent — consistently hitting the right areas.”Catch Day 5 of the third Test of India’s tour of England, tomorrow at 3:30 PM, live on JioHotstar
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