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Tom Hartley’s debut shines as England secures a surprising Test win against India
For the approximately 500 England supporters in Hyderabad on Sunday, the experience was akin to a state of bliss. Following Australia’s loss to West Indies at the Gabba 6,000 miles away, another historic moment unfolded as Ben Stokes and his team orchestrated a remarkable comeback victory in the first Test against India.
Contrary to expectations, facing a daunting first-innings deficit of 190 runs – a situation where India had never previously lost at home with a three-figure advantage – England were heavily favored to go 1-0 down in the five-match series, especially with a supposedly weakened bowling lineup for the subcontinent. However, as the events of the past two years have shown, belief proved to be a potent force, serving as the driving energy for this team led by the resilient Ben Stokes.
The spirit certainly flowed through Ollie Pope in this match, as the vice-captain’s impressive score of 196 transformed the team’s situation from 163 for five in the third innings to a total of 420 all out. This set the hosts a target of 231 runs to win. Tom Hartley also showcased this determination, with his outstanding figures of seven for 62 – marking the first seven-wicket haul by an England spinner on debut since Jim Laker in 1948. These performances led to only India’s fourth defeat on home soil in the past 11 years.
The outcome was not assured until 5.30 pm local time – the final over of the extra half-hour – when Mohammed Siraj attempted a shot against Hartley, missed, and Ben Foakes swiftly removed the bails. With India scoring 202 all out, they fell just 29 runs short of the target, and much like the result, the shot came as a surprise. Perhaps the No 11 was uncertain about his defense, or maybe he preferred a day off on the golf course.
Stokes, in his typical fashion, made a significant contribution on the day. He executed an astonishing direct hit on the dive, running out the formidable Ravindra Jadeja from wide mid-on and forcing his fellow all-rounder to leave the field with a hamstring tweak. However, perhaps Stokes’ most notable impact was seen in his mentorship of Hartley. Remarkably, Hartley became the third spinner under Stokes’ guidance, following Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed last winter, to begin his Test career with a five-wicket haul.
If we go back to the first evening, India appeared to dent Hartley’s confidence significantly, with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting his first ball in Test cricket for six, initiating an initial surge of runs. Despite this challenging start, the 6ft 4in Hartley stood tall in the second innings. He adjusted his pace, found his length, and let the surface play its part. In addition to his crucial contributions with the ball, he also demonstrated proficiency with the bat, scoring 23 and 34 runs in the match.
It was an exhilarating day of Test cricket, one that resonates deeply with the soul and showcases the format’s strength, reminiscent of Kraigg Brathwaite’s performance in Brisbane. For about an hour, there were two captivating matches unfolding, with the Barmy Army trumpeter concluding the first by playing Rally ‘Round the West Indies, David Rudder’s iconic anthem.
On the field, Hartley, who had earlier partnered with Pope to contribute 104 runs before lunch in an 80-run stand, was skillfully taking three crucial wickets. Pope, exhibiting cat-like reflexes under the helmet, played a part by catching Jaiswal (15) and Shubman Gill (0) within the span of three balls. Following this, Rohit Sharma, who was dropped on five in Mark Wood’s opening over, was eventually dismissed for 39, caught leg before wicket.
India rebounded to reach 95 for three at tea, only to experience a collapse of four wickets for 24 runs at the beginning of a captivating final session. In this phase, Hartley dismissed the elevated Axar Patel, catching and bowling him for 17. Joe Root then quickly secured the wicket of the in-form KL Rahul, trapping him leg before wicket for 22. Following Stokes’ successful removal of Jadeja, Jack Leach, England’s most seasoned spinner battling through his own knee issue (a haematoma), took a wicket by having Shreyas Iyer caught at slip.
From a challenging position at 119 for seven, India mounted another comeback as Ravichandran Ashwin and KS Bharat forged a partnership of 56, hinting at a potential heist or, at the very least, extending the match to a fifth day. However, Hartley’s exceptional delivery to bowl Bharat brought about his fifth wicket, and then two stumpings occurred to conclude the innings. Foakes, who had played a crucial role alongside Pope in the third-day recovery with the bat, remained a constant threat during the thrilling and frenzied finale.
Under the leadership of Stokes and Brendon McCullum, this team has provided supporters with memorable days, but this performance undoubtedly stands out. The 190-run turnaround represents the third-highest deficit that England has overcome in history. Considering that one of those instances was at Headingley in 1981, and the other occurred during the 1894-95 Ashes, with Stokes leading a relatively inexperienced bowling attack, it is challenging to reach any other conclusion.
India is undoubtedly feeling the pain and frustration, both for their inability to capitalize ruthlessly with the bat in the first innings and the missed opportunity to dismiss Pope on 110 by Patel. Additionally, concerns arise over Jadeja’s fitness and the way their previously dominant bowling attack was disrupted.
Looking back to where England stood at the end of day two, this achievement is truly remarkable.
