Joe Root’s failure to convert fifties into centuries struck again as India fought back on the opening day of the first Test at Edgbaston.
Root had become the quickest England batsman to reach 6,000 Test runs – five years and 231 days since making his debut – in reaching 80.
The England captain seemed well set for his first Test century since reaching the milestone against West Indies last year.
50 up – Keep batting Skip!@root66 has also passed 6000 Test runs.
Clips and scorecard: ➡️https://t.co/dlvWaZdoOR#EngvInd#YorkshireDay pic.twitter.com/2ILRQ7uhmv
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 1, 2018
In that time he has hit 11 half-centuries without reaching three figures, and Root missed out on a hundred again when he was stranded by a brilliant direct hit at midwicket from the off-balance India captain Virat Kohli.
Until then England had seemed in control with Tykes pair Root and Jonny Bairstow fittingly marking Yorkshire Day by putting on 104 for the fourth wicket.
But Bairstow soon dragged on Umesh Yadav for 70 and, after the earlier departures of Alastair Cook (13), Keaton Jennings (42) and Dawid Malan (8), England were suddenly wobbling.
And it got worse for the hosts when Jos Buttler was trapped lbw by the spin of Ravi Ashwin to leave them 224 for six on a dry pitch.
