Ollie or nothing: Pacer helps England seal crushing win after India collapse again

Leeds, August 28

England’s Ollie Robinson struck four times with the second new ball as the hosts thrashed India by an innings and 76 runs to level the series on Day 4 of the third Test at Headingley here today.

Resuming on an overnight score of 215/2, the visitors crashed to 278 all out before lunch, with the Indian middle-order once again failing miserably against the pace and guile of the England fast bowlers.

Dream come true

Very special, something you dream about, to get it at Headingley where I started my career is very special. Ollie Robinson, Man of the match

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Cheteshwar Pujara (91) was the first to be dismissed, shouldering arms to a Robinson in-swinger that was given out leg before wicket on review, before captain Virat Kohli (55) edged one to Joe Root soon after completing his half-century.

Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal for 10 off James Anderson all but ended India’s hopes of overhauling the England lead, with Ravindra Jadeja’s late flourish of 30 offering some entertainment but eventually being in vain.

Robinson, who was named Player of the Match, finished with figures of 5/65, while Craig Overton chipped in with three wickets.

Kohli put the collapse down to scoreboard pressure, saying it was a tall order to come back into the game after conceding a huge first-innings lead.

“We did well to stay in the game yesterday, fight back as much as we could, and gave ourselves a chance. But the pressure today was outstanding from the England bowlers,” he said.

Opting to bat on Day 1, India were shot out for 78, undone by a superb spell of new-ball bowling by veteran Anderson.

In reply, England, led by skipper Root’s wonderful 121 and half-centuries by Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan, were bowled out for 432, claiming a 354-run lead.

Kohli added: “Quite bizarre (the first innings), it can happen in this country… we thought the pitch was good to bat on, coming on nicely. But the discipline forced mistakes.” — Reuters

Scoreboard pressure

Basically down to scoreboard pressure. Always up against it when you get out for under 80, and the opposition puts up such a big score. But we did well to stay in the game yesterday, fight back as much as we could, and gave ourselves a chance. But the pressure today was outstanding from the England bowlers and eventually they got the results they wanted.

Batting collapses

Quite bizarre, it can happen in this country, batting collapses. We thought the pitch was good to bat on, coming on nicely. But the discipline forced mistakes and the pressure was relentless. Difficult to cope when you’re not scoring runs. That caused the batting order to crumble. Virat Kohli, India captain

Clinical

It was fantastic, clinical performance, built pressure early on. Three maidens this morning, and we felt we were in a good place to take wickets. When chances came we took them.

Consistent

Look at the talent in the dressing room we know we’re capable, just have to be more consistent. Brilliant with the ball but the opening partnership with the bat was fantastic. And yesterday, to hold the rate and build pressure, when it wasn’t going for us — we knew with the second new ball we always had an opportunity. Joe Root, England captain

27 Test wins in 55 matches for Joe Root as captain. Root has also lost 20 games. Michael Vaughan, with 26 wins and 11 losses in 51 matches, is second in the list, followed by Alastair Cook (24 wins, 22 losses in 59 matches)