MUMBAI: It took a man who had the heart to reverse sweep at 96 in his debut Test to inspire England back into this series.
Keaton Jennings chose that riskiest of strokes on a turning wicket against an off-spinner while in his Nervous Nineties, as he became the second English batsman to score a century on debut in India.
The magnificent knock (112, 219b, 13x4) by the 24-year-old kept the visitors right on top during the first two sessions on Day One of the fourth Test here on Thursday. This was before
Ravichandran Ashwin salvaged something from the day for the hosts with three late wickets.
A fascinating day of Test cricket, which was lit up by the arrival of a future star and the wizardry of a master of his craft, ended with England at 288 for five after electing to bat first. With Ben Stokes, who somehow survived a torrid period, particularly against Ashwin, unbeaten on 25 and Jos Buttler (18 not out) giving him company, they can hope for a total which could worry India. The Wankhede pitch, aiding devious turn since the opening afternoon, has an eerie resemblance to the one which backfired on the hosts against the same opponents four years ago.
Not for the first time, England owe their revival in a Test series in India at the Wankhede to a cricketer of South African origin. In 2006, it was Andrew Strauss who cracked 128 to spark England's 212-run win over India; in 2012, it was Kevin Pietersen's 186 which undid the hosts. Jennings led the Proteas at the Under-19 level, before switching to England. His father Ray, who once coached South Africa and then the RCB in the IPL, must be thrilled be a thrilled man today.
It does seem that fate conspired in every way to ensure the opener did enjoy a dream debut. A fracture in the impressive Haseeb Hameed's hand, and a prolific county season for Durham, in which he was the leading run-scorer with 1,548 runs at an average of 64.5 with seven hundreds, meant that Jennings was summoned to India at a short notice.
He was lucky to survive the sort of moment which can make or break a player's career right at the start. While still on a duck, Jennings was let off when
Karun Nair
dropped a difficult chance which the batsman offered at gully off Umesh Yadav.
Piling on the misery of the unlucky pacer, he cut and pulled him in the same over. A little later, he survived a close DRS appeal. Jennings added 99 for the first wicket with his opening partner and captain
Alastair Cook (46, 60b, 5x4), who was surprisingly far more aggressive than usual, before he was brilliantly stumped by Parthiv Patel off Jadeja. It was apparent that the England skipper was following the advice of coach Trevor Bayliss, who wanted the experienced left-hander to show more intent at the crease.
Ashwin then consumed Root as India skipper Virat Kohli caught him at first slip despite moving the wrong way initially. With ball hissing and jumping around, India were smelling blood, but Jennings found an able ally in Moeen Ali (50, 104b, 4x4, 1x6), as the duo added 94 for the third wicket to put England right on top. While he drove, cut and pulled the pacers, Jennings was unafraid against the spinners too, using his feet or employing the conventional and the reverse sweep to smother them. If he was beaten by the turn, or the lack of it, Jennings didn't let it deter him.
Ultimately it was Ashwin's twin strikes late in the last session which allowed India some respite. The classy off-spinner got rid of both Jennings and Ali in the same over. Jennings was caught at second slip, while Ali perished to a miscued sweep. The tweaker now has 63 scalps this year, and has a realistic chance of bettering Kapil Dev's record tally of 74 wickets in 1983.
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