The China Mail - Bumrah's treble strike rocks England in third Test

England were reduced to 271-7 on the second morning after resuming on 251-4 as Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, made his presence felt after being rested from India's crushing 336-run win in the second Test at Edgbaston last week that levelled a five-match series at 1-1.

Initial interest Friday focused on whether star batsman Root, 99 not out overnight, would go on to make a hundred.

All 17 previous instances in Test cricket had led to a century the following morning and Root maintained the sequence off Friday's first ball by pushing at a wide Bumrah delivery that flew past gully for four.

The fortunate boundary meant the former England captain completed his 37th Test century to go fifth on an all-time list headed by India's Sachin Tendulkar with 51 hundreds.

Ben Stokes, the current England captain had been hampered by a groin problem while making 39 not out after winning the toss.

But he bowled during practice ahead of Friday's play, with no evident fitness issues.

Stokes, however, had added just five runs to his overnight score when he was bowled playing down the wrong line to a Bumrah delivery that jagged back and smashed into his off stump.

Stokes, without a Test hundred in two years, was out for 44, with England 260-5.

Fast bowler Bumrah struck again when Root, on 104, was late on a drive and inside-edged onto his middle stump.

Next ball all-rounder Chris Woakes fell for a golden duck as he chased a wide delivery from Bumrah outside off stump and got a thin edge to reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, still deputising after Rishabh Pant suffered a finger injury on Thursday.

It needed an India review, however, to confirm the dismissal.

Brydon Carse survived the hat-trick delivery but England were still struggling at 271-7.

And their position would have been even worse had KL Rahul not dropped a relatively straightforward slip chance when Jamie Smith had made just five, with Mohammed Siraj the unlucky bowler.

The dangerous Smith made 184 not out and 88 at Edgbaston.

A.Sun--ThChM