Headingley

England’s Ollie Pope scores a century in second day fightback of first Test against India.

Ollie Pope and his latest century spearheaded England to 209-3 after India was bowled out for 471 on Day Two, Saturday, of the test series opener at Headingley.

Pope was 100 not out and the leading scorer as England slashed its deficit to 262 runs by stumps and won the day.

Pope was far from perfect. He survived a testing opening spell from speedster Jasprit Bumrah in gloomy bowler-friendly conditions, narrowly avoided lbw on 34 and was dropped on 60.

He rode his luck to his ninth test hundred and second against India.

Bumrah was England’s greatest threat as expected and took all three home wickets: Zac Crawley in the first over; Ben Duckett on 62 to break his and Pope’s 122-run second-wicket partnership; and Joe Root on 28 to break his and Pope’s 80-run third-wicket partnership.

Bumrah would have had a fourth wicket in the day’s last over — Harry Brook without scoring — but he overstepped for the third time in the over. The world’s best fast bowler was also the victim of two dropped catches in the field.

England wasn’t expected to be batting soon after lunch.

India was 430-3 about half an hour before lunch. A total of at least 550 was on the cards but the demise of captain Shubman Gill for 147 sparked a collapse of 41-7 in 68 balls bridging lunch.

Ollie Pope’s gutsy century led England’s resurgence only for Jasprit Bumrah to give India the crucial wicket of Joe Root late on day two of the first Test.

Pope, preferred to rising star Jacob Bethell at number three, repaid England’s faith with 100 not out at Headingley.

The ball after Pope completed his century, Bumrah had Root caught at first slip to leave England 209-3 – all three wickets falling to the pace maestro.

England are 262 adrift of India’s 471, a total that should have been much greater.

Despite Rishabh Pant completing a thrilling century, the tourists lost their last seven wicket for 41 runs. Captain Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue claimed four wickets apiece.

Under a brooding sky – play was held up for 40 minutes by rain – England were faced with the threat of Bumrah, who promptly had Zak Crawley caught at slip.

Bumrah was electrifying, but England dug in through a stand of 122 between Ben Duckett and Pope. Duckett was dropped off Bumrah, Pope edged the same bowler through the slips.

Duckett fell for 62 to Bumrah’s second spell, in which Pope was dropped at third slip by Yashasvi Jaiswal on 60.

In the evening sunshine, Root overturned being given lbw. Bumrah was summoned for one more spell. Though he could not prevent Pope’s milestone, he snatched the bigger prize of Root.

Incredibly, there was still time for Harry Brook to be caught off a Bumrah no-ball. It was a heart-stopping end to an engrossing day.

Shubman Gill marked his debut as India captain with a century and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal added a sparkling ton of his own as England toiled after winning the toss on the opening day of the first Test.

Following the retirement of superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India proved the future of their batting is in safe hands, while at the same time showing England what they are up against in this five-Test series.

The tourists moved to 359-3 on a sticky, oppressive day at Headingley. Jaiswal, the 23-year-old opener who destroyed England in India 18 months ago, crunched 101 and Gill elegantly stroked his way to 127 not out.

Gill’s ongoing partnership with Rishabh Pant is worth 138, Pant ominously poised on 65 not out.

Ben Stokes’ decision at the toss will be pored over. Despite the heat and a pitch offering no obvious encouragement for the bowlers, Gill said he also would have fielded first.

And, after making their choice, England were collectively below par with the ball, failing to exploit the swing on offer throughout the day. Stokes himself was the pick, bowling briskly for his 2-43.

This ground has a long history of teams coming from behind to win Tests and England are far from out of this one, though have left themselves vulnerable to a changing weekend weather forecast that could be perfect for India pace magician Jasprit Bumrah.