RANCHI: Joe Root hit an unbeaten 67 to revive England’s innings after Indian debutant Akash Deep took three wickets to trouble the tourists in the fourth Test on Friday.
England, fighting to stay alive in the five-match series at 2-1, were 198-5 at tea after opting to bat first in Ranchi.
Former captain Root and wicketkeeper-batsman c put on an unbeaten stand of 86 in the 28th to thwart the Indian attack in the second over.
Root brought up his first fifty of the series after managing just 77 runs in the previous six innings and received criticism for throwing away his wicket in the reverse third match.
Root and Foakes kept their composure in an uncharacteristically patient display by England’s batting, which was a temporary departure from their attacking ‘baseball’ style.
The 27-year-old Deep replaced the rested Jasprit Bumrah and got off to a flying start after coach Rahul Dravid handed him his first Test cap.
Deep thought he got opener Zak Crawley for a four only to cross the crease and zero. Crawley, who put on 42, attacked and hit Mohammed Siraj for four straight boundaries, including three fours and a six.
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Deep got his first international wicket when Ben Duckett was caught for 11.
Two balls later, he struck again to catch Ollie Pope lbw for a duck, a decision which was overruled by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by India after the trackman indicated that the ball would have hit leg stump.
Deep then bowled Crawley for another beauty who lunged at the opener and rattled the stumps as England slumped to 57-3 in just the first hour of play.
Root and Jonny Bairstow put on 52 runs before Ravichandran had Ashwin Bairstow lbw for 38 in another successful Indian review.
Captain Ben Stokes was trapped lbw by Ravindra Jadeja with a lunch strike for three to leave England in serious trouble.
