RANCHI: England didn’t live and die like millionaires here at the JSCA Stadium on Day One of the fourth Test. Instead, they eked out a frugal living, remaining stoic in the face of looming adversity. They did un-England things, like grit their teeth, put their head down and get on with the hard yards. Helping them relearn the art of self-deprivation and discipline was an endangered philosophy — the Joe Root school of sensible batting.
Though there were moments when the likes of Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow attempted to counter-punch, for large parts of the day the reigning deity ‘Bazball’ was shelved, flung into the back corners of the dressing room. Friday was not its time.
