Shastri Slams India After Wicketless First Session on Day 3 in Manchester
By : Krishna Mishra
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri slammed Team India for their poor, wicketless session one on day three of the fourth Manchester Test, saying that the match looks "flat and bleak" for the visitors as the hosts went about their job in a "professional manner."
A century partnership between Ollie Pope and Joe Root brought England within touching distance of India's first innings score as the Three Lions finished the first session with a score in excess of 300 runs on day three of the fourth Manchester Test on Friday. At the end of the first session, England was 332/2, with Pope (70*) and Root (63*) unbeaten. They trail by 26 runs.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Shastri said, "It looks flat and bleak for India, because England have had the perfect session.
They went about their job in a professional manner; they knew what they had to do, they had to negate (Jasprit) Bumrah in the first half an hour of play, deny India a wicket, and they, you know, with the attack India have, that things would go flat," he added.
Shastri said that with the wicket being flattened and the sun being out, the conditions look good for batting, and it is "hard work" for India.