Joe Root's 31st Test century has propelled England into a commanding position

Joe Root celebrates his 31st Test century, guiding England to a position of strength on the cricket field.

Joe Root's 31st Test century rescued England from a precarious situation and positioned them strongly by the end of the opening day in Ranchi.

Despite opting to bat first on a bowler-friendly pitch, England found themselves struggling at 112/5 in the initial session. However, Root spearheaded a remarkable recovery, forging crucial partnerships, notably a resilient 113-run alliance with Ben Foakes (47), which steadied the ship.

Root's approach was methodical and classical, adapting to the challenging conditions while rotating the strike effectively. His patient innings provided stability amidst India's varied bowling attack, including the testing reverse swing.

Partnering with Foakes, Root eschewed risky shots, opting for a cautious approach against spinners, which proved effective in negotiating the challenging surface.

Debutant pacer Akash Deep initiated England's top-order collapse, exploiting movement off the pitch to dismiss key batsmen. However, contributions from Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow, followed by Root's resilience, propelled England past the daunting 300-run mark.

Despite late wickets falling, Root's unbeaten century and partnerships with the lower order ensured England finished the day in a commanding position.

In summary, Root's masterful century and England's determined batting display have placed them in a strong position after the first day's play in Ranchi.

Brief Scores: England 302/7 (Joe Root 106*, Ben Foakes 47; Akash Deep 3-70) vs India.

Article credit: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/129592/root-registers-10th-test-ton-against-india