IND vs ENG, 4th Test: Akash reaches for the sky, turns heads on Test debut

Zak Crawley was on his knees, or somewhat, was dropped at his knees by a supply designed by the Devil. Right-arm pacer Akash Deep, who was making his Test debut on the JSCA Stadium, on Friday, couldn’t have probably envisaged a ball higher than that.

The ball had pitched on a great size, nearer to the imaginary off-side broad line than to the stumps. It then crackled again into the batter, evading the English opener’s outstretched bat.

The ball, which was beginning to lose its sheen, kissed the highest of the off stump, ticking the bail off within the course of – fairly near a dream supply for a seasoned quick bowler, not to mention a debutant.

Akash Deep celebrates the wicket of England’s Zak Crawley on the primary day of the fourth Test cricket match between India and England, on the JSCA International Stadium Complex, in Ranchi.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

What made it higher was that Akash had executed precisely the identical factor, in opposition to the exact same batter, just a few overs in the past – pitching exterior off, angling in, stumps going for a toss – the entire package deal. But sadly for the pacer, that got here off a no-ball, quickly denying him a maiden Test wicket.

“As an individual, I didn’t feel very bad [about the no-ball wicket] because I knew that if I didn’t get him out, then someone else in my team would,” Akash mentioned after Stumps on Day 1.

“But when he hit [Mohammed] Siraj for three fours and a six in the next over, I felt very bad. Because I didn’t want my team to be behind in the match because of me. So yeah, I was a bit tense because he scores his runs very quickly too.”

Crawley was already a bruised man, courtesy of a first-over snorter from Mohammed Siraj, which struck him on his glove. He was overwhelmed a number of instances earlier than and after his reprieve in opposition to Akash.

But true to the code of Bazball, the English opener refused to cow down. He crashed three fours on the trot in opposition to Siraj – an off drive, an on drive and a look – after which deposited the Indian pacer previous the mid-wicket fence.

Just like that, Crawley was batting on 41, with a strike fee faintly over 100.

Meanwhile, Akash had shrugged off his disappointment by scalping the wickets of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the identical over to offer India an ideal begin to the fourth Test.

Bowling from the Amitabh Choudhary finish, he had taken under consideration the pronounced cracks on the pitch and opted for a wider strategy from the crease. The angle was an add-on to his good size and hurrying tempo, which consistently crept previous 140 clicks.

He would mix all these components to ship the proper ball, ending Crawley’s counter-punch as a closing observe to his menacing seven-over spell that wiped off the English top-order.

“When I was bowling with the new ball, he [Crawley] was trying to attack me on both sides of the wicket. When I was bowling closer to the stumps, there wasn’t much happening with the ball. It wasn’t even swinging even after three overs,” Akash added.

“So, I tried to bowl from the corner of the crease and I got the shape where everything was seaming in. It wasn’t coming in off the crack but off the seam.”

If England was tottering earlier than, it was now left on the ground – very like Crawley – by a participant who might have nicely not been enjoying this Test.

Akash obtained his likelihood right now solely after India determined to relaxation Jasprit Bumrah. Despite spinners Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and even quicks like Mukesh Kumar being accessible, the sword rested on the shoulders of Akash.

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The 27-year-old had executed his trigger no hurt with a productive outing in opposition to the English Lions earlier this yr when he accounted for 13 scalps in three matches at a wholesome common of 18.

Born within the neighbouring state of Bihar, Akash discovered his means into cricket with Bengal, representing the facet persistently on the home stage since 2019.

A First-Class wicket tally of 104 at a formidable common of 23.58 earlier than this Test was one other pointer for the Indian administration to go along with the right-arm pacer, with coach Rahul Dravid handing over the cap to the debutant.

A proud Akash then posed for the photographers together with his even prouder household, recognizing the intense Indian blue cap, which he refused to take off even whereas marking his run-up earlier than the sport.

“Like any kid who plays cricket, it was my dream also to play Test cricket for India. I got my Test cap midway between the place I belong to and the place I play cricket for,” Akash mentioned.

“It was very emotional but I also felt that there was a responsibility on my shoulders to do something for the team.”

Akash closed off the day with one other probing, however wicketless spell, ending with figures of three/70.

“I want to dedicate this performance to my father. He wanted his son to do something in his life but I couldn’t do anything while he was alive. So this is for him,” added Akash.