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[Saba Sports News] England experienced a significant batting collapse on the third day of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test, leading to Alastair Cook’s evident frustration. Beginning the day with optimism at 207/2, the team under Ben Stokes succumbed, losing eight wickets for a mere 112 runs to conclude at 319.
Despite Ben Duckett’s swift century, the fastest by an Englishman in India, and his early promise, the team faltered after he could only add 20 more runs to his score of 133, highlighting a collective failure in batting. Ben Stokes provided some resistance with 41 runs, but the rest of the lineup struggled, leaving England trailing by 126 runs after the first innings despite Duckett’s notable performance.
Alastair Cook, speaking to Sky Sports, voiced his disappointment over England’s batting, emphasizing the challenge of securing Test match victories following such collapses. He remarked on the missed opportunity and England’s inability to maintain consistent performance levels across the Test, contrasting India’s recovery from their previous day’s performance. Cook’s reflection pointed to the critical nature of sustained excellence in Test cricket to achieve success.
As the match progresses, India has positioned themselves strongly, propelled by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s impressive century in the second innings and Mohammad Siraj’s earlier bowling achievements. The focus now shifts to how England will respond, especially with the pitch conditions expected to become more challenging for batting in the fourth innings. This sets the stage for an engaging contest as the Test unfolds further.