A healthy dose of their own medicine came England’s way on day one of the rescheduled fifth Test against India as Rishabh Pant unfurled a remarkable century and a reminder that the concept of “Baz-ball” is neither new nor exclusive.
This had initially looked like a meeting of the confident versus the undercooked when India stumbled to 98 for five either side of a two-hour rain break over lunch.
Jimmy Anderson had cruised in for three typically slick wickets, while Matt Potts had added two more to his burgeoning collection, including the prized pelt of Virat Kohli.
But over the course of the afternoon, as heavy clouds eventually made way for bright sunshine, Pant delivered a breathtaking counterattack packed with deft cuts and contemptuous drives that changed the entire complexion of his side’s first innings and saw them reach 338 for seven at the close.