The scene was set and everything was in place for England to take full control of this third Test and probably the series. Then Joe Root made the mistake that changed everything.

They may have still been 238 behind but all momentum was with England and India were on their knees when Root stepped out with Ben Duckett at the start of a third day that looked likely to set the tone for everything that will follow over the next three weeks.

Not least in England’s favour was the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, who rushed away to be with his ill mother in Chennai after taking his 500th Test wicket on Friday, leaving India with 10 men and a depleted attack that had already taken a pummelling from Duckett.

There have even been rumours of dissent in India’s ranks, a split between some of the senior players and captain Rohit Sharma and the suggestion that their best bowler in Jasprit Bumrah is annoyed at being told to play in this Test when he wanted to rest.

India were there for the taking. England will never have a better chance to win another Test here and surge ahead against a side who so rarely lose at home.

Joe Root got out attempting to reverse ramp Jasprit Bumrah, sparking an England collapse

Joe Root got out attempting to reverse ramp Jasprit Bumrah, sparking an England collapse

Bumrah could hardly believe Root had attempted such an ill-advised shot and India capitalised

Bumrah could hardly believe Root had attempted such an ill-advised shot and India capitalised

A tough day for Ben Stokes and his side followed as India took a dominant position in the Test

A tough day for Ben Stokes and his side followed as India took a dominant position in the Test

Which is why the attempted reverse ramp by Root, admittedly his trademark Bazball shot, against his bete noire in Bumrah was so ill-advised and so badly timed.

It not only led to his demise but opened the floodgates to a collapse that altered the whole complexion of this Test and tour. 

England, frankly, blew it and it is hard to see even them coming back from this. They cannot keep on pulling off miracles.

Root’s demise, to the sharpest of slip catches from Yashashvi Jaiswal, put a spring back in India’s step and suddenly those bowlers who were taken apart by Duckett looked far more like the formidable India attack relishing their own conditions.

From 224 for two with Duckett still going strong England lost their last eight wickets for 95 runs, the last five in just 38 balls, as the unlikely destroyer of Mohammed Siraj took four wickets to give India a lead of 126.

Initiative firmly regained, India then built on that to reach the close of a deflating, gut-wrenching day from an English perspective on 196 for two, 322 ahead, and with victory now almost inevitable for them at some point over the next two days. What a turnaround.

It is hard to criticise anything England do after everything they have given us in the last two years, not least one of the greatest of all comeback wins in Hyderabad at the start of this tour and a second day assault from Duckett here that will live long in the memory.

There is certainly a case for saying, so joyous and transformative has Bazball been, that perhaps we just have to take the rough with the smooth, shrug our shoulders and accept ‘this is how they play.’ But that would be too simplistic.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a century as India build a commanding lead over England in the third Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a century as India build a commanding lead over England in the third Test

England's bowlers were ground into the Rajkot dust again as Jaiswal batted superbly

England’s bowlers were ground into the Rajkot dust again as Jaiswal batted superbly 

The Indian opener was forced to retire hurt on 104 having taken on England's attack well

The Indian opener was forced to retire hurt on 104 having taken on England’s attack well 

Root is at the centre of the Bazball debate. He was the one world-class player who simply had to carry on as he was doing when he gave up the captaincy to pave the way for the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum revolution. He does not need to get too funky.

Yes, the former captain has not exactly struggled under this regime – averaging more than 50 over the last two years – and when his audacity comes off it is a huge part of the Bazball fun. It’s just this was not the right time.

Not when he has been out of form, has now gone 12 innings in India without a 50 and was facing a bowler in Bumrah he has struggled against all too often. It was the time to assess the match situation, be ruthless and just grind India into the Rajkot dirt.

England have been here before. This is uncannily reminiscent to the situation at Lord’s last summer when Australia also lost a great spinner when Nathan Lyon hobbled off and were there for the taking. 

But England pulled and hooked themselves to oblivion. They have clearly not learnt from that costly Ashes mistake.

Now pressure was suddenly on Jonny Bairstow, another batsman who needs a score, and Kuldeep Yadav, so ineffectual on Friday, turned one square to thump into his pads.

India celebrate the wicket of Jonny Bairstow for a duck as England collapsed in a heap again

India celebrate the wicket of Jonny Bairstow for a duck as England collapsed in a heap again

England captain Ben Stokes holds a conference with Mark Wood (right) and Ollie Pope

England captain Ben Stokes holds a conference with Mark Wood (right) and Ollie Pope

Duckett provided a tame end to a truly great innings of 153, cutting a wide long hop from Yadav straight to cover, before Stokes holed out and Ben Foakes was dismissed next ball to one from Siraj that held up in the pitch. The innings was all over bar the shouting.

All the scrutiny now will be on poor Root. It was his drop in the first innings that allowed Sharma to escape on 27 and move on to 131. Now he was the catalyst for collapse.

Root opened the bowling in the second innings, almost trying too hard to make up for his errors, and snared Sharma with the help of a review. But it was too little too late.

Jaiswal helped himself to another century before retiring hurt with a bad back, presumably damaged smashing five sixes in his 104, as England wilted and India have the power to pile on plenty more today before presumably pulling out and letting England try to again pull off the impossible.

This time, after Bazball’s worst day yet, it is impossible to see them doing it. What an absolute waste of a glorious opportunity.

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Post source: Daily mail

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