James Anderson steals the show as England take control of third Test vs India

England combined the perfect mix of the old with the new to humble India and their hubris on an utterly dominant day that should turn this series on its head.

With India routed for just 78 by veteran swinger James Anderson and co with the ball, Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns started their new opening partnership together in the most emphatic fashion with 120 unbroken runs to take a 42 run lead into day two.

This was Melbourne 2010 or Trent Bridge 2015 territory in terms of good days for England and was nothing but a horror show for India from start to finish who were visibly rattled by Hameed’s broad bat and the full voices of the Western Terrace.

Whether their decision not to practice at the ground the day before the game had any effect is unclear, but with England going about their business with a calm, clear headed focus, there is no sign of the provocation that Virat Kohli and his team like to get themselves going.

The turnaround for England from Lord’s has been swift and decisive as Hameed and Burns both reached confident not out half centuries, but one only has to look at the last miracle of Headingley two years ago to know that nothing has been achieved just yet.

For all the non-stop talk about The Hundred and its place at the centre of the English summer, the 244 here wasn’t half bad either.

That was how many balls it took for England to wrap up the Indian innings for just 78, a score even the Northern Superchargers would be embarrassed to post.

And for the thousands of fans who had flocked to this famous old ground to enjoy Test cricket for the first time in two years since you know who did you know what, they were treated to yet another joyous occasion full of raucous entertainment. How lucky you are if you were able to be at both.

Anderson actually missed out in 2019 having injured himself in the first Test at Edgbaston after just four overs.

At the time more than a few people wondered whether the 37-year-old, as he was, might soon be calling it a day with a body struggling to keep him at the sharp end. After all, fast bowling, no matter how easy it looks, is bloody hard work.

But rather than shuffle off into the wings, the now 39-year-old took centre stage once more to follow up his 31st five wicket haul at Lord’s with something equally eye catching in Leeds.

He only bowled one spell but it read 8-5-6-3, and was the perfect start to the Test after India had – mistakenly – chosen to bat under cloudy skies.

This was a master at work. An artist with total control over the skills at his disposal and who forces his opponents into submission no matter how hard they try to avoid it.

The inswingers came first to KL Rahul, and then the outswinger was too tempting to resist, likewise to Cheteshwar Pujara, and then finally to Kohli who fell to him for the seventh time in his career to provoke a huge roar of emotion from England’s greatest.

Jos Buttler collected all three catches before adding two more as Ollie Robinson, Craig Overton and Sam Curran were all lifted by the example set by Anderson to keep their lines and lengths immaculate.

Unlike at Lord’s the Indian middle and lower order reverted to type with both Overton and Curran taking two wickets in two balls to have a shot at a hat-trick.

By keeping things simple, England made life uncomfortable for India and they earned their rewards.

Hameed and Burns made sure those rewards kept on coming right up to the close.

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