Two wickets in two balls as India take control of second Test

A dramatic collapse saw England lose two crucial wickets in as many deliveries, handing India a significant advantage on day two of the second Test at Edgbaston. What promised to be a challenging but manageable start to England's first innings quickly unravelled, leaving the hosts reeling at 13 for two and firmly putting India in the driver's seat. The double blow, occurring within seconds of each other, sent a palpable shockwave through the ground and firmly tilted the momentum in favour of the touring side.

The devastating sequence began with the dismissal of Ben Duckett. Having just settled into his stride, Duckett was caught out for a duck, a soft dismissal that immediately put pressure on England's top order. Before the Edgbaston crowd could even fully process the loss of the first wicket, the very next ball brought further calamity. Ollie Pope, stepping in to face the immediate challenge, replicated Duckett's fate, also departing for a golden duck. Both batsmen were caught, succumbing to the relentless pressure and precision of the Indian bowling attack. The sight of two top-order batsmen trudging back to the pavilion in quick succession, both without troubling the scorers, was a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of Test cricket.

This sudden double strike was a dream scenario for India and a nightmare for England. The early wickets not only dented England's scoreboard but also dealt a significant psychological blow. It forced the remaining batsmen into an immediate damage-control operation, rather than allowing them the luxury of building a solid foundation. With the ball swinging and the Indian bowlers operating with renewed vigour and confidence, England's task of posting a competitive total became immeasurably harder. The intensity from the Indian camp was evident, their fielders celebrating each dismissal with unbridled joy, knowing they had landed a decisive punch in the early stages of England's response.

As the day progressed, the weight of these early dismissals continued to hang heavily over England's innings. The rapid fall of Duckett and Pope transformed the match narrative, shifting the focus from India's impressive first innings total to England's immediate struggle for survival. The stage is now set for a monumental effort from the remaining English batsmen to claw their way back into contention against a rampant Indian side, who are clearly sensing an opportunity to establish a commanding lead in this pivotal Test match.