First Test Day 2 scorecard, highlights, how to live stream in Australia, Rishabh Pant 100 celebration video

The cricket world is familiar with Rishabh Pant’s bravery and flamboyance with bat in-hand at Test level.

But the star keeper-batter showed off some shock, incredible acrobatics to celebrate a another stunning century as India continued its dominant start to its Test series against England.

Rishabh on Saturday became the third India batter to bring up a century during the first innings of the first Test, joining Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and skipper Shubman Gill (147).

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And the left-hander brought up his seventh Test ton in style, advancing down the wicket and slogging England spinner Shoaib Bashir one-handed over cow corner for six.

“That is an extraordinary hundred. What a way to do it. This fella is box office,” Sky Sports commentator Ian Ward said.

“One of the great entertainers.”

But the six was only the entree to the moment’s main course.

Rishabh Pant of India celebrates reaching his century. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Rishabh then dropped his bat, removed his helmet and gloves and channelled his inner gymnast, successfully performing an incredible handstand front flip that left on-lookers stunned

“One of the best hundred celebrations I have seen. He’s a character!” Ward said.

England quick Mark Wood added in commentary: “A celebration to match how he played.”
England, however, hit back with the ball on Saturday’s second day of the series opener at Headingley.

India reached lunch well-placed at 454-7 after being sent into bat by England captain Ben Stokes on Friday’s first day of this five-match series.

But having been cruising towards a score in excess of 500, India lost four wickets for 24 runs towards the end of the session.

Stokes, the pick of England’s attack, had Shardul Thakur caught behind to force an early lunch, with the all-rounder’s figures now standing at 4-66 in 19.4 overs.

India resumed on their overnight 359-3 after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and captain Shubman Gill (127 not out) had already reached three figures.

It was not long before Gill, in his first innings as India skipper since succeeding the retired Rohit Sharma, went to his highest Test score with a classic off-drive for four against Chris Woakes.

That shot meant the 25-year-old Gill surpassed his previous best of 128 against Australia in Ahmedabad two years ago.

Gill & Jaiswal ton up as India dominate | 01:19

The runs continued to flow as Pant, 65 not out overnight, went to a hundred in spectacular style.

But just when England were wondering where their next wicket was coming from, Gill’s mistimed pick-up shot off Bashir flew straight to Brydon Carse at deep square leg as the skipper fell for 147, having faced 227 balls including 19 fours and one six.

Gill’s exit ended a partnership of 209 in 49 overs with Pant that had taken India to 430-4.

Pant should have been dismissed for 124 when he went down the pitch to Bashir and let go of his bat attempting another big shot only for England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to miss a clear stumping chance.

But England still enjoyed a flurry of wickets.

Karun Nair, who six years ago made an unbeaten triple-hundred against England, fell for a duck when brilliantly caught by a diving Ollie Pope at extra cover driving at Stokes.

With India debutant Sai Sudharsan out for a duck on Friday, Nair’s exit meant that for the first time in 148 years of Test history a team’s top six had got three hundreds and two noughts between them in the same innings.

Pant, having played a succession of extraordinary strokes, was lbw for 134 offering no shot to fast bowler Josh Tongue to end an innings that featured 84 runs in boundaries.

— with AFP