Hello and welcome to Sportstar's coverage of Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and England.
Now, that's an excellent reply from India in the final session. After a Shardul blitz lifted it to 191, a dream opening spell from Bumrah froze England's openers pretty early on. With Hameed and Burns back in the dugout in quick time, Root and Malan had real work up their sleeves to rebuild the innings. Root, in all sheer nonchalance, found another quick start before a pearler from Umesh Yadav in his second spell at the stroke of stumps castled him. It was an excellent day to set the ball rolling and given the pace with which the game has moved forward, a fine opening session tomorrow could well be the decider in this Test. Join us on Day 2 for more action. Good night, folks!
ENG 53/3 in 17 overs: STUMPS. A yorker to finish and Overton does well to keep Bumrah at bay. India has crawled back deftly to snatch a session before close of play.
Bumrah returns
ENG 53/3 in 16 overs: Umesh to Root. OUT! Cleaned him up! A corker to clip the top of off! Hits on the seam and sneaks quickly through Root's forward defence. What a wicket for India at the stroke of stumps! Overton comes in as the nightwatchman. He finds a single to move off strike. Joe Root b Yadav 21 (25b 4x4)
Umesh back on
ENG 52/2 in 15 overs: Thakur tweaks his angle and comes around the wicket and keeps Malan tight to the crease. This angle from the seamers has kept the southpaw in check so far.
ENG 52/2 in 14 overs: Much better from Siraj as he channels his attack around Malan's off-stump. Malan gets off strike with a single to midwicket before Root pushes forward to complete the over.
ENG 51/2 in 13 overs: Fifty for England. It's come at a decent click despite losing the overs. Root and Malan continue to milk runs behind the wicket with ease. Kohli's passive field set-ups further ease things up for the batters.
ENG 45/2 in 12 overs: Poor start for Siraj. He begins with a loosener down the leg and Root comfortably glides it to the boundary. He gets a single and Malan finds the boundary this time. Siraj slides into the legs and Malan flicks with ease to square leg fence.
Siraj into the attack
ENG 34/2 in 11 overs: Thakur gives room off the length outside off stump and Malan once again extracts a boundary through the slip cordon for four. The partnership is growing at a quick rate and India will want to break the flow pretty soon tonight.
Thakur replaces Umesh
ENG 29/2 in 10 overs: Blistering shot from Malan. Bumrah pins him down through the over without offering a hint of width. He goes full outside off the last ball and Malan leans into a thumping cover drive to the boundary.
ENG 25/2 in 9 overs: Root makes his move. Umesh angles the ball into Root's pads and pays the price. He tucks it to the square leg boundary with ease and follows up with another deft boundary behind point. Quick strides again for the England skipper.
ENG 17/2 in 8 overs: Streaky boundary for Malan as Bumrah finds the outside edge. He's fortunate that the ball keeps low off the edge and it races through the vacant gully to the fence.
ENG 11/2 in 7 overs: Umesh cramps Malan for room and forces him to play as straight and close to the body as possible. Umesh fends one short and Malan awkwardly puts it behind square for a single off the last ball.
ENG 10/2 in 6 overs: Root is underway with a boundary. Bumrah angles it in but Root magically weaves his way through the slip cordon for a boundary. Simply opens the face of the bat and glides the delivery through the region.
ENG 6/2 in 5 overs: Excellent over from Umesh to complement the efforts of Bumrah at the other end. He comes around the wicket to Malan and slides the ball in over the off-stump before taking it away for a couple of deliveries. Umesh brings it again sharply and crashes the ball high on the pads.
ENG 6/2 in 4 overs: Bumrah to Burns. OUT! Chopped back on! Bumrah hits the deck hard and the ball nips back just a little bit to force Burns to play slightly off the line of the ball. The ball clips the inside-edge as it rise to the bat and jags onto the wickets. Bumrah keeps a cold face, no celebrations at all as England loses its first wicket. Malan's the new man. He finds a single first ball. Bumrah to Hameed. OUT! Two in one over for Boom! Short and room on offer and Hameed wafts at it. The ball clips the edge and sails into Pant's gloves. What a start for India as Hameed falls for a duck. Rory Burns b Bumrah 5 (11b ), Haseeb Hameed c Pant b Bumrah 0(12b)
ENG 5/0 in 3 overs: Kohli asks Umesh to make Burns drive through the covers and offers him the width to loosen his arms. Burns sits well on it and creams it deep to point for three runs. Umesh finds some late movement once again but continues to bowl short.
ENG 2/0 in 2 overs: Fine start for Bumrah. He hits the channel outside off and nearly induces an early error from Hameed. Bumrah hits straight on length on the off-stump line and springs the ball up sharply. Hameed aims to nudge it to the leg-side but does well to bail out of that. Maiden for Bumrah.
Bumrah from the other end
ENG 2/0 in 1 over: Umesh begins with a short delivery that tails into Burns. He tucks it to leg and instantly gets off the mark with two runs. A hint of shape on offer for Umesh. Burns does well to keep his guard over the off-stump.
Umesh Yadav with the new ball.
Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed walk out to the middle.
================================
Despite all the flashy strokeplay that led to a late fightback, England has cemented its place on the top of this Test with another outstanding start. The Indians did not have the luxury of a strong start from its openers this time as Rohit and Rahul were back in the hut in no time. Pujara and Rahane continue to live on the edge with another set of woeful of performances. Kohli's admirable fifty and Thakur's dazzler are the only positives for the visitor here. With an hour or so left in the day's play, Kohli will have to get his bowling changes absolutely spot on. Early wickets, goes without saying.
IND 191 all out in 61.3 overs: Done and dusted. Two wickets in three balls to wrap up the Indian innings. Umesh edges one to slips and it's dropped. Bumrah attempts to steal a single but Burns hits the stumps from the slips to wrap him up. Yadav gets back on strike and pushes hard at the delivery outside the off-stump and the edge flies to Bairstow who completes a stellar catch. Jasprit Bumrah run out (Burns) 0 (0b), Umesh Yadav c †Bairstow b Robinson 10 (20b 1x4)
IND 190/8 in 61 overs: Woakes to Thakur. OUT! The dream run has come to an end. Woakes hits flush on the pads and goes up in appeal. The umpire isn't interested. Root instantly goes up for a review as it seems pretty close. There it goes, the replays suggest that ball is missing the bat on its way and three reds, plumb in line. Thakur has to go, but what a pivotal knock for India to hand some fight into this. Shardul Thakur lbw b Woakes 57 (36b 7x4 3x6)
IND 185/7 in 60 overs: FIFTY for Thakur! What a knock this is turning out to be. Yadav finds three runs despite a mix-up and Thakur gets a lucky break as Bairstow fails to hold onto a genuine catch. He makes the most of it as Robinson is smoked for another massive six over midwicket to bring up a sensational fifty - the second fastest Test fifty by an Indian in Tests!
IND 172/7 in 59 overs: Thakur going bonkers! This is absolutely mad and logical batting at the same time. Woakes is pummeled for another six down the ground and follows with another boundary over the slips.
IND 160/7 in 58 overs: Yadav joins the party! Overton bowls full and straight but Yadav takes a cue from Thakur's spellbinding strokes and drills it to the long-on boundary for four. England did not expect this, surely. Tinges of similarities to what ensured at Lord's.
IND 154/7 in 57 overs: Shardul on FIRE! Woakes cramps Thakur for room but he finds a way to whip it through midwicket for four. He nearly lobs one straight to mid-off but certainly unfazed by that slower one from Woakes. Thakur finishes the over with another flick of the legs that nearly sails over the midwicket for six, but he gets a boundary nevertheless. India crosses 150!
IND 146/7 in 56 overs: Shot, Shardul! Overton offers length outside off and Shardul pummels the ball down the ground for six. Absolute disdain as he doesn't even bother to peek at the ball in the follow through. India will take it all from here!
IND 139/7 in 55 overs: Shardul in full flow! Woakes seams the ball in sharp but Thakur whips it straight to the square leg fence. Woakes goes straight and Thakur pummels the ball with an absolute crisp straight drive over the umpire for four! Wow. He follows up another through mid-off and finds another three runs. This is some top-draw shots from India's no.8!
IND 128/7 in 54 overs: Thakur continues to present a neat defence. Overton maintains his line but Thakur is at ease while defending the ball straight back to the bowler.
IND 127/7 in 53 overs: Woakes to Pant. OUT! Straight up in the air and GONE! This is bizarre batting. Woakes with the perfect set-up and delivery after Pant nudges one earlier in the over to slips. Pant steps out to attack but Woakes dishes in the slower one that has him miscue the shot straight to mid-off. India in absolute shambles right now. Rishabh Pant c Ali b Woakes 9 (33b 1x4)
IND 127/6 in 52 overs: Pant clangs the second ball of the session through covers for a stunning boundary. He's been eyeing that shot for long and Overton finally hits the right (wrong) length for Pant to execute it to perfection. Overton corrects his line and keeps Pant wound down before he sets on a quick single off the last ball to retain strike.
Overton into the attack
Third session begins. Pant and Thakur back at the middle.
===============================
Another excellent session for England, as edges continue to come thick and fast.
Kohli looked imperious when he played some of his drives for boundaries. But he got out for 50, and although Ajinkya Rahane stuck around for some time, he couldn't score many runs before being dismissed.
No batsman has looked completely assured during the day so far, regardless of the number of deliveries played or the time spent at the crease.
England's seamers continue to be potent, as they were during the third Test. Chris Woakes, who came in for Sam Curran, has been menacing.
Given the powers of England's seamers, the favourable conditions (the ball is still swinging), and the fragility of India's batting, it doesn't seem too many runs will be scored before India is bowled out.
Join us for the post-tea session, in about 20 minutes.
IND 122/6 in 51 overs: Pant plays one through midwicket to pick up a single. And it's followed up by a nice drive from Shardul for two more runs, this time through extra cover.
A full delivery on off-stump is driven back to the bowler - Robinson - nicely by Shardul. A good length delivery next up: defended well. The last delivery is a similar one: defended well again.
And that's tea.
IND 119/6 in 50 overs: Overpitched from Overton. Rahane plays the square drive well to pick up four runs through cover-point.
Overton digs it in short, and Rahane pulls again. The ball is in the air again, but it's safe again. One run.
Pant gets a short delivery and he pulls the ball to midwicket. No run.
A full delivery outside off; Pant reaches out to it and drives it gently to pick up a single through point.
Edged! and taken. Rahane stays in his crease and hangs his bat out to a good length delivery outside off-stump. It takes the edge, and Moeen Ali at third slip takes a good catch, going to his right and plucking the ball in front of him.
New batsman Shardul Thakur is off the mark with a couple. Another good length delivery outside off, it takes the edge and flies through backward point.
Ajinkya Rahane c Moeen Ali b Craig Overton 14 (47b, 1x4)
IND 111/5 in 49 overs: A short delivery again from Robinson. Rahane goes for the pull, the ball is in the air, but it's safe. Lands well short of the fielder at long leg.
Pant clips the ball off his legs to pick up two runs through midwicket.
Pant shoulders arms to the last three deliveries of the over.
IND 108/5 in 48 overs: A change in the bowling now. Overton is back into the attack; he replaces Anderson.
The first ball is short of a length, on leg-stump. The ball touches the batsman's left thigh and nearly trickles onto the stumps.
There's still swing, even after 47 overs. As Rahane shoulders arms to the deliveries, the ball moves away after pitching. Oh, and a mix-up! Rahane defends the ball on to the off-side and the batsmen start off for a run and then hesitate. No harm done, though, and even if the throw was accurate and the ball hit the stumps, Rahane would have still probably made it home at the non-strikers' end.
IND 107/5 in 47 overs: Robinson bowls on a good length, on off-stump; Rahane defends solidly. Then, defended again.
Robinson pulls the length back slightly, and the line alters as well. It's left alone by Rahane.
A short delivery, for a change, from Robinson. Rahane fends it off his ribs, and picks up a single. Pant gets a good length delivery on middle stump, and defends it. The last delivery is angled across him; Pant shoulders arms.
IND 106/5 in 46 overs: First runs in six overs, as Rahane gets a good length ball on middle stump from Anderson and turns it to leg for one run.
It's Pant v Anderson now. Who will win this battle? First ball from Anderson to Pant is a back of a length ball on leg stump. Defended. It's followed up by a short of a length delivery and Pant defends again.
Anderson gets the ball to angle across Pant. Pant lets go of that one as it's outside the off-stump. Last delivery of the over: left alone again. The angle is a bit straighter, and it's close to the off-stump. But nicely left.
IND 105/5 in 45 overs: Pant leaves the first two deliveries from Robinson alone, and then gets a fuller one, on middle stump, and he plays it to midwicket for no run.
Robinson is getting the deliveries to angle across the left hander, from over the wicket.
And Pant goes down the track to deposit the ball to oblivion! Misses it. Robinson has a chuckle at that. The last delivery is left alone.
Five maiden overs in a row now.
IND 105/5 in 44 overs: The battle of attrition continues. Rahane calmly continues to leave deliveries alone as Anderson bowls on a good length and slightly fuller.
The fourth delivery is slightly straighter, on middle stump. It's flicked to midwicket. 'No', says Rahane: no run.
Rahane was surprised by the bounce on the fifth delivery from Anderson. It's on a good length, and then takes off. Rahane has his bat outside his body but the ball goes over it and past his shoulders.
Last ball: defended off the front foot. Another maiden over.
IND 105/5 in 43 overs: Robinson bowls outside the off-stump, back of a length, and it's left alone by Kohli. It's followed up by a full delivery on (or just outside) off-stump; driven to mid-off for no run by Kohli.
On the fourth-stump channel again, left alone again. The ball moves away after pitching. Another back of a length delivery, outside off-stump, left alone again.
And edged! Gone! It's a bolt from the blue for India as Kohli was looking good. Kohli was cramped for room as he tried to turn a short of a length delivery to leg; it took his edge and flew to the keeper. Jonny Bairstow took a straightforward catch.
Rishabh Pant joins Rahane. Leaves the first ball alone; it's wide outside the off-stump.
Virat Kohli c Bairstow b Robinson 50 (96b, 8x4)
IND 105/4 in 42 overs: Sound of drums from the Indian fans in the crowd.
Anderson continues, and he continues to bowl on the fourth-stump line. The second delivery of the over is full, on off-stump. Rahane gently defends it and says 'no': it's better not to take risky singles.
An outswinger from Anderson. It's full, outside the off-stump. Rahane shaped to leave the delivery alone but at the last moment, and the ball touched the bat as he did so and dropped nearby.
In the corridor again, back of a length. Rahane shoulders arms. A leg stump half-volley, or rather a middle-stump half-volley, to finish up. Rahane just drives it back to the bowler. Another maiden over.
IND 105/4 in 41 overs: Rahane defends one on the off-side and then says 'no' to signal to his partner that there isn't a run there. Kohli gets one in the corridor from Robinson and shoulders arms; the ball swung away after pitching.
Robinson bowls from wide of the crease and gets a good length delivery to angle in to Kohli. The ball went on with the angle, or did it swing in too? Kohli was cut into half as he tried to negotiate that one. He was fortunate not to get an under-edge to that.
The rest of the deliveries are defended comfortably.
IND 105/4 in 40 overs: Kohli v Anderson: who will win this battle? He's already dismissed Kohli seven times in his career, the most by any bowler (Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has dismissed him as many times).
Anderson continues to bowl in the corridor. Kohli leaves them alone.
A short of a length delivery is steered away past third slip for a boundary. At the last moment, Kohli just opened to face of the bat.
Another short of a length delivery, defended on the off-side and Kohli scampers through for a quick single. Rahane had to dive to make it to the crease. No harm done, though, and Kohli has his half-century.
IND 100/4 in 39 overs: Oh, nearly pegs back the off-stump! This delivery from Robinson is in the corridor to Rahane, angling into him. Rahane shoulders arms. It's a close shave as it goes over the off-stump.
Overpitched, it's square driven to deep cover for two runs.
On the legs, and it's tucked away for two runs. Brings up for 100 for India.
IND 96/4 in 38 overs: And then another!
Anderson floats it up for him to pounce on, and he takes the bait. Unlike the other ones, this one is a full length delivery but not a half volley. Makes no difference to Kohli, as he plays a nice extra-cover drive for another boundary.
Kohli either leaves alone or defends the rest of the deliveries.
IND 96/4 in 37 overs: Ollie Robinson back into the attack.
Drifting on to the pads, and Kohli tries to turn it to leg, the ball brushes his thighs and runs away to fine leg for a boundary. Four leg byes.
Another gorgeous drive from Kohli. Robinson pitches it up, outside the off-stump, and Kohli unleashes his extra-cover drive. It's another boundary.
A single taken after Kohli tucks the ball to leg.
IND 83/4 in 36 overs: Anderson is back to bowl his ninth over. Swing straightaway. The first ball is on the corridor outside the off-stump, and it's left alone by Kohli. The ball moves away after pitching. The second ball is similar, perhaps closer to the off-stump: Kohli shoulders arms again.
Then short of a length, outside off-stump, Kohli stands tall and steers it to point. No fielder there, and three runs taken.
Rahane gets one in the corridor again, and leaves it alone. It swung away after pitching. And it nearly takes the edge , on the final delivery as Rahane hangs his bat in front of him.
IND 80/4 in 35 overs: Overton continues. Kohli gets a good length delivery on off-stump and defends it. Then slightly wider, in the corridor, left alone nicely.
On off-stump again, defended by Kohli.
On the legs, Kohli plays it behind square for a single.
Rahane gets one in the corridor, and shoulders arms. The final delivery is fuller, on off-stump, it's driven to mid-off for no run.
IND 79/4 in 34 overs: The sun is out now. Will it shine on India?
Woakes bowls an overpitched delivery outside off, and Kohli plays a gorgeous drive for a boundary through extra cover. Full of panache and authority. It had diamonds studded on it, that stroke.
Short of a length. Kohli gets an inside edge to the leg side and picks up a single.
IND 74/4 in 33 overs: The first delivery is defended. Kohli leaves the next three deliveries from Overton alone. Perhaps because he's not as quick as Woakes and Anderson, Kohli isn't rushed into his stroke to make an error.
A short of a length delivery on off-stump: Kohli tries to defend but it takes the inside edge of his bat and trickles into the leg side. A single taken.
Rahane gets a short of a length delivery outside off, and he plays the ball to point. No run.
IND 73/4 in 32 overs: Woakes has been asking questions of the batsmen. Kohli leaves the first two deliveries of his new over alone, and then gets a good length ball on off-stump and defends it.
And a flirt outside the off-stump! Narrowly evades the edge. It's full, it's wide. Kohli awkwardly reaches out to it.
Kohli gets a straighter delivery and he plays the ball to leg to take a single.
A huge shout for lbw! Rahane is given out! It's a good length delivery, angling into Rahane. The ball thuds into the flap of the left pad.
The decision has been overturned , as the ball tracker shows that the ball would miss the stumps. Too high. Rahane survives.
IND 72/4 in 31 overs: Kohli gives Rahane the strike as he gets one on his pads and tucks it behind square for a single.
Rahane is off the mark with a single through square leg. It's on his pads, and it's gently tucked away as well.
Kohli gets a full delivery on off-stump and defends it off the front foot. No fielders there, and Kohli and Rahane scamper through for a single.
IND 69/4 in 30 overs: In the corridor again, this time to Jadeja. The ball moves late after pitching.
Short of a length, on middle stump. Jadeja stands tall and defends.
A tempting delivery outside the off-stump; it's overpitched, wide, but Jadeja lets it go. Then a similar delivery, not as wide or full, on off-stump, and Jadeja defends it.
Close to the edge! Short of a length from Woakes, narrowly evades the edge as it goes through to the keeper.
And gone! Good length ball. Jadeja didn't know whether to pull his bat away from the ball or to defend it. He is indecisive. Eventually, the ball takes his outside edge and flies low to first slip, where Root makes no mistake.
Jadeja is dismissed for 10.
Jadeja c Root b Woakes 10 (34b)
IND 69/3 in 29 overs: A neat over from Overton to Kohli.
The deliveries are either left alone or defended. No trouble for Kohli.
IND 69/3 in 28 overs: Full, on off-stump, from Woakes. Defended by Kohli.
Woakes shifts the line slightly, it's in the corridor. Same length. It's left alone.
Similar delivery, and edged to first slip! Root drops it! Root was perhaps waiting for Rory Burns at second slip to attempt the catch, and when he didn't, he stretched out his right hand, but it was too late. The ball fell out of his hand.
A reprieve for Kohli.
It was a terrific delivery. It was neither on the fourth-stump line nor on off-stump. Kohli didn't know what to do with it: it was close enough for him to poke at it. And he nearly paid the price.
On the pads, and Kohli seizes on the opportunity to score: a flick through fine leg gets him three runs. The final delivery - short of a length, on off-stump - is defended by Jadeja.
IND 64/3 in 27 overs: Overton to bowl to Jadeja from around the wicket. The first four deliveries are left alone. A battle of attrition: who will blink first?
Jadeja does first. Slightly fuller than the other deliveries in the over. Jadeja reaches out to it and squirts it away for four through gully. The ball was in the air, but there was no fielder there.
IND 60/3 in 26 overs: Woakes to start proceedings in the post-lunch session.
A delivery in the corridor to begin the 26th over of the innings. Kohli lets the delivery go through, it seamed away after pitching. A similar delivery next up, slightly shorter, left alone again.
A nice cover drive after a delivery is pitched up to him, outside the off-stump. Woakes won't mind it too much, as it can easily bring about an edge.
Short of a length on leg stump: tucked away to fine leg for three runs. Leg byes, as the ball touches Kohli's thighs. Wide delivery to finish up: left alone again.
======
Why was Ravindra Jadeja sent in at No. 5, ahead of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant?
Is it a ploy to try and shield those batsmen so that they can cash in on tired bowlers and an old ball? As an accomplished batsman, Rahane would have been considered more adept at negotiating the difficulties. In England, though, Rahane and Jadeja now have a similar batting average - 27. Rahane has five half-centuries and a century in England, while Jadeja has three half-centuries.
Whatever the reason for sending Jadeja in at No. 5, he has played cautiously thus far, as the situation demands.
======
If there were whispers of the conditions getting better for the batters after the initial burst, well, England's bowlers have shunned such prospects. Another relentless hour at the start bore fruits as Woakes and Robinson snapped the Indian openers after a brief start. They have largely led the Indian batting order in this series so far and it's the first time that either of the openers will not be entering the second session. Pujara's woes with the late movement continued as Anderson packed him with a beauty outside the off-stump.
Kohli, under fire with the bat, has got himself to a relatively neat start. India will want him to hit top shape pretty soon in the day to prevent England from taking the early advantage in the Test.
IND 54/3 in 25 overs: And it's Lunch! Jadeja survives by seeing off some tempters that seam in late outside the off-stump. England clinch the first session, fair and square!
IND 53/3 in 24 overs: Loud shout as Anderson hits Jaddu's pads. The ball is swaying round and round now! Anderson hits the deck and gets the ball to straighten on length to hit Jadeja flush on the pads. The umpire reckons it's a bit too high, which it is and Jadeja survives.
IND 53/3 in 23 overs: Kohli takes India over 50 with successive boundaries. Overton treads on the fuller length and Kohli simply buts it behind the bowler with a full-fledged push. Anderson gives chase but the ball steams to the boundary. Overton tightens his line and drills it in the channel. Kohli leans forward to defend but the ball clips the outside edge and races through gap between gully and the slip cordon for another.
IND 43/3 in 22 overs: Kohli nearly chops one back! Anderson hits the channel with a quicker one and the thick inside-edge nearly jags back onto the wickets. He gets a single and exchanges a few words with Anderson again at the non-striker's end. Runs for Jadeja as he flicks Anderson to the leg-side to get off the blocks with two runs.
IND 40/3 in 21 overs: Kohli's yet to regain his best touch. He's having trouble prodding and has a unique jump in his follow-through. Overton's tightening the leash as Kohli tucks one to leg to rotate strike.
IND 39/3 in 20 overs: Anderson to Pujara. OUT! A snorter to clip the edge and GONE!
Only Jimmy could get to you do that. He hits the length and the ball seams away off the last second. Pujara can't bail out of it and the hard push has the ball fly to the keeper. Big jolt for the visitor before lunch.
And here's a surprise! Jadeja comes out to join Kohli before Rahane and Pant.
Cheteshwar Pujara c †Bairstow b Anderson 4 (31b 1x4)
IND 38/2 in 19 overs: Overton on the money, rightaway. Not the wickets as yet but he gets his radar on point outside the off-stump. Pujara does well by employing a neat leave to see him off.
ALSO READ -
ALSO READ | Virat Kohli fastest to 23,000 international runs
Overton into the attack
IND 38/2 in 18 overs: Kohli gets off the mark with a champion on-drive to the fence. All of his trademark flair on that one and he doesn't bother to look up on the ball. Anderson goes straight and full and Kohli's shot takes him to 23,000 international runs - the fastest to the mark in 490 innings!
Anderson returns
IND 34/2 in 17 overs: This is turning out to be quite a return for Woakes. Another nagging over that Pujara play admirably close to his body to wade out of danger. Not an inch of width and he gets another maiden over.
IND 34/2 in 16 overs: Robinson angles to Kohli's pads and it brushes and slides down for two leg byes. Kohli's having a tentative start again as he aims to play as late as possible. Robinson gets some late seam away from Kohli and he mistimes a late push to the on side.
IND 32/1 in 15 overs: First runs in eight overs! Woakes strays to the pads and Pujara obliges with a delightful flick to the square leg boundary. Woakes regains his line almost instantly and forces Pujara to play as close as possible to his body.
IND 28/1 in 14 overs: Robinson to Rahul. OUT! Loud Shout and Gone! Robinson traps his man in front. Sliding in sharply once again and Rahul expects it to whiff past him outside the off-stump. Late movement there and the ball just about clips the pads. The umpire has a long look at it before raising his finger. Rahul goes up for the review but replays umpire's call on impact. India loses its openers and has a hefty task at hand. KL Rahul lbw b Robinson 17 (44b 3x4)
IND 28/1 in 13 overs: Woakes hits Pujara's pads but an inside-edge has saved him. Incisive spell here from Woakes as he continues to hit full and straight. Pujara continues to fend them off but the runs have completely been out of the equation. Sixth maiden on the bounce. And the Drinks have been called on.
IND 28/1 in 12 overs: England loses a review. A poor review after Robinson slides one in to Rahul's pads with a lot of height on it. Rahul winces for a second with pain and umpire Illingworth is unmoved. A strange call from Root to go for it and the replays suggest that the ball is missing the leg-stump. Five maidens on the trot!
IND 28/1 in 11 overs: Menacing from Woakes. He is getting the ball to move both ways as Pujara fails to open his account. Woakes begins with a couple of away-seamers but Pujara lunges forward to push and set out on a quick run. KL rightfully send him back. Woakes works around Puji's defence with another delivery that tails in sharply off the seam. A testing phase here for the batters.
IND 28/1 in 10 overs: The ball has begun to behave strangely. Just high class bowling all-around. Robinson offers no freebies but straightens his line a lot more this time. Rahul pushes the ball off his pads carefully to offer Robinson another maiden.
IND 28/1 in 9 overs: Woakes to Rohit. OUT! A jaffa to pack Hitman in his first over! He follows up the tempter outside off with a straighter one and forces Rohit to go at it. Hits the length and bounces sharply and Rohit couldn't bail out of that line. Narrowing and the ball finds the edge off the blade and flies to straight to Bairstow. What a return, Woakesy! Rohit Sharma c †Bairstow b Woakes 11 (27b 1x4)
Chris Woakes replaces Anderson
IND 28/0 in 8 overs: Excellent stuff from Robinson! His relentless length puts Rahul's defence to a daze. He pushes the ball further away from KL's reach and Rahul has a shaky push at it. He's fortunate to have missed the ball there and Robinson settles for another maiden.
IND 28/0 in 7 overs: High class, Hitman! Anderson's having no purchase from the surface as he drills straight to Rohit who aces successive straight drives of immense quality. No hard push, just the timing and the full face of the blade to do the damage. The outfield is relatively slower and that means Rohit has to run three twice. Anderson completes the over with a snorter that hits the length and springs up. Rohit does well to leave it on length.
IND 21/0 in 6 overs: Close shave for Ro! Robinson's measure bowling in the channel is quickly followed up with a length delivery directed to middle-and-leg. Rohit leans forward and balances the ball towards mid-on but the ball lobs before Anderson and races to the boundary. Could have had his heart in his mouth there.
IND 17/0 in 5 overs: Another flourishing shot from KL! Anderson follows up his tight length with a fuller delivery and Rahul eases into another gorgeous drive through cover for four.
IND 13/0 in 4 overs: Robinson strays to the pads and Rohit flicks with ease for a single. Another excellent run as Rahul pushes a length delivery before cover and scramps for a quick one. Robinson continues to maintain his line and Rahul defends with purpose.
IND 9/0 in 3 overs: Full and driven! Anderson goes a touch too full and Rahul's on it in a flash. An exquisite drive easily puts the ball to the fence through covers. Anderson continues to tail the ball in and Rahul's edge off a forward defence skims through the vacant region between third slip and gully.
IND 1/0 in 2 overs: Robinson continues from where'd stopped. He drills through the channel and Rohit keeps a keen eye on the late movement. Rohit continues to employ a neat straight bat and gets beside the ball to defend a couple of deliveries. Maiden to start for Robinson.
Robinson from the other end
IND 1/0 in 1 over: Jimmy on the task from ball one. He begins with a sharp delivery in the channel and Rohit pushes it towards gully. Anderson follows up on the fourth stump line and gets some shape away from Rohit as well. Rohit gets off the mark with a flick to the on-side as Anderson bowls short to the body. Another straighter delivery in the channel to Rahul who leaves the ball on merit.
Jimmy Anderson with the new ball.
Game On! Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul walk out to the middle. Mighty challenge for the openers once again.
===================================
3:25PM IST: The players have lined up for the anthems.
3:15PM IST: What do you reckon, folks? Four seamers and Jaddu the way to go?
Playing XIs
Toss: England wins the Toss and elects to bowl first
Virat Kohli: We would have bowled first as well but toss isn't something you can control. Need to be prepared for either. We're looking forward to putting runs on the board. Two changes - Ishant and Shami have niggles - Umesh and Shardul are back. For us, it's about partnerships, we can't focus too much on individuals. The opening partnerships have been good, it's about getting more partnerships. We got a few days left on this tour, the series is poised nicely and there is going to be no shortage of effort from our side.
Joe Root: We're going to bowl first. Going to make use of the overhead conditions. Looks like a good morning for bowling, we need to still hit the right lines and lengths, like we did at Headingley. We've got two changes - Ollie Pope in for Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes comes in for Sam Curran. Chris (Woakes) knows his body well and we all know about his performances. (On being the top-ranked batter) It does feel nice but obviously has no standing on this game.
TOSS TIME, FOLKS!
2:50PM IST: Will Ravi Ash make it to the XI today? Well, he's bowling alone away from the team huddle. Seems like the cloud cover and the greener tinge on the pitch might prompt Kohli otherwise.
2:40PM IST: Live visuals suggest thick clouds hovering over the ground. Not a pleasant sight to start with as the players continue with their warm-ups and preps.
2:15PM IST: Stats and numbers
2:00PM IST:
Can India break its 50-year jinx at the Oval?
- MATCH PREVIEW -
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s wretched form and senior off-spinner R. Ashwin’s possible inclusion will have the most significant impact on the Indian team’s efforts to move on from its Leeds debacle when it takes on England in the fourth Test at the Oval from Thursday.
India skipper Virat Kohli knows that all is not well with his batting unit and the biggest problem is the performance of its three middle-order stalwarts — the skipper himself, his deputy Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Pujara might have redeemed himself with a knock of 91 which was high on “intent quotient” but the same can’t be said of Rahane, whose form is shaky despite a knock of 61 in the second innings at Lord’s.
READ:
In all likelihood, Rahane would get another chance, but over the past two years, his inconsistency has hurt the team badly.
If Rahane is dropped, Hanuma Vihari has a better chance of coming in as he also bowls off-spin.
The Oval track has traditionally helped spinners and Ashwin is likely to get back into the side.
The form of rival skipper Joe Root, who has already tallied over 500 runs in just three games with a hat-trick of hundreds is another cause for concern for the Indians.
READ:
Prasidh included
Meanwhile, the selection committee, based on a request from the team management, has added fast bowler Prasidh Krishna to the squad for the fourth Test.
Match starts at 3.30 p.m
RELATED
Full Squads
Comments
SHARE