Good morning and welcome to day two of the third Test between England and India in Rajkot, where the hosts resume on 326/5.
It was yet another see-saw day in this series yesterday, with England coming out of the block fast with the ball. Two wickets from Mark Wood and one from Tom Hartley, reduced India to 33-3 in the morning session, leaving the door ajar for Ben Stokes’ side to take full control of the match, and by proxy, the series.
However, superb hundreds from captain Rohot Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja rebuffed England’s early dominance and, alongside a cameo from debutant Sarfaraz Khan, put India just about on top heading into day two.
The frustration for England will be that they missed at least three golden chances to turn the tide theri way again. Joe Root’s regulation drop of Rohit Sharma as well two further missed lbw reviews, of both Sharma and Jadeja, may well have turned the tide instead.
However, England now face the reality that they must take early wickets this morning if they are to keep themselves in with a proper puncher’s chance of winning this Test match.
The first task will be removing the obstinate Jadeja and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav. If they do and then are able to get through the tail with a minimum of fuss, they will have the chance to make their own mark with the bat on what looks a very good surface in Rajkot.
Quick scoring looks possible on this surface and while yesterday there was some assistance for the spinners and some, at least in parts, for the seamers, especially with the new ball, this remains and excellent pitch to bat on.
Stokes will be climbing the wall to let his top order make their mark on it. He just has to hope that India are not out of sight by the time they do.
Play will start at 4am and we’ll bring you coverage of every ball.