Yahoo News Virat Kohli steals the show with classy 97 as India make Ben Stokes and England toil at Trent Bridge
Virat Kohli’s back could not take the strain of carrying India’s batting at Lord’s last week but support finally arrived in Nottingham as his side enjoyed their best day of the series.
Kohli fell three short of his 22nd Test century and, when he was out, trudged off an angry man, but by then he had led the way in his regal style with the best batting of the day. For once other Indian batsman played around him with Ajinkya Rahane’s 81 coming at a crucial time when England had taken three wickets in the final hour before lunch and were again sensing India in retreat.
Kohli and Rahane put on a stand of 159 for the fourth wicket to lift India back into the series, after being asked to bat first, and also showed what might have been had they prepared properly for the tour rather than decide an Essex second XI was enough warm-up for facing James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
For India these were more comfortable batting conditions, with the ball only swinging in the hour before lunch, and at 307 for six from 87 overs they have already improved on their entire match performance at Lord’s where they lasted just 81 overs across two innings.
Roles have been reversed this week. Indian cricketers are used to the spotlight and are normally the ones hiding from photographers or avoiding barked questions from television journalists. Instead, they were anonymous as the circus around Ben Stokes swamped the lead up to this Test.
Even though Kohli was the one who would make three changes to his side and drop opener Murali Vijay, India went unnoticed as they focussed on improving batting techniques not defending the selection of one player.
That was left to Joe Root, and his man Stokes had a poor day, trying too hard to justify his recall and ease the inevitable guilt over Sam Curran being axed to accommodate him. He bowled too short and wide with the new ball, an attempt at being the enforcer late on, banging the ball in short to Kohli with the leg trap set lasting just two overs before it was abandoned when he was called for a wide.
In total he bowled 15 unremarkable, wicketless overs. He kicked the turf in frustration, slapped his cap back on his head at the end of overs and was subdued in the field. The lowest point was persuading Root into a review of a catch behind that nobody else had the slightest interest in appealing. The gigantic replay screen looks down on Trent Bridge like something from a Sci-Fi film and there was no place for a chastened Stokes to hide when it showed the ball missing Hardik Pandy’s outside edge. Stokes and Root turned their backs on each other. No words were needed, but sometimes Root just needs to stand up to Stokes and say no.
On a pitch that was expected to be geared for Anderson and Broad, they took two for 166 between them and instead, for the second Saturday running, it was Chris Woakes who rallied England. This time it was with ball rather than bat, and his three wickets in the morning enabled Root to digest his lunch a little easier having decided to bowl first.
It was an understandable decision. It was cloudy, the pitch grassy and India’s batting has been flakier than old paint on the Trent Bridge pavilion. But those with local knowledge knew it was a gamble and it was instructive to see Broad standing on the shoulder of the groundsman as he rolled the pitch in the morning, already fretting about the pace being flattened out of it.
Shikhar Dhawan replaced Vijay, a good move for at least he looked to score unlike the statues at Lord’s last week. Dhawan played the ball later and looked at his most comfortable at the crease in England before Woakes found his outside edge. KL Rahul had watchfully seen off the new ball but was lbw to a Woakes inswinger that he was persuaded to wrongly review by Cheteshwar Pujara.
Pujara’s mind has been scrambled in England, firstly by failing for Yorkshire and now by England’s seamers. At home, India use Pujara as a rock upon which to grind visiting bowlers into fine dust. But outside of Asia he is a rock around their necks. Now his nerves are so frayed this most watchful of batsmen hooked a short ball straight to long leg in the final over before lunch.
Woakes had opened up the innings but England could not push through. The clouds rolled away and it became a batting afternoon. India scored 107 without loss in the second session, exactly matching their first-innings total at Lord’s. Rahane passed fifty for the first time in more than a year, and looked more positive, as if he had taken on Kohli’s call to relish the challenge.
Stokes’ poor bowling forced Root to turn to Adil Rashid earlier than he would have liked and suddenly Rahane and Kohli were facing spin when set, a lovely turn of events for India and they tucked in.
Rahane was dropped at point on 57 by a diving Anderson off Woakes but India were accelerating nicely before the second new ball, building a good base for the IPL hitters Pandya and Rishabh Pant to attack later on.
Rahane let slip a hundred driving at Broad with Alastair Cook taking a brilliant catch at slip with his left hand. It was such a stunning take that bowler and catcher stood still in shock.
Kohli and Anderson duelled again but this time the conditions were so much more in the batsman’s favour. Anderson has bowled 164 balls to Kohli without dismissing him once in the series. Kohli is winning on points in the battle of the heavyweights.
A hundred seemed inevitable. Kohli was batting beautifully. But Rashid has been bowling at Kohli since under-19s days and he should know he can bowl a wicket-taking ball from nowhere. This was not a ripper like the one that bowled Kohli at Headingley, just a decent leg-break that tempted him into the big shot. Kohli responded with a wild yahoo that was edged to Stokes at slip. Kohli muttered and swore at himself all the way back to the pavilion.
Pant marked his Test debut by smacking his second ball straight down the ground for six off Rashid, and even Anderson taking his 100th wicket against India, when Pandya edged to slip in the final over, did not wrestle the day back for England.
Close
India end a fascinating day on 307-6. That Kohli wicket was hugely important. And didn't England know it.
WICKET! Pandya c Buttler b Anderson 18
Gone! Pandya cannot make it to the close. He goes hard at a fullish ball from Anderson, the final one of the 87th over, and Buttler clings on where Jennings could not. FOW India 307-6
OVER 86: India 307-5 (Pandya 18* Pant 22*)
Pant picks up four more off Broad's first ball. Broad then comes back so well. He's been unlucky today. A few more plays and misses from Pant.
OVER 85: India 303-5 (Pandya 18* Pant 18*)
Anderson torments Pandya, beating him a couple of times outside off stump. But there is no wicket. A maiden is scant consolation for England.
OVER 84: India 303-5 (Pandya 18* Pant 18*)
Excellent from the left-handed Pant. After being beaten by Broad, he waits on a ball that spears in towards his pads and guides a boundary through the leg-side to sweep India past 300.
OVER 83: India 299-5 (Pandya 18* Pant 14*)
Pants works one and Pandya edges four through the slips. Seven compelling overs remain.
OVER 82: India 294-5 (Pandya 14* Pant 13*)
Dropped. Broad gets one to spit and Pandya edges a fairly simple chance to the right of Keaton Jennings at third slip. And it's down. Broad is gutted.
OVER 81: India 294-5 (Pandya 14* Pant 13*)
Anderson takes the new rock and Pant seems composed, clipping a couple down to fine leg.
OVER 80: India 292-5 (Pandya 14* Pant 11*)
Pandya and Pant traded singles from Rashid. And England take the new ball. One wicket here and a tough day becomes their day.
OVER 79: India 290-5 (Pandya 13* Pant 10*)
Pant pops a single into the leg-side. Pandya adds one too. Stokes' 15 overs have gone for 54.
OVER 78: India 288-5 (Pandya 12* Pant 9*)
That's pretty cool. Facing his second delivery in Test cricket, Pant steps out and lofts a Rashid googly for six. Ballsy. Rashid grins at the audacity of it. He works another two and then a single, both through the leg-side.
Here's the wicket of Kohli.
Huge wicket! ��
Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/8J6Ps5eeDe#ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/Bvh2esUia8— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 18, 2018
OVER 77: India 279-5 (Pandya 12* Pant 0*)
Wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, on Test debut, comes in. That's just the second time that Kohli has been dismissed in the nineties.
Meanwhile, Pandya plays out a maiden from Stokes.
WICKET! Kohli c Stokes b Rashid 97
Kohli calls for a cap and muscles Rashid through the off-side for two off the back foot. THEN RASHID GETS HIS REVENGE! Huge moment.
Three short of his hundred, Kohli aims a booming drive at a floated delivery and can only edge it to Stokes at slip. Rashid deserves credit for his persistence but India's skipper will be fuming. FOW India 279-5
OVER 75: India 277-4 (Kohli 95*, Pandya 12*)
Kohli gets an inside edge off Stokes when playing away from his body. He wants two but Pandya declines the second.
Verdict on that review:
Damning.
Joe Root's got to be stronger than that. Not the first time he's been coerced into an appeal by his teammates. Nonsense review. #EngvInd
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) August 18, 2018
OVER 74: India 276-4 (Kohli 94*, Pandya 12*)
Pandya pulls hard after Rashid drags one down, picking up four through straight mid-wicket. Those are the only runs off the over.
England review
Pandya left a ball that went straight on. It brushed his pad on the way through to Bairstow...England review it. Nothing doing.
OVER 73: India 272-4 (Kohli 94*, Pandya 8*)
Two twos for Kohli, the first one guided down to third man and the next into the leg-side. Rashid's returning in the sunshine.
OVER 72: India 268-4 (Kohli 90*, Pandya 8*)
Five dots from Anderson and then a boundary as Pandya skews the ball through the covers for four. Not entirely convincing. Back comes Ben Stokes.
Cook's catch
What a catch! ��
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/8J6Ps5eeDe
w/ @Schroders#ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/gQwHc2yuhn— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 18, 2018
OVER 71: India 264-4 (Kohli 90*, Pandya 4*)
Broad gets too straight, Kohli tickles down to fine leg. He does so again, and this time it misses everything. Bairstow is beaten too, and glares back at umpire Erasmus when four byes are signaled. Kohli is into the nineties after a flick for a couple.
OVER 70: India 254-4 (Kohli 84*, Pandya 4*)
Again Kohli works a single early in the over. Five dots fill the rest of it as Pandya survives an examination from Anderson.
OVER 69: India 253-4 (Kohli 83*, Pandya 4*)
Kohli pushes a single with soft hands, giving Pandya the rest of the over. India's all-rounder is off the mark with a handsome drive that is steered wide of mid-on.
OVER 68: India 248-4 (Kohli 82*, Pandya 0*)
Kohli just reminds England that he is still there, pinging a four off the back foot through point and then adding two more off the front foot in the same direction.
Anderson then goes to the in-swinger. Kohli is aware enough to swing one.
WICKET! Rahane c Cook b Broad 81
Kohli works one and then Rahane adds a pair of twos, the first thanks to a elementary mis-field from Stokes.
But then Rahane is gone! He drives loosely and Alastair Cook does extremely well to hang on, with just his left hand, at first slip. His weight was going the wrong way, it seemed, but Cook readjusted and held on. FOW: India 241/4
OVER 66: India 236-3 (Kohli 74*, Rahane 77*)
Hmm. Loose from Woakes and 17 (SEVENTEEN) from the over. A clip for three from Kohli is followed by another swivel-pull by Rahane, who picks up four.
Rahane then drops a single into the leg-side, allowing Kohli to overtake him with a straight drive that goes to the boundary. Rahane then slashes a third boundary through the off-side.
The partnership is now 154 from 236 balls.
OVER 65: India 219-3 (Kohli 66*, Rahane 68*)
Kohli sways inside a shortish ball from Broad and cuffs a pull fine for four. He adds a single and then Rahane plays a rock-solid forward defensive to end the over.
OVER 64: India 214-3 (Kohli 61*, Rahane 68*)
Woakes finds the leading edge of Rahane's bat but then digs one in and is swivel-pulled down to fine leg for one. Kohli adds a leg-side single of his own to keep the strike.
OVER 63: India 212-3 (Kohli 60*, Rahane 67*)
Kohli clips Broad and India scurry a couple. This is a good contest.
Toil
OVER 62: India 210-3 (Kohli 58*, Rahane 67*)
Rahane dispatches a pretty poor ball from Woakes, leaning back and slapping it in the air through the vacant cover point area. There was plenty of authority about that. This has been a fine little innings from Rahane.
OVER 61: India 206-3 (Kohli 58*, Rahane 63*)
Broad beats Kohli outside off and has a word with the batsman. He's trying to fire England up here and completes a maiden.
OVER 60: India 206-3 (Kohli 58*, Rahane 63*)
Tidy play from Rahane. He gets back to drop Woakes into the leg-side for a single. Slightly more ragged from Kohli, though.
India's skipper is drawn into a loose, unconvincing drive. He the picks up four to third man thanks to a bit of a gaffe on the boundary from Anderson. A single to point ends the over.
OVER 59: India 200-3 (Kohli 53*, Rahane 62*)
Kohli works one into the off-side before a fuller ball from Broad is edged along the ground and through the cordon for four by Rahane.
India's 200 comes up with another single. England need a spark here.
OVER 58: India 194-3 (Kohli 52*, Rahane 57*)
Oooh. A far less assured start to the session for Kohli, who gets a leading edge to a delivery from Woakes. That brings him a single, and Rahane plays out the rest of the over.
On the final ball he is dropped by Anderson at point. It was short, wide and Rahane climbed into it. Anderson dived and tried to push it upwards but couldn't quite gather the initial parry.
OVER 57: India 193-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 57*)
A fantastic shot from Rahane begins the evening session. Stuart Broad over-pitches and an unfussy punch brings four. Those are the only runs of the over. But they were nice ones.
Players back out
Mild conditions for the final session of this first day at Trent Bridge.
Tea
Rahane and Kohli, who have played with class and control, walk off. Their partnership is worth 107.
OVER 56: India 189-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 53*)
Rahane glances a single and four byes, way down the leg-side, end the session.
OVER 55: India 184-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 52*)
Stokes persists with hostile, short stuff to Rahane, who works an off-side single.
OVER 54: India 183-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 51*)
Just a single for Rahane from the final ball of Woakes' set, a full toss that is driven straight.
OVER 53: India 182-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 50*)
Stokes decides to bump Kohli, and digs in a few short balls. Kohli ducks twice, but takes on a couple more and misses. Proactive stuff from England, even if a wide gives India a bonus run.
OVER 52: India 181-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 50*)
Really polished shot for Rahane to go to fifty. He stretches up onto his toes, leans back and rolls his wrists on a short ball from Woakes to pick up four.
Woakes returns well, tightening up his line, and Rahane plays out the rest of the over.
OVER 51: India 177-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 46*)
Anderson completes a maiden with Kohli defending watchfully.
100 clear
He can bat a bit, Virat Kohli.
OVER 50: India 177-3 (Kohli 51*, Rahane 46*)
Kohli presses forward and almost forehands a single to the sweeper on the off-side to secure an 18th Test match fifty. He has 22 hundreds as well, so won't be satisfied just yet.
Big love from the Trent Bridge balcony.
Rahane, proving a willing ally in this partnership, adds a leg-side single and Kohli does the same into the off-side.
OVER 49: India 174-3 (Kohli 49*, Rahane 45*)
Lovely shot from Rahane. He leans back and carves a boundary through the off-side. Those are the only runs off another accurate Anderson over.
Rashid is traded for Woakes.
OVER 48: India 170-3 (Kohli 49*, Rahane 41*)
Eight off Rashid and that might be that. Kohli and Rahane trade singles before the former smacks a half-tracker to the fence.
A wristy drive for two ends the over and brings Kohli to the verge of a half century.
OVER 47: India 162-3 (Kohli 42*, Rahane 40*)
A single to Kohli before Anderson joins five dots bowling to Rahane.
Match action
Here's Rahane slamming a cut off the bowling of Rashid.
OVER 46: India 161-3 (Kohli 41*, Rahane 40*)
Another three off Rashid. In truth, though, he's really fortunate. A few very short, pretty ugly deliveries in there.
OVER 45: India 158-3 (Kohli 40*, Rahane 38*)
Maiden for Anderson to Rahane. This partnership is worth 76 now.
OVER 44: India 158-3 (Kohli 40*, Rahane 38*)
Just three from that Rashid over, one to Rahane and two to Kohli. A hint of rhythm.
OVER 43: India 155-3 (Kohli 38*, Rahane 37*)
Another stifled appeal as Anderson hits Kohli on the pads. He's so far out of his crease, though. Umpire Marais Erasmus is unmoved.
Kohli picks up four through point before a louder appeal. Not out again. excellent contest.
OVER 42: India 151-3 (Kohli 34*, Rahane 37*)
Kohli adds a single and Rahane takes advantage of Rashid's inconsistent length to pinch a pair of twos. England's leg-spinners ends the over well, though.
OVER 41: India 146-3 (Kohli 33*, Rahane 33*)
Rahane clips Anderson serenely for four but is beaten next ball. A quick two to fine leg brings drinks. These two batsmen are doing well in a tricky patch.
OVER 40: India 140-3 (Kohli 33*, Rahane 27*)
Messy start from Rashid. After Kohli works a short ball to deep mid-wicket for two, there are a pair of poor deliveries. Kohli whips a short one to fine leg and slams the next, which is over-pitched through the off-side. Ten from the over.
OVER 39: India 130-3 (Kohli 23*, Rahane 27*)
Maiden over from Anderson, who tests the patience of Rahane. Interesting. Here comes Adil Rashid.
OVER 38: India 130-3 (Kohli 23*, Rahane 27*)
Close to a wicket, and a moment of indiscipline from Rahane. He flashes at a wide delivery from Stokes and picks up four. It was aerial for a while.
Rahane and Kohli trade singles before the former, India's skipper, deals with a full toss by carving it through mid-wicket.
OVER 37: India 119-3 (Kohli 18*, Rahane 21*)
James Anderson comes back and Rahane pings a sweet drive for three. Kohli adds two in a similar direction to end the over.
OVER 36: India 114-3 (Kohli 16*, Rahane 18*)
Stokes into the attack his third delivery lifts off a length. Rahane doesn't really need to play at that but does and edges.
Keaton Jennings is close at third slip, even wearing a helmet, but cannot cling on. Four to Rahane.
An inside edge brings a groan from Stokes and Kohli sees out the remainder of a promising over.
OVER 35: India 109-3 (Kohli 16*, Rahane 13*)
Woakes continues and is driven handsomely through the off-side for four by Kohli. He recovers well, stringing together five dots.
OVER 34: India 105-3 (Kohli 12*, Rahane 13*)
Another maiden for Broad. Really tight lines.
OVER 33: India 105-3 (Kohli 12*, Rahane 13*)
Stifled appeal from Woakes' first delivery as Kohli creeps across his pegs and misses. Too high.
A leg bye follows and Rahane picks up four with a false shot - a leading edge that disappears through the slips.
Another leg bye ends the over and Woakes might take a break there.
OVER 32: India 99-3 (Kohli 12*, Rahane 9*)
Just a leg-side Kohli single from Broad's over.
OVER 31: India 98-3 (Kohli 11*, Rahane 9*)
Assured straight drive to the boundary from Rahane. That was solid, beating mid-off to the right. Woakes then errs slightly towards leg stump. Anderson mis-fields, so the batsmen can add three more.
Kohli keeps the strike with another leg-side single. India physio Patrick Farhart is on, having a look at Kohli's arm.
OVER 30: India 90-3 (Kohli 10*, Rahane 2*)
Broad keeps probing and coaxes a drive out of Kohli. Ben Stokes pounces at backward point to stop the single.
Ah. That's gorgeous batting. Kohli opens the face slightly more to the next delivery and picks up two. He's then across his stumps to manoeuvre two more through mid-wicket. Kohli goes to double figures.
OVER 29: India 86-3 (Kohli 6*, Rahane 2*)
Woakes is in a lovely groove but Rahane always seems quite organised. India's number five gets off the mark by nudging into the leg-side for a couple - the only runs from the over.
OVER 28: India 84-3 (Kohli 6*, Rahane 0*)
Just a couple from Broad's comeback set, picked up after Kohli plays with soft hands off the back foot and guides the ball down through the gully region.
After that delivery, Broad beats Kohli with an absolute snorter. As the ball slaps into Jonny Bairstow's gloves, batsman and bowler share some eye contact.
Oooph. A very good over ends with Kohli in a spot of bother. He tries to leave but a nip-backer spits into his body.
OVER 27: India 82-3 (Kohli 4*, Rahane 0*)
Woakes completes a wicket maiden as Rahane negotiates two deliveries.
Three wickets for @chriswoakes in the morning session! ��
Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/8J6Ps5eeDe#ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/koe8p3vm1K— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 18, 2018
Stuart Broad will continue after lunch.
Players out
Hello there. Charlie Morgan here. I'll take you through the middle session, starting with the end of Woakes' latest wicket-taking over. Rahane is the new batsman and India, following a bright start, are tottering.
Lunch taken
Woakes has two more deliveries left of the over but lunch will be taken now with India at 82-3. Three wickets from Woakes this session has switched the balance to England after a bright start from India.
WICKET! Pujara b Woakes c Rashid 14
It's Woakes again! Pujara hooks a short ball instead of ducking under it and Rashid makes a clean catch on the boundary. India 82-3
OVER 25: India 82-2 (Pujara 14*, Kohli 4*)
England use first review to question an lbw not out call on Kohli but it's not overturned. Both India and England have a review each remaining. It's a decent over for Broad, Kohli is frustrated at not getting a clean hit of a wide ball and it's another maiden from Broad.
OVER 24: India 82-2 (Pujara 14*, Kohli 4*)
Nice touch from Kohli to pick up three off Woakes. Pujara has time to watch one outswinging delivery. While Broad and Woakes are now finding a bit of movement, the pitch remains slow.
OVER 23: India 79-2 (Pujara 14*, Kohli 1*)
Broad back into the attack and with his opening delivery he unnerves Kohli as he's beaten outside off. The India captain gets off the mark as he pushes to offside. Broad widens his eyes at disbelief as his final rasping delivery goes through Pujara but whizzes over the stumps to Bairstow. Even the umpire couldn't believe how that one missed.
OVER 22: India 76-2 (Pujara 12*, Kohli 0*)
Nicely timed from Pujara who picks up four on the offside. It's the only thing doing.
OVER 21: India 72-2 (Pujara 8*, Kohli 0*)
India recover, getting four leg byes on the scoreboard before Pujara picks up three off Stokes' final delivery.
OVER 20: India 65-2 (Pujara 5*, Kohli 0*)
The good news is we have our TV pictures back. The bad news. We missed a wicket. But Kohli has now come to the crease.
WICKET!! Rahul goes for 23 lbw b Woakes
Woakes makes another breakthrough in his final delivery. India review the decision but it's a waste.
OVER 19: India 65-1 (Pujara 5*, Rahul 23*)
Pujara hits through to the boundary for four off Stokes' second delivery and we're momentarily without pictures here. Bear with us please.
OVER 19: India 61-1 (Pujara 1*, Rahul 23*)
Pujara replaces Dhawan and gets off the mark in Woakes' final delivery. Woakes' wicket a key breakthrough this morning just as India were building up a head of steam.
WICKET! Dhawan goes for 35 b Woakes c Butler
Woakes makes the breakthrough as Dharwan edges to second slip where Butler wraps his hands around the ball. India 60-1.
OVER 18: India 60-0 (Dhawan 35*, Rahul 23*)
Stokes adopts his hands on head pose again as he watches another top edge fly over the slips to the covers from Kahul. It moves India on to 60 for their best partnership of the series, their previous highest was 57 and a 10th-wicket pairing at that.
OVER 17: India 56-0 (Dhawan 35*, Rahul 19*)
Rahul moves India past the 50 mark with a drive to the covers and then backs it up with another four, this time off the outside edge. Nine off the over in total.
OVER 16: India 47-0 (Dhawan 35*, Rahul 10*)
Nearly. Very nearly for Stokes. Dhawan clips one to the slips but it doesn't carry. Stokes places his hands on his head. He's have loved to make the breakthrough for England. Dhawan responds two deliveries later, accepting the invitation of a short ball to strike through short cover.
OVER 15: India 43-0 (Dhawan 31*, Rahul 10*)
Woakes introduced now for Anderson. Can the all-rounder break the partnership of the opening pair? His second delivery beats the outside edge and Dhawan gives Woakes a little nod of approval. Dhawan gets the next one away, only to fine leg. Rahul swings and misses at the next and wisely opts to leave well alone the next. Time for some drinks.
OVER 14: India 42-0 (Dhawan 30*, Rahul 10*)
Close now from Stokes as Dhawan covers his stumps and is beaten on the inside edge. A better over from Stokes, just the one conceded.
OVER 13: India 41-0 (Dhawan 29*, Rahul 10*)
Anderson staying patient at the other end with a maiden. Not much movement out there now. Wonder if Root is wondering why he opted to bowl.
OVER 12: India 41-0 (Dhawan 29*, Rahul 10*)
Stokes round the wicket to the left-handed Dhawan now. Dhawan has been steady this morning, biding his time. He doesn't have to wait long, crunching the second delivery to the covers. Stokes finds a better line but Rahul still collects a single. A nice moment now as Stokes barges into Dhawan as he chases down a short ball. The collision is minimal but both men were well within their rights to hold the line. Stokes winks to the opening batsman who puts his arm around in kind and then offers a handshake.
OVER 11: India 35-0 (Dhawan 24*, Rahul 9*)
Good work from Jennings to prevent Dhawan of a quick single. He's off the mark this over during the penultimate delivery.
OVER 10: India 34-0 (Dhawan 23*, Rahul 9*)
A ripple of applause round Trent Bridge now as Stokes is called into the bowling attack for Broad. Rahul connects to a short opening delivery for a single. Dhawan gives short shrift to Stokes' second delivery, given a little bit of width he strikes through for four. Dhawan shows great intent with another quick single and Rahul follows the opening bat's lead with his only dart between the wickets. Eight off the over for Stokes.
OVER 9: India 26-0 (Dhawan 18*, Rahul 7*)
Just the one off the over, Rahul collecting a quick single.
OVER 8: India 25-0 (Dhawan 18*, Rahul 6*)
Broad tries his luck with a couple of wider balls but Dhawan isn't biting. The ball is swinging out there, but the wicket is slow, giving the batsmen time to watch the movement. Dhawan flicks a ball down fine leg, where there's no one covering to pick up a boundary. Another flick down the same channel brings up another boundary much to Broad's annoyance.
OVER 7: India 17-0 (Dhawan 10*, Rahul 6*)
Anderson finding some swing now causing Rahul some problems. A maiden over. Jimmy's first of the morning.
OVER 6: India 17-0 (Dhawan 10*, Rahul 6*)
Stokes gets back to work trying to prevent a boundary off Rahul but finds himself producing a roly poly and skidding over the rope. It's the first runs off Broad this morning. Another single from Rahul keeps the scoreboard ticking along.
OVER 5: India 12-0 (Dhawan 10*, Rahul 1*)
Rahul gets off the mark facing his eighth delivery. Dhawan finds the first boundary of the day, the left-hander pushing to deep square leg. A slight chance on the final ball as Dhawan catches a high ball. It goes over the head of the slips for another four.
OVER 4: India 3-0 (Dhawan 2*, Rahul 0*)
Great zip from Broad again from the Pavillion End. Dhawan thinks about a nibble but then reels in. That was past the outside edge and very close. Broad closes again with a repeat of his fourth delivery. Another maiden.
OVER 3: India 3-0 (Dhawan 2*, Rahul 0*)
Dhawan flicks the ball to midwicket but opts against a quick run. A leg bye is the only thing doing this over. India staying patient.
OVER 2: India 2-0 (Dhawan 2*, Rahul 0*)
Broad starts at the Pavillion End now on home territory. Another four slips for the paceman. Broad showing good length with the ball moving slightly. The fourth delivery nearly draws an appeal from Broad as Rahul has a look before leaving. Great length again on the final ball. It's a maiden over.
OVER 1: India 2-0 (Dhawan 2*, Rahul 0* )
James Anderson takes the ball to get the third Test under way with four slips waiting, Stokes the fourth. The camera flashes to Curran watching from the sidelines as he ties his shoelaces. Not much action for the youngster today. Dhawan is off the mark on second delivery with a quick two. Dhawan leaves a couple of deliveries to see out the over.
The players are out
Cloudy overhead at Trent Bridge but no rain forecast today.
Pant one of three changes for India
India have played 'musical chairs' this series, to coin a phrase used by our cricket correspondent Scyld Berry in his preview piece this morning. And why change a habit of a lifetime in Nottingham? Three switches have been made in total, fit-again seamer Jasprit Bumrah in for spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan back to open instead of Murali Vijay and wicketkeeper Pant makes his debut.
England win toss and bowl first
Root makes call to bowl first on a 'furry wicket', according to Michael Vaughan.
Root: "There is a nice covering of grass on this pitch and our seamers have been doing extremely well. I think it's a great opportunity for this team to do something special, if we play to potential."
Furry Deck here at Trent Bridge .... #ENGvIND
A post shared by Michael vaughan (@michaelvaughan) on Aug 18, 2018 at 2:13am PDT
Rishabh Pant handed Test cap
As expected, Virat Kohli has changed things up again for India and hands Rishabh Pant his first Test cap.
Pant has only played 23 first-class matches and his international experience is limited to four T20s.
Root faces challenge to impose authority on team
Paul Hayward says that Joe Root has a dilemma of stamping his mark on England while under pressure to deliver a series victory.
He writes:
In Australia at the Ashes, it was popular to ask when this would become “Joe’s team.” In a year, people said, Root would have kicked out the carousers and shaped this side in his image. But the Stokes saga has stalked him ever since England took off for Brisbane en route to a 4-0 pasting. Now, after England’s wins in Birmingham and at Lord’s, pragmatism shines brighter than principles.
Stokes returns to his day job
Morning all and welcome to coverage of day one of the third Test at Trent Bridge where the attention will be heavily weighted in Ben Stokes' direction.
Stokes was recalled into the England team at the expense of Lord's match-of-the-match Sam Curran yesterday just four days after being cleared of affray at Bristol Crown Court.
Joe Root described the switch as "probably one of the most difficult selections" he has been part of as Test captain, but added Stokes is confident he is mentally ready to play again.
Stokes missed the Lord's victory last week which saw England move 2-0 up in the series with three to play because of his court date.
"He (Stokes) told me he's desperate to get out there, wants to put in performances and concentrate on his cricket now," Root said yesterday.
"He felt he was ready to play. We obviously assessed his fitness as well, over the course of the two days."
Stokes in the only change for England, while India, who have preferred to mix things up in the last two Tests, have yet to firm up their side.
England: JE Root (captain), AN Cook, KK Jennings, OJD Pope, JM Bairstow (wkt), BA Stokes, JC Buttler, CR Woakes, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson
India (possible): V Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, C Pujara, A Rahane, R Pant (wkt), H Pandya, R Ashwin, I Sharma, M Shami, J Bumrah
