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Wed, 01 August 2018
1st Test: Ashwin leaves England in a mess on Day 1

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23:11   Ashwin leaves England in a mess on Day 1


England 285-9 (88 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up four wickets to leave England in a mess on Day 1 of the first Test in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Ashwin claimed four for 60 in 25 overs on a first day pitch offering the off-spinner a lot of assistance, as England finished the day on 285 for nine in 88 overs.

Mohammed Shami picked up two for 64, while Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav took one wicket each.

The turning point of the day was no doubt Virat Kohli's brilliance in the field which resulted in the run out of the well set Joe Root.

England skipper Root, who stroked 80 and put on 104 runs for the fourth wicket with Jonny Bairstow, was run out by a direct hit from Kohli from midwicket as he attempted a second run.

Bairstow followed suit as he was bowled off an inside edge for 70, resulting in a mini collapse as England slipped from 216 for three to 243 for seven.

Sam Curran was unbeaten on 24 with lastman James Anderson yet to score at stumps on the opening day.

In the final session on Day 1, England lost six wickets for 122 runs in 34 overs.

Ashwin made the early breakthrough for India as he bowled Alastair Cook with a beauty for 13. The former England captain played forward to a ball that drifted in towards middle stump before straightening past Cook's outside edge and clattering off stump.

Shami eventually took the wicket of Keaton Jennings midway through the afternoon while Dawid Malan could only score eight before becoming the Indian's second victim of the day.
23:02  


England 285-9 (88 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ishant continues as Curran turns the first ball on the leg side for a single. Anderson is beaten a couple of times but still manages to play out the rest of the over.

Curran doing well to take strike against Ashwin as he blocks the first five balls and takes a single off the last ball to retain strike.

Shami comes back into the attack, replacing Ishant. Curran defends the first two balls before Shami gets one to move away a lot and wicketkeeper Karthik does well to somehow half stop it with some help from the slip fielder.

Curran steers the fourth ball to thirdman and turns down the single. He edges the fifth ball but wicketkeeper Karthik puts down the catch, diving across and makes a one-handed attempt and ends up spilling it when it was going straight into the hands of the fielder at first slip.

Curran watchfully blocks the final ball of the day as England finish on 285 for nine in 88 overs.
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22:50   Ashwin picks 4th wicket; England 9 down


England 283-9 (85 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ashwin continues his wicket ways as Broad is completely deceived by the quicker delivery which slides on straight on and traps the left-hander plumb in front of the stumps.

A fourth wicket for Ashwin as Broad walks back for one with England slipping to 283 for nine, in the 85th over.

James Anderson nearly plays down the wrong line but somehow adjusts his block at the last minute to keep it out.

He does well to play out the over with utmost caution and Ashwin takes his time to bowl the final ball of the over, to ensure that India don't need to come out and bat if Anderson is dismissed off the last ball.
22:44   Rashid out for 13, England 8 down


England 283-8 (84 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Pandya comes back into the attack with a few overs to go for the new ball.

The first ball is wide as Curran crashes it through the covers for a four. He repeats the shot off the last ball for another boundary to give the England supporters something to cheer.

Rashid tries the late cut off a quick leg spinner as he steers it past Rahane in the slips for a four. He steps down the wicket and lofts the next over square leg for another boundary and then defends the remaining three deliveries of the over.

Ishant comes back as India look for some pace to stem the flow of runs and also finish off the lower order as soon as possible.

Curran continues to find the boundaries as he crashes Ishant through the covers this time off the back foot.

A single off the last ball as England reach 274 for seven in 80 overs, having scored 21 runs off the last three overs.

Ashwin continues as India decide against taking the new ball straightaway.

Curran clips the second ball to fine leg for one and Rashid turns the fourth ball to deep midwicket for another single.

Ishant continues as Rashid tucks the first ball on the leg side for a single. He peppers Curran with three bouncers before beating him with one that is pitched up a bit more before the left-hander takes one to keep strike.

India continue with the old ball and the decision is justified as Ishant dismisses Rashid leg before wicket for 13.

The umpire gave it not out forcing India to take the review which went in their favour with the ball hitting in line and going on to hit the leg stump.

India are aware that if they take the new ball at this stage, there is a risk that runs could come freely against the brand new hard ball, which could fly off the bat.

Ishant bowls a couple of full deliveries to new batsman Stuart Broad before trying a short ball which goes down the leg side and beats keeper Karthik for four byes.

The last ball is a full toss as Broad taps it to mid-on for a single to get off the mark.
22:15   Stokes out for 21, England 7 down


England 253-7 (77 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Curran on strike against Ashwin and he does his job to perfection, keeping out the over from the off-spinner with utmost caution.

Shami continues to go past the edge as he beats Stokes, who pokes at a wide one. The next ball is on the stumps as Stokes clips it to fine leg for one.

Curran gets an edge off the last ball but it falls short of the fielder in the slips.

The wickets keep tumbling for England. This time Stokes gifts his wicket away, offering a simple return catch back to the bowler Ashwin off a leading edge.

Stokes walks back for 21 as England slip to 243 for seven after being well placed at 216 for three at one stage.

Wonderful spell of bowling from Ashwin on a Day 1 wicket in England as he picks up his third wicket, in his 19th over.

Adil Rashid comes forward to defend but the ball sneaks through the gap between bat and pad and beats wicketkeeper Karthik for a bye.

Rashid gets a thick outside edge off Shami for a single on the off-side to get off the mark.

Curran also edges the next ball as it falls short of the slips who is unable to stop it cleanly to give away two runs followed by a single.

Rashid clips the fifth ball uppishly through square leg for two runs.

A beauty from Ashwin, plenty of spin and some sharp bounce, as Curran is drawn forward to defend but is beaten all ends up.

So much turn on offer for Ashwin. India will already regret not playing Kuldeep Yadav, who have been a handful on this wicket.

Curran turns the fourth ball on the leg side for two runs and takes one from the next as England go past the 250-run mark.
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21:55   Buttler out for a duck; England in trouble


England 242-6 (72 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Umesh gifts Stokes a half-volley on the pads which he clips through square leg for a four followed by singles off the last two balls.

Ashwin follows it up with a maiden over to left-hander Sam Curran, whose primary task will be to hold one end up and just give Stokes some support.

Shami comes into the attack and he also drifts on the pads as Stokes collects another boundary through the leg side.

He leans forward the drives the last ball through the covers for three runs as Vijay does well to chase the ball and keep it inside the ropes.

Stokes looking to be positive and keep the scoreboard ticking as he turns Ashwin on the leg side for two runs and then picks a single off the fifth ball.

In the next over, Stokes clips Shami through the leg side for another couple of runs to take his score to 20.
21:34   Buttler out for a duck; England in trouble


England 224-6 (67 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

India have a chance to build the pressure and push for more wickets with two new batsmen out in the middle in Stokes and Jos Buttler.

And Ashwin makes it worse for England as he traps Buttler leg before wicket for a duck. He was tentative coming forward to a flighted delivery from Ashwin and was struck right in front of the stumps to leave the umpire with an easy decision. And rightly so, he decided against the review.

Three wickets for eight runs in the space of 26 balls as England slip to 224 for six, in the 67th over.
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21:29   Root and Bairstow perish; England 5 down


England 223-5 (66 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

The struggling Umesh comes back into the attack. Is it the right time to bring back the wayward Umesh especially with a new batsman out in the middle in Ben Stokes?

Bairstow punches the second ball down the ground as Murali Vijay makes a diving stop to keep it down to one.

New batsman Stokes is content to play it safe as he watchfully sees off the remaining four deliveries of the over.

In the next over, Bairstow turns Ashwin on the leg side for one before Stokes also clips the off-spinner on the on-side for a single to get off the mark.

Another single for Bairstow as three runs come from the Ashwin over.

Umesh makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Bairstow as India continue to chip away at the wickets.

Bairstow chases a wide delivery but only manages to drag it back on to his stumps to be bowled after a fluent 70 from 88 balls.

Two big wickets -- that of Root and Bairstow -- in the space of 24 balls as England slip to 223 for five after 66 overs.
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21:16   Root run out for 80, England 4 down


England 217-4 (63 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ashwin comes into the attack. Bairstow continues the flow of runs as he guides the first ball fine on the off-side for a four.

That brings up the 100-run stand for the fourth wicket from 137 balls, with Bairstow being a major contributor with 64 from 78 balls.

But against the run of play, India strike with the key wicket of Root, who is run out for 80.

An unfortunate dismissal for England as Root is caught short, trying to respond for the call for a second run from Bairstow on the leg side. And to his credit, India captain Kohli did well to chase the ball and release it quickly and more importantly at the right end, with Root struggling to make his crease as the throw hit the stumps directly.

A moment of magic from the captain himself to dismiss his opposite number and he will hope his bowlers can grab the momentum and look to take another wicket or two.
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21:09   Root, Bairstow hit 50s as England cross 200


England 211-3 (62 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Bairstow growing in confidence as he plays another beautiful drive through the covers off Shami for a four.

The England duo pick up easy four singles off Pandya in the next over as the scoreboard keeps ticking at a good rate.

Bairstow taking a few chances as he lashes at a wide short ball which flies wide off the slips for a four.

Another couple of singles off Pandya's eighth over as England reach 195 for three in 60 overs.

Shami's full delivery catches Root on the crease as he looks to flick it across the line but the slight inside edges saves him.

In the next over, Root steers Pandya to thirdman to bring up England's 200, in the 62nd over.

Bairstow then punches a half-volley from Pandya straight down the ground, past mid-on for a four, to bring up his half-century from 72 balls.

The next ball is slightly short as Bairstow punches it through the covers for another boundary.

The runs are flowing at a good rate after tea as Bairstow turns the next ball on the leg side and sprints across for two runs and keeps strike with a single from the last ball, as 12 comes from the over.

England have scored 48 runs in eight overs in the post-tea session to take control of the proceedings.
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20:41   Root hits half-century as England build total


England 177-3 (56 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Shami, who bowled an impressive spell after lunch, will start off with the ball in the post-tea session.

He is on the mark straightaway as Bairstow is forced to poke at a wide delivery only to get an edge which flies past the slips for a four.

Three balls later, he again gets a thick edge but it goes on the bounce to Rahane at third slip, who does well to stop it and seems to have injured his fingers.

Bairstow keeps strike with a quick single on the leg side off the last ball.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya from the other end. He starts with a bouncer but Bairstow has enough time to duck under it before he turns the next ball on the leg side for one.

A half-volley on the pads is flicked through midwicket by Root for a boundary and the last ball, which is short down the leg side, is pulled fine for the same result as Root ends the over with back to back fours.
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20:14   Root hits half-century to steer England to 163-3 at tea


England 163-3 (54 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Joe Root hit an unbeaten half-century to guide England to 163 for three in 54 overs at the tea interval against India, on Day 1 of the first Test in Birmingham.

Root stroked a fluent 65 not out, hitting seven fours, and was involved in an unbroken stand of 51 for the fourth wicket with Jonny Bairstow, who was unbeaten on 26.

Earlier, pacer Mohammed Shami had rocked with a two-wicket burst in the post-lunch session.

Keaton Jennings dragged it back on to his stumps to be bowled off an inside edge for 42, before Shami trapped Dawid Malan leg before wicket for eight.

Overall, England scored 80 runs in 26 overs, losing two wickets in the post-tea session.

The opening day is still well poised with India chipping at the wickets, while Root has held firm for England with the bat.
20:08   Root hits half-century; England on top


England 162-3 (53 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

All-rounder Pandya comes back, replacing Umesh, who has struggled so far with the ball.

Root plays a loose shot, flirting with a wide outswinger and is beaten before he manages to play out a maiden over.

Ashwin nearly bowls a maiden to Bairstow before the right-hander drives the last ball through the covers for two runs.

Pandya produces the edge as Bairstow chases a wide delivery but it goes in the gap through the vacant gully region for a boundary.

In the next over, Root hits Ashwin through the off-side for two runs to raise the 50-run stand for the fourth wicket.
19:53   Root hits half-century; England on top


England 153-3 (49 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

The struggling Umesh starts his new over with a poor delivery. A full ball angled on the pads as Root flicks it through square leg for an easy boundary.

Root has got atleast a half-century in each of the 12 Tests against India. What a player!

Another delivery on the pads is clipped through midwicket for a couple as Umesh continues to struggle.

India will need to keep things tight with another 20-25 minutes for tea and not allow England to seize back the initiative after a couple of quick wickets by Shami earlier in the post-lunch session.

Ashwin comes back and Bairstow immediately targets the spinner, swinging the second ball over midwicket for a four to take England past 150.
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19:44   Root hits half-century to steady England


England 141-3 (47 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Umesh comes back, to replace Shami, as India continue to use their pacers in short bursts after the lunch interval.

He starts with a short wide delivery which Root cuts square on the off-side for two runs and sees off the rest of the over.

Ishant overpitches as Bairstow plays a beautiful drive through the covers for a four and two balls later pulls a short ball to deep square leg for one before Root retains strike with one from the last ball.

Bairstow has been quite busy since his arrival at the crease. He tucks a short ball from Umesh behind square and rushes across for two runs before he slaps the next ball straight but is stopped by mid-off.

He gets a thick outside edge off the last ball which flies through the vacant gull region for a single to thirdman.
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19:27   Root hits half-century to steady England


England 127-3 (43 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ashwin comes back as India look to seize the momentum and pick up another wicket or two.

He drops it slightly short as Bairstow hits it past point for three runs. Ashwin then gifts Root a full toss in his attempt to bowl the carrom ball which the right-hander drives through the covers for a four.

He is hit on the pads trying to hit it across the line but the leg before wicket appeal is turned down.

Shami bowls a beauty, getting a lot of movement, as Bairstow chases it and is beaten, he is lucky not to have edged it.

Root does well to keep the incoming delivery out before he takes one off the last ball to retain strike.

Just a couple of overs for Ashwin before he is replaced by Ishant. Root bring up his half-century from 107 balls with a single from the fifth ball, and continue his superb run against India in Tests.
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19:13   Shami strikes again; England 3 down


England 113-3 (40 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Change of ends for Ishant as he takes over from Umesh. Root picks a run from the first ball before Malan takes one off the next ball on the off-side.

Root gets a leading edge off the last ball trying to turn it on the leg side but it falls safely on the off-side.

In the next over, Shami tries a short ball to Malan but it is down the leg side as the left-hander pulls it fine for a four and then takes one off the next.

Off-spinner Ashwin comes back into the attack. Malan immediately comes down the track and is beaten and hit on the pads. The Indians appeal for leg before which is turned down before they decide to review.

The impact is outside the line of off-stump as India end up losing their review.

Root gets an edge off the next ball trying to drive it through the covers but it flies past Rahane in the slips and goes for a four.

That brings up Root's 6000 runs in Test cricket and he gets an applause from the home fans.

Shami picks up another wicket in his next over. A full delivery which swings in sharply hits Malan on the backfoot and the umpire rules him out leg before wicket.

This time England decide to take the DRS but the decision stays as Malan goes back for eight. The impact was umpire's call and even the impact with the ball clipping the bails as umpire Gaffaney's decision stays.

England have lost two quick wickets to be reduced to 112 for three, in the 40th over.

Shami looking very threatening with the ball. He bowls a full swinging delivery to new batsman Jonny Bairstow, who does well to keep it out, before he gets off the mark with a single off the next ball.
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18:56   Shami dismisses Jennings, England 2 down


England 100-2 (36 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ishant trying to set up Root as he starts his new over with an incoming delivery as right-hander blocks with a straight bat.

The next ball goes the other way as Root is committed to the defensive poke and is beaten. He does well to see off the over before he retains strike off the last ball with a single.

Root picks a single off Umesh as Rahane misfields at point before Jennings gets an inside edge trying to play the drive and picks up two runs to fine leg.

Root not wasting any opportunity to score as he drives a wide delivery from Ishant through the covers for two runs. Two balls later, he gets a thick outside edge for two runs before Jennings offers no shot to the last three balls.

Umesh bowls another tidy over, a maiden to Root, as India look to build the pressure with some disciplined bowling.

Shami comes back into the attack, replacing Ishant and he strikes with the first ball of his new spell.

Jennings defends with an angled bat as the ball goes between his legs and on to the stumps to bowl the left-hander.

An unlucky dismissal for Jennings who walks back after a good innings of 42, when he looked set for much more.

Dawid Malan gets off the mark with two runs off the first ball he faces, as he hits a short wide ball from Shami square on the off-side to bring up England's 100, in the 36th over.

The last ball comes in slightly as Malan is beaten, trying to defend it.
18:28   Jennings, Root keep India at bay


England 91-1 (31 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Umesh to start off proceedings with the ball for India. Jennings offers no shot to the first ball which is wide before he defends the next two.

He then bowls it well wide outside the off-stump as Karthik dives but is unable to stop it and ends up giving away four byes before the left-hander sees off the last two balls.

Ishant from the other end. The first ball cuts in sharply as Root blocks it watchfully before turning the next ball on the leg side for one.

Two balls later, Jennings taps it on the off-side for another easy single before Root goes after a wide delivery but is beaten as England reach 89 for one in 30 overs.

Umesh from round the wicket gets the ball to jag in as Jennings leaves it alone and watches it sail close to the stumps. The next ball again swings in as Jennings is hit on the pads but the inside edge saves him from the leg before appeal.

Two singles off the Umesh over as England continue to build steadily to reach 91 for one in 31 overs.


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17:37   Jennings, Root guide England to 83-1 at lunch


England 83-1 (28 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Joe Root and Keaton Jennings steadied England after an early wicket to guide the hosts to 83 for one at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test in Birmingham, on Wednesday.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the lone spinner included in India's playing XI, made the early breakthrough when he bowled Alastair Cook for 13.

But Jennings, who was dropped on nine, made most of the reprieve to be unbeaten on 38 at the lunch break.

Captain Root, who was among the runs in the ODI series against India, once again looked in good touch as he hit a fluent 31.

The duo put on an unbroken stand of 57 for the second wicket to keep India's bowlers at bay.

India's pacers, especially Ishant Sharma, bowled well at the start in some helpful conditions but were unable to pick up wickets despite getting the edge a few times.

Earlier, England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat in the opening Test of the five match series against India at Edgbaston.

India left out their regular No. 3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in favour of KL Rahul, who has been in fine form in recent months, while Ashwin was the lone spinner along with three fast bowlers.
17:32   Jennings, Root guide England to 83-1 at lunch


England 83-1 (28 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ashwin has bowled a good spell and is looking to make the batsmen play more often than not.

Root plays out a maiden over from the off-spinner, very confident with his footwork, going front and back as he reads the length quite well and early.

In the next over, Shami bowls a short wide ball which Jennings cuts past point for a four as England reach 62 for one in 20 overs.

Umesh comes back into the attack for a second spell, replacing Ashwin, who bowled an excellent first spell of one for 13 in seven overs.

Umesh has somehow not bowled at full tilt so far, and his pace has been down. He again compromises on his pace and tries to bowl a disciplined line and length as Root comfortably deals with the first three balls.

Umesh then drops it short as Root cracks it past point for a four and then defends the last two balls.

Shami tries a bouncer to Jennings, who ducks under it and does the same with the next one. He then pitches the third ball up as he beats Jennings who then takes one off the fifth ball and Root picks a single from the last ball to retain strike.

Three singles off Umesh before Jennings edges the last ball but it falls well short of Rahane in the slips.

Shami, who has looked quite sharp, nearly makes the breakthrough. Root plays away from his body and gets a big inside edge which narrowly misses the stumps and goes to fine leg for a single.

In the next over, Jennings turns Umesh to fine leg for one to bring up the 50-run stand from 94 balls for the second wicket.

A change in the bowling as Shami, who bowled a sharp six over spell, is replaced by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is the fourth fast bowler of the day for India.

He bowls a full wide delivery which Jennings slaps through the covers for a four and then takes a single to build England's score.

Umesh switches to round the wicket to left-hander Jennings and this time he bowls a tight over, giving away just a single.

In the next over, Pandya has a huge appeal for catch down the leg side and rightly so as the ball came off the thigh pad.

England go into lunch on Day 1 at 83 for one in 28 overs.
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16:50   Jennings, Root steady England


England 58-1 (18 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Jennings having to play Ashwin very watchfully, who is bringing all his experience and tricks into play, after being asked to bowl in the morning session on Day 1 of the Test match on a wicket where the fast bowlers are getting some assistance.

Jennings expects turn and leaves one and is lucky that it went straight on and didn't come in to beat the stumps.

Jennings then again sweeps Ashwin fine for a single on the leg side before Root defends the last two balls.

Jennings taps Shami to the covers for one before Root turns the next ball on the leg side for two runs.

Shami pitching it right up as Root keeps out a couple of yorkers before he steers the last ball past point for a four to take England past 50, in the 16th over.

Root, who hit two centuries in the ODI series, looks in good touch. Jennings gets a single courtesy of an overthrow before Root steers the last ball from Ashwin fine on the off-side for three runs.

Shami bowls a beauty to Root, extra bounce and movement, as the right-hander is committed to the poke and is beaten, before he takes one to thirdman.

Shami switches to round the wicket to left-hander Jennings, who is beaten outside the off-stump as the line makes him play before he watchfully defends the next two balls.
16:36   Ashwin strikes early; Cook out for 13


England 45-1 (14 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ishant's away movement giving Jennings a lot of problems. He tries to flick it across the line but gets a thick outside edge for a four past the slips.

A single to the left-hander before Root nudged it off his pads fine on the leg side for the second four of the over as England reach 37 for one in 10 overs.

Jennings reaches out to a wide delivery from Ashwin, as he drives it through the covers for two runs and then takes one.

Root gets a thick inside edge off the last ball but it falls safely for a single.

A poor delivery from Ishant, full and on the pads, as Root glances it fine for a four and defends the rest of the over.

Jennings attempts the paddle sweep against Ashwin but can't short fine leg before he does well to keep the last ball down as it bounces a bit more than expected.

Ishant, who bowled a good spell of six overs for 17 runs, gets a break as Mohammed Shami is introduced.

He beats Root with one that moves away slightly to beat the right-hander but he manages to see off the over as Shami starts with a maiden.

After the first hour, England are 45 for one in 14 overs with Jennings on 20 and Root on 11.
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16:21   Ashwin strikes early; England lose 1st wicket


England 28-1 (9 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Ishant gets Jennings to poke at a wide outswinger and gets the edge but Rahane at fourth slip puts down the chance.

And captain Virat Kohli at third slip is not too pleased, he believes that the catch was heading straight to him before Rahane dived to his right but ended up putting it down.

Jennings then gets off strike with a single on the off-side. Ishant bowls a quick yorker to Cook, who somehow manages to keep it out, as he gets a single off an inside edge.

India introduce spin early as off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin comes in to bowl the seventh over of the innings.

Cook blocks the first ball before he drives the next to deep point for one.

Jennings comes forward to defend but gets an inside edge which flies past short leg. He tries to sweep the next ball but is hit on the gloves as he gets one on the off-side.

Ishant getting good movement with the new ball as Jennings gets another thick outside edge but it falls safely before he takes one off the fifth ball.

Jennings takes one off the first ball from Ashwin before the off-spinner strikes a few deliveries later.

Cook comes forward to defend but is beaten by the turn as the ball crashes into the stumps to bowl the left-hander for 13.

That was a beautiful delivery from Ashwin, generous amount of flight to draw Cook forward, who thought he had it covered but the ball spun enough to beat the bat and knock back the off-stump.

Joe Root gets off the mark with a nice drive through the covers for a couple.
15:53   England off to a steady start after electing to bat


England 20-0 (5 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Umesh Yadav to open the bowling for India. Alastair Cook defends the first ball watchfully before he lets the next go through to the keeper as it comes in sharply.

Cook then taps the third ball on the off-side for a quick single to get England off the mark.

Keaton Jennings is also watchful as he defends the next two balls and offers no shot to the last ball, which is wide.

Ishant Sharma to bowl the second over. He pitches the first ball up, getting some away movement to beat Cook, who was opened up as he tries to defend.

Two balls later, he gets another one to move away, beating Cook, who has to play at it and is lucky not to have edged it. That one pitched outside leg stump but moved away quite a lot, keeping India's cordon behind the stumps interested. A good first over from Ishant as he begins with a maiden.

Umesh bowls a poor delivery to start the second over, full and on the pads as Jennings clips it fine for a four. The next ball is again on the leg stump as the left-hander flicks it through midwicket for two runs.

He gets the third ball right, full outside off-stump as Jennings plays a loose shot to get the edge but it falls short of the slips.

Umesh then again bowls it on the pads as Jennings repeats the clip through the leg side for two more runs and then blocks the last two balls.

Ishant, who played in English county cricket for a couple of months, seems to in good rhythm. He again gets the ball to move away quite a deal as Cook is beaten trying to defend before he takes a single off the fifth ball.

Umesh struggling to find the right line and length. He drops it short and wide as Cook slashes it behind point for a four and then takes a single in the covers.

Jennings pushes the fourth ball into the covers for an easy single before Cook clips the fifth ball through square leg for a four.

Cook is drawn into a foul shot off the last ball, as he tries to defend a wide delivery but it moves away enough to beat the left-hander.

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15:29   England elect to bat; Pujara dropped
Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

England:
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (w/k), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

India:
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik (w/k), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma



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15:05   England elect to bat; Pujara dropped
England captain Joe Root has won the toss and elected to bat against India in the series opener in Birmingham.

"We were looking to bowl on this wicket," says India captain Virat Kohli at the toss.

India have made a big decision to drop their No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara as KL Rahul takes his place.

While Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone spinner in the playing XI, as the visitors go in with three fast bowlers in Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.

India have gone in with five batsmen with wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik slotted at No. 6 and all-rounder Hardik Pandya providing the balance with both bat and ball.


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14:58   India eye perfect start to summer in Birmingham
Welcome to the coverage of the first Test between India and England in  Birmingham, on Wednesday.

India would be driven by the desire to shed the poor travellers' tag, while England would be desperate to arrest the recent slide at home when the two teams clash in a five-match Test series.

England will be playing their 1000th Test and it will be up to World No.1 India to spoil the home teams party.

India last won a Test series in England in 2007 under Rahul Dravid, and it will be no easy task ahead of the Virat Kohli-led side to replicate that feat.

Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India failed in 2011 and 2014, losing by heavy 4-0 and 3-1 margins, respectively. In fact, India have only won six out of the 57 matches played on English soil.

England's Test form coming into this series is also a cause of concern.

Since September 2017, England have only won one out of nine Tests played against Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

They have been beaten twice in their last five home Tests by West Indies and Pakistan, with the pace attack of both the touring sides exploiting the weaknesses in a batting line-up heavily dependent on Root, Jonny Bairstow and seasoned opener Alastair Cook.

India, meanwhile, will be buoyed by the fact that three out of their six wins here have come since 2002. India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar was part of the Test squad, led by Sourav Ganguly, that won at Leeds.

Wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik was part of the 2007 series-winning squad. Skipper Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma toured here in 2011 and 2014 and seven other players in the current side have also featured during that last trip.

But India's record at Edgbaston is exceptionally poor with five losses in six Tests here stretching back to 1967.

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