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Sat, 18 August 2018
3rd Test: Kohli, Rahane lead India's fightback on Day 1

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23:08   3rd Test: Kohli, Rahane lead India's fightback on Day 1


India 307-6 (86 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Virat Kohli missed out a deserved century, while Ajinkya Rahane ended his poor run with a solid half-century to lead India's fightback on Day 1 of the third Test in Nottingham, on Saturday.

India, who were struggling on 82 for three at one stage, finished the day on 307 for six in 86 overs at stumps on the opening day.

Kohli top-scored with a fluent 97, while Rahane stroked a solid 81 with the duo putting on 159 runs for the fourth wicket to rally the visitors.

Hardik Pandya fell off the last delivery of the day, caught at second slip off James Anderson, who registered his 100th Test wicket against India.

Earlier, Ben Stokes made his return for England just four days after being cleared of affray but it was the less heralded all-rounder Chris Woakes who made the early inroads into India's batting in the first Test to be started on a Saturday in England since 1955.

Centurion and man of the match in England's second Test win at Lord's, Woakes took three wickets after the home side had won the toss and decided to attack the visitors' brittle top order once again in conditions where the ball jagged around.

Shikhar Dhawan, restored to the side in place of Murali Vijay, and KL Rahul had started well enough with India's highest partnership of the entire series -- 60 -- until the Kohli-Rahane link-up as England's pacemen failed to make a breakthrough.

Woakes looked the potential game-changer again, having Dhawan caught at slip for 35, trapping Rahul lbw for 23 and tempting Cheteshwar Pujara (14) into a hook on the stroke of lunch which went straight into the hands of Adil Rashid on the boundary.
23:00   Pandya falls for 18; India 307-6 at stumps


India 307-6 (86 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Anderson's persistence finally pays off. Pandya, who had a few play and misses, this time gets the edge to one which moves away and also bounces a bit more.

The ball goes at a good height to Buttler at second slip as Pandya makes his way back for 18.

A wicket with the final delivery of the day as India finish on 307 for six in 87 overs, with Pant unbeaten on 22 from 32 balls.
22:56  


India 307-5 (86 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Stokes bowls a maiden over to Pandya, who watchfully defends as India again look to rebuild following Kohli's dismissal.

Debutant Rishabh Pant gets off the mark in grand style. He defends the first ball, he faces from Rashid on the off-side, before he chips down the track and lofts the leg-spinner straight back over his head for a six to get his first Test runs in smashing fashion.

Two more balls defended before Pant clips a full toss through midwicket for two runs and flicks the last ball to fine leg for a single.

Stokes against debutant Pant. The left-hander defends the first ball before he offers no shot to the next and then tries to flick but fails to connect.

He clips the fourth ball on the leg side for a single before Pandya takes one from the last ball to keep strike.

Two singles from the next over, bowled by Rashid, as India reach 292 for five in 80 overs.

The new ball is due and England immediately take it as Anderson comes back into the attack.

Pant tries to drive the first ball through the covers but inside edges it back on to his pads.

The next ball is defended before the young left-hander clips the third ball square on the leg side for a couple.

Pant offers no shot to the next three balls to end the over from Anderson.

Broad from the other end as expected. He is getting some extra bounce as Pandya is hit by one which comes in sharply and also rises alarmingly, hitting the batsman on the gloves but the catch is put down at third slip by Jennings.

Broad is visibly annoyed at that catch being put down as Pandya (14) gets a much-needed lifeline for the Indians.

In the next over, Pandya offers no shot to a wide from Anderson before he defends the next one, watching the ball till the very end.

The third ball is driven through the covers, not with good timing as the left-hander picks a single.

Pandya gets a thick outside edge off the fifth ball which goes past the slips for a boundary.

In the next over, Broad bowls a beauty to Pant, who looks to defend but is beaten by one that leaves him.

The next ball is on the pads as Pant hits it through the leg side for a four to take India past the 300-run mark, in the 84th over.

Pant plays two lazy pokes outside the off-stump off the last two balls to be beaten and end a superb over from Broad.

Anderson getting plenty of movement but the line is too far to make Pandya play. But the fifth ball is on the stumps and this time Pandya has to play and is beaten and the same off the last ball.

In the next over, Pant drives Broad through the covers for a four to take his score into the 20s.
22:12   Kohli out for 97; India lose 5th wicket


India 279-5 (76 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Kohli turns Broad on the leg side for a four before the pacer bowls it way down the leg side for four byes.

The India captain clips the last ball over the leg side for a couple to take his score to 90.

Pandya plays a confident drive through the covers for a four against Anderson, in the 72nd over.

Stokes comes back as Kohli steers the second ball to thirdman for two runs and flicks the next through square leg for another couple to inch closer to his century.

Leg-spinner Rashid comes back, with seven overs left for the second new ball.

Pandya is beaten by one as he comes forward to defend but the ball spins past the edge. Stokes is interested and forces his captain Root to take the review but it turns out be the wrong call as the ball misses the edge. The leg before call is rejected as the impact is outside the line as England lose their second and final review.

The follow up delivery is poor, a half-tracker which Pandya pulls through midwicket for a four.

In the next over, Kohli plays a loose shot, chasing a wide delivery but gets a thick inside edge for a single to fine leg region, to take his score to 95.

Rashid drops short as Kohli punches it through point for a couple to take his score to 97.

But he misses out on a deserved century as he is caught behind for 97. The India captain, who hit 11 fours in his 152-ball knock, went hard after a wide delivery trying to smash it through the covers but got an edge and was caught by Stokes at slip.
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21:37   Rahane falls for 81; India 4 down


India 253-4 (69 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Broad makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Rahane, who looks to drive through the off-side but gets an edge and is brilliantly caught by Alastair Cook at first slip for 81.

Rahane played a wonderful innings, as he showed positive intent to hit 12 fours in his 131-ball knock, adding 159 runs for the fourth wicket with Kohli to bring India back on track.

His dismissal took a special catch as Cook barely had time to react but managed to come up with a one-handed diving catch to his left, as the ball looked to have gone past him.

Anderson comes back as England look to follow it up with another wicket or two.

Kohli opens the face of the bat and steers a short wide delivery from Anderson square on the off-side for a four. He then drives the next ball through the covers for a couple and then takes one on the leg side.

In the next over, Kohli pushes Broad into the covers for one before Pandya punches a full delivery straight down the ground for a four to take India past 250, in the 69th over.
21:19  


India 236-3 (66 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Broad bowls a superb over to Kohli, beating him twice with the late away going deliveries as the India captain is lucky not to get an edge both times.

That moved away quite a bit and Kohli was all at sea as he want chasing outside the off-stump.

In the next over, Rahane continues his positive approach as he powerfully smashes a short wide delivery over the covers for a cracking boundary. That was struck so hard that a terrified Ben Stokes on the off-side was ducking for cover in order to avoid getting hit.

Kohli turns Broad on the leg side and comes across for two runs to keep the scoreboard moving, followed by two singles off Woakes in the next over, as the Indians continue to score with a run rate of over three.

India's batsmen are batting relatively trouble free and England will be hoping to get to the new ball as early as possible and break this partnership.

Broad drops short as Kohli pulls it through fine leg for a four before he takes a single off the fifth ball.

India finding it too easy at the moment. Kohli clips a straight delivery through midwicket for three runs before Rahane pulls a short ball through fine leg for a four and then takes one.

Woakes overpitches as Kohli plays a beautiful straight drive past mid-off for a four followed by a single to raise the 150-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Woakes continues to struggle as he drops short again and Rahane smashes it through point for the third four of the over, as the fast bowler goes for 17 in that over.
20:54   Kohli, Rahane hit 50s to take India past 200


India 206-3 (60 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Broad to kick off proceedings with the ball for England in the post-tea session.

The first ball is pitched right up as Rahane gets going with a cracking drive through the covers for a boundary.

He offers no shot to the next ball before defending the next three balls and leaves alone the last ball.

Woakes from the other end. Kohli picks a single from the first ball and Rahane chops the last ball, which is short, but the fielder at point does well to stop it on the bounce and save the boundary.

Broad gives some width as Kohli plays the cover drive but can't find the gap before he takes a single from the next ball.

Rahane pushes at a wide delivery looking to play the drive but gets an edge which flies past the slips for a four.

He cuts the last ball to deep point for a single to bring up India's 200, in the 59th over.

In the next over, Rahane turns Woakes on the leg side for a single before Kohli runs the fifth ball past the slips for a boundary and then takes a single off the last ball to take India to 206 for three in 60 overs.
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20:18   Kohli, Rahane hit 50s to guide India to 189-3 at tea


India 189-3 (56 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane hit unbeaten half-centuries to lead India's superb fightback in the post-lunch session on Day 1 of the third Test.

Kohli continued his good run with the bat to score 51 not out, while Rahane end his poor run with the bat, hitting a fluent 53 not out.

The duo were involved in an unbroken stand of 107 for the fourth wicket to guide India to 189 for three in 56 overs.

Overall, India made 107 runs in the session in 29.2 overs and most importantly didn't lose a single wicket in the session, to make a good comeback after they were reeling at 82 for three at the lunch break.

Chris Woakes had rocked the Indians with a three-wicket burst, claiming the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan (35), KL Rahul (23) and Cheteshwar Pujara (14).
20:14   Kohli, Rahane hit 50s to guide India to 189-3 at tea


India 189-3 (56 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Kohli still being very watchful against some testing bowling from Anderson as he is content to play out a maiden over from the veteran pacer.

India have been very positive, with their strokeplay and also with their defending, with some confident footwork.

Woakes drops short as Rahane rocks back and punches it through the off-side for a four to complete his half-century, from 76 balls.

It will be a big relief for the India vice-captain, who was under the hammer after a run of poor scores, but he has answered his critics in fine style.

He again punches the next ball but can't beat the fielder at point but again the timing is very good.

Stokes comes back into the attack. Kohli looks to take on a short ball from the fast bowler but is beaten. Two balls later, he is beaten outside the off-stump as he plays a loose shot.

Stokes attempts a bouncer but it sails high over the batsman and is ruled a wide as the Indian duo raise the 100-run stand, for the fourth wicket.

In the next over, Rahane plays five dot balls in a row from Woakes before taking a single from the last ball to keep strike.

Stokes keeps trying the short balls as Rahane plays the pull shot but can't beat the fielder at square leg. He tries another bouncer but Rahane offers no shot and does the same with the next one.

Another short ball as Rahane tries to avoid it but is hit on the body before he takes a single from the next ball on the off-side.

Not much time left for tea, maybe another over left in the session as Woakes continues.

A single to Rahane off the fourth ball to fine leg before the next ball is way down the leg side and gives India four leg byes.
19:49   Kohli hits half-century as India fight back


India 177-3 (50 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

The fielder in the deep on the off-side helping Rashid maintain some control as India's batsmen can only get a single off the loose deliveries through the covers.

Kohli drives the first ball, a full delivery through the covers for one before Rahane plays a similar shot but wide of the fielder in the deep for two runs as three runs come from the over.

In the next over, Kohli turns Anderson to fine leg for one before Rahane solidly blocks the remaining five deliveries from the fast bowler.

A single each to Kohli and Rashid before the former pulls a short ball through fine leg for a four and then drives the last ball through the covers for two runs to get eight from the over.

Rashid has been expensive so far, giving away 29 runs from his five overs.

Rahane in full flow at the moment, taking full toll of any loose delivery. Anderson drops slightly short as Rahane rocks back and slaps it past point for a four.

Woakes comes back into the attack. Kohli steers the first ball to thirdman for a single to bring up his half-century, from 74 balls.

Two more singles as India reach 177 for three in 50 overs with Kohli on 51 and Rahane on 46.

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19:35   Kohli, Rahane steady India


India 158-3 (45 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Rahane continues his brisk start as he clips a full delivery Anderson off his pads through square leg for a four. He almost nicks the second ball, as he looks to drive Anderson through the off-side, playing away from his body and is beaten.

Rahane gets two runs from the fourth ball on the leg side to take his score to 33, exactly the same as his captain Kohli.

Rashid bowls a much better second over after going for runs in his first. Kohli flays the second ball through the covers for one to the man in the deep and Rahane gets a couple from the next ball before he slashes the next past point for two more runs.

Kohli is beaten by an incoming delivery from Anderson and the inside edge looks to have saved him but he was also outside the line.

He cracks the third ball square on the off-side for a four to take India past 150 before Kohli is again hit on the pads off the last ball but again he has got himself outside the line.

In the next over, Rahane takes a single off the first ball as drives Rashid to sweeper cover before Kohli turns the last ball square on the leg side for two runs.

Rahane played a few loose shots outside the off-stump in the previous two Tests but so far in this game he looks quite assured and positive with his footwork.

He is very confident with his defending as well as he watchfully sees out an over from Anderson, using his feet quite well to go right back or stride forward.
19:09   Kohli, Rahane steady India


India 140-3 (40 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Woakes makes the mistake of giving Kohli some width as the India captain flays it through the covers for a magnificent boundary.

Stokes comes into the attack in place of Broad. Rahane gets a thick edge off the third ball which flies past Keaton Jennings, who is standing close in at third slip, and gets the Indian vice-captain a four before he gets one off the next delivery.

Another bowling change for England as the wicket-taker Woakes gets a break with Anderson coming back into the attack.

Rahane is looking in good touch as he punches a wide half volley through the covers for three runs, to take his score into the 20s.

Kohli steers the fifth ball past the slips for two runs to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Rahane plays another risky shot, hitting Stokes uppishly square on the off-side for a four and then taps the ball on the off-side for one to race to 26 from 30 balls.

Stokes getting some late movement as Kohli waits for it and at the last minute steers it to thirdman for one.

Rahane takes one before Kohli hits a full toss from Stokes through midwicket for a four.

Stokes has gone for 45 runs in his nine overs before he makes way for leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

India are able to break free as Kohli hits the spinner for 10 runs in his opening over, including two boundaries.

The leg-spinner bowls it slightly short as Kohli turns it through midwicket for two runs and then pulls the fourth ball square for a four.

The last ball is a wide half-volley as Kohli drills it through the covers for another boundary to take India to 140 for three in 40 overs.
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18:46   Kohli, Rahane take India past 100


India 105-3 (34 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Kohli strokes a wide delivery from Broad through point for a couple and two balls turns it on the leg side for the same result.

Rahane takes full toll of an overpitched delivery from Woakes, punching it down the ground past mid-off for his first four. He clips the fourth ball through midwicket and picks three runs after the fielder lets it through and Kohli keeps strike with one from the last ball.

In the next over, Kohli gets an edge off Broad but it falls short of the slips and he then takes one off the fourth ball.

Woakes continues to create problems for the batsmen. Kohli is beaten by the incoming delivery as he is hit on the pads but the leg before appeal is turned down.

Kohli looks to flick the third ball but is beaten and he ends up picking up a leg bye.

Rahane gets a leading edge off the next ball as he turns the face of the bat too early and collects a boundary through the thirdman region to take India past 100 and he takes a leg bye off the next.

Kohli again tries to turn Woakes on the leg side and is beaten but again the leg before call is turned down.

Broad bowls a good over to Rahane, who watchfully plays out a maiden.
18:21   Woakes leaves India in a spot of bother


India 86-3 (28 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Woakes resumes after the lunch break, to complete his unfinished over, as new batsman Ajinkya Rahane defends the first ball of the session and then offers no shot to the next ball.

Broad will continue with the ball. Kohli steers the third ball past the slips for a couple before he is beaten by one which seams away to go past the edge.

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17:39   Woakes picks 3rd wicket; India 82-3 at lunch


India 82-3 (26.4 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Chris Woakes chipped away at the wickets to leave India in trouble on 82 for three at lunch on Day 1 of the third Test in Nottingham, on Saturday.

Woakes pulled India back after they had made a good start, taking three for 18 in 6.4 overs after England had elected to bowl first.

India had made a fine start with the returning Shikhar Dhawan stroking 35 from 65 balls, putting on 60 runs for the opening wicket with KL Rahul.

Dhawan was caught in the slips off Woakes, who then trapped his opening partner Rahul leg before wicket for 23 in his next over.

Pujara made 14 before he pulled a short ball straight into the hands of Adil Rashid at fine leg to give the fast bowler his third wicket of the session.

Earlier, England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bowl against India on a green looking wicket at Trent Bridge.

Hosts England, who lead 2-0, have made one change as Ben Stokes came in for Sam Curran.

India made three changes as Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant came into the team in place of Murali Vijay, Kuldeep Yadav and Dinesh Karthik respectively.
17:34   Woakes picks 3rd wicket; India in trouble


India 82-3 (26.4 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Stokes gets the angle wrong as the inswinger goes down the leg side, away from Pujara and out of reach of a diving wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for four byes.

Pujara looks very confident and determined as he slaps a wide full delivery past point for three runs.

In the next over, he plays a cracking drive through the covers for a four, timing the ball to perfection, coming forward confidently to a pitched up delivery.

Broad comes back into the attack as Kohli gets an inside edge off the third ball for a single. Pujara steers the next ball square on the off-side for two runs before he survives off the last ball, as Broad gets it to come in sharply going through the right-hander's defence but it goes over the stumps.

In the next over, Kohli clips Woakes through midwicket for three runs before Pujara defends the rest of the over, offering no shot to the last four balls.

Broad getting the ball to shape in quite nicely as time Kohli is struck on the pads but the umpire turns down the appeal.

Captain Root has a chat with Broad who looks unsure but they decide to take the review.

But Kohli survives the review as the impact is just outside the line of off-stump.

Another inswinger which Kohli looks to flick but misses and hit on the pads before he throws his bat at a wide full delivery but fails to find the gap.

Pujara gifts his wicket away with a reckless shot on the stroke of lunch. He takes on the short ball from Woakes, only to hole out to the fielder fine leg to perish for 14.

Pujara can't believe what he has done as he has to make the long way back to the pavilion.

India in trouble on 82 for three in 26.4 overs at lunch on Day 1 with Captain Kohli unbeaten on four.
17:09   Rahul falls for 23, India lose both openers


India 65-2 (21 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

In the next over Pujara clips the inswinger from Stokes fine on the leg side for a four.

Two balls later, he does well to keep out another cracking inswinger from the England fast bowler.

In the next over, Woakes strikes again as Rahul is given out leg before wicket for 23. He was beaten a few deliveries earlier with one that moves away but this one comes in sharply and strikes him right in front of the stumps.

Infact, Rahul was about to make his way back when Pujara asked him to stop and take the review. But it turns out to be a waste of review as Rahul is struck in line with the ball going on to hit the stumps.

Woakes has dismissed both the openers in successive overs to reduce India to 65 for two in 21 overs.



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16:56   Dhawan out for 35, India lose 1st wicket


India 61-1 (19 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Stokes gets Dhawan to edge one but it falls short of third slip. Two balls later, he gets a freebie, short and wide, as Dhawan crunches it through the covers for another boundary.

Rahul opens his shoulders after a slow start. He strides confidently to a wide half-volley from Woakes and punches it perfectly in the gap through the covers for a four to raise India's 50, in the 17th over.

The next ball is pitched up and moves away as Rahul plays a loose shot outside the off-stump only to get the edge as it flies past the slips for another four.

Two balls later, he gets a thick inside edge for a single.

However, he plays a reckless shot in the next over. He looks to slash a short wide delivery from Ben Stokes which he should have left it alone but he manages to get it over the slips for a four.

The next ball comes in sharply as Rahul is beaten all ends up.

Woakes makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Dhawan, who is caught at second slip. The left-hander, who stroked 35 from 65 balls with the help of seven fours, is done in by a beauty from Woakes which opens him up and takes the edge.

A good opening stand for India as Dhawan put on 60 runs for the first wicket with Rahul.
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16:35   Dhawan, Rahul give India a good start


India 43-0 (15 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Another quiet over from Anderson as Dhawan picks a single from the fifth ball for the only run from the pacer's sixth over.

Stokes again drops short as Dhawan rocks back and hammers it through the covers for his sixth four, to take his score to 28. He has showed positive intent and kept the scoreboard moving with regular boundaries against the new ball.

He has also done brilliantly to be aware of the situation as he picks another quick single to keep the strike rotating.

Stokes gets one to come in sharply as Rahul defends it off the inside half of the bat for a quick run on the leg side.

A long first spell for Anderson, who continues to bowl his seventh over on the trot in his first spell.

Rahul misses out as he cuts a short wide delivery from Anderson but fails to beat the man at point before he sees off the rest of the over.

Dhawan continues to shuffle as Stokes gets one to come in sharply as the left-hander does well to get his bat down in time to take a single through square leg.

Chris Woakes comes into the attack, replacing Anderson, who bowled seven overs with the new ball.

He gets one to seam across Dhawan, who looks to play at it but is beaten before he turns the fourth ball on the leg side for one.

The first hour of the Test has gone to script for India, who reach 43 for no loss in 15 overs.

Dhawan has provided the impetus at the start, hitting 31 with the help of six fours, while Rahul has been watchful on 10.
16:12   India off to a cautious start


India 34-0 (10 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Some momentum for India after a slow start with back to back fours. After the streaky boundary for Dhawan off the final ball of the last over, Rahul gets his first four as he punches a wide delivery from Broad square on the off-side.

He taps the next ball on the off-side for a single. Broad tempts Dhawan with a few wide full deliveries but he resists against giving into the temptation.

In the next over, Anderson plays a virtually unplayable delivery as Rahul looks to defend but the ball moves away enough to beat the bat, he must consider himself lucky not to have edged it.

Rahul realises his mistakes and avoids flirting with the next which is again just outside the off-stump. But the right-hander is beaten again off the last ball as Anderson again gets Rahul to play at the outswinger which goes past the edge.

Broad continues his wide line to Dhawan, who is not interested so far before the bowlers pitches it on the pads and the left-hander flick it fine on the leg side for a four. Two balls later, he shuffles across and somehow manages to get the ball down to fine leg for another four.

Just a single for Rahul in the next over by Anderson as India continue to build their start, which should be a big boost for them considering their showing in the previous two Tests.

A change in the bowling as Ben Stokes comes into replace Broad, who bowled four overs for 13 runs.

Rahul picks a single from the first ball before Dhawan crashes a short wide delivery through the covers for a four to take his score to 22.

The next ball is on the pads as Dhawan misses the clip but ends up getting a leg bye.

Rahul doing the sensible thing, not trying to match Dhawan, but just picking up the singles to rotate the strike as he picks another quick run on the off-side and Dhawan steals a quick single off the last ball.

The two Indian openers have been quite solid with their defence and also left a lot of deliveries.

It has been a good start for India as they reach 34 for no loss in 10 overs, with Dhawan stroking his way to 22, while Rahul has been steady on nine.
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16:04   India off to a cautious start


India 12-0 (5 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

India have a new opening pair, their third in three Tests, as KL Rahul walks out to open the batting with Shikhar Dhawan, who is called back into the team in place of Murali Vijay.

James Anderson to open the bowling for England. Dhawan defends the first ball watchfully before he clips the next through square leg for a couple to get India off the mark before he defends the rest of the over.

Stuart Broad to bowl the next over. Rahul lets the first ball go through and does the same with the next before he defends the third ball.

The fourth ball seams away as Rahul is committed to to the poke and is beaten and he sees off the last two deliveries to end a good opening over from Broad.

In the next over, Dhawan leaves the first two balls from Anderson go through before he inside edges the third on to his pads.

He looks to clip the fifth ball but it misses the bat and hits the pads as Dhawan gets a leg bye.

Dhawan looking to leave as many deliveries as possible as he offers no shot to the first two balls from Broad. The third ball is closer as the left-hander defends before he flirts with the next which moves away enough to beat the bat. Broad beats him again with the last ball as Dhawan again hangs his bat at a wide one.

Rahul gets off the mark in the next over as he taps a full delivery from Anderson to midwicket for a single.

Anderson drifts on the pads as Dhawan clips it off his pads behind square for the first boundary of the match.

Dhawan plays a loose shot off the last ball to one slanted across him as Anderson gets some extra bounce to take the edge but it flies over the slips for a four.
15:06   England elect to bowl; Pant debuts for India


Check out playing XIs of the two teams:

England:
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (w/k), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

India:
Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (w/k), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
15:03   3rd Test: England elect to bowl; Pant debuts for India
England captain Joe Root has won the toss and elected to bowl against India on a green looking wicket at Trent Bridge.

Hosts England, who lead 2-0, have made one change as Ben Stokes comes in for Sam Curran which Root describes as a "very difficult decision."

"We would have also elected to bat if we had won the toss," states captain Virat Kohli.

India have made three changes as Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant come into the team in place of Murali Vijay, Kuldeep Yadav and Dinesh Karthik respectively.
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14:59   Rishabh Pant debuts for India
Rishabh Pant will make his Test debut as he is presented with his Test cap by captain Virat Kohli. He will replace Dinesh Karthik.

"Proud moment for young Rishabh Pant as he becomes the 291st player to represent #TeamIndia in Test cricket," tweeted BCCI.
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14:49   Desperate India set for reshuffle to stay alive in series
Welcome to the coverage of third Test between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday.

Shaken by abject surrender in the first two Tests, a desperate India are expected to ring in a slew of changes as they aim at redemption against a rampaging England in a do-or-die third Test of the five-match series.

For the Indian team, the Trent Bridge Test will be their last chance to save the series after being outplayed in the first two Test matches -- by 31 runs Edgbaston and then by an innings and 159 runs at the Lord's.

Down 0-2 with only five and half days of competitive cricket in all, skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri will be aiming to get the team combination right having bungled at the Lord's.

As a result, India will play their 38th combination in as many matches that skipper Kohli had led.

The most awaited change will be 20-year-old Rishabh Pant's imminent Test debut replacing a horribly out-of-form Dinesh Karthik, who might well have played his last international game in the longest format.

With scores of 0, 20, 1 & 0 in four innings coupled with shoddy glovework meant that Karthik was seen giving catching practice to Pant, who also spend considerable time batting at the nets.

Jasprit Bumrah is fit again; Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya have recovered completely from their hand injuries suffered while batting at Lords, and skipper Kohli has more or less recovered from his back problems.

Nevertheless, there are bound to be changes in the playing eleven for some vital members of the squad are now seemingly bereft of confidence.

Murali Vijay has scored only 128 runs in 10 overseas Test innings against South Africa and England. An average of 12.8 is tough to ignore, but for a batsman of his calibre, the team management could still afford another chance given that India need to win this game.

At the same time however, it brings Shikhar Dhawan back into contention. He averages 17.75 against South Africa and England in two Tests this year, and his overall average in England is 20.12 (four Tests). In these two instances, he has scored at a strike-rate of 68.93 and 57.29, respectively, which could once again go in his favour.

There is every chance that India could opt for their third different opening pairing of Dhawan and KL Rahul in as many Tests, the middle order will be untouched. Especially with Kohli regaining fitness, Karun Nair still isn't seen to be active during practice sessions. It was the case in Birmingham and London, as well as in Nottingham, and playing an extra specialist batsman is not in the management's immediate plans as yet.

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