On the sixth anniversary of Stuart Broad’s 8 for 15 against Australia at Trent Bridge he found himself standing back and watching his successor record a first Test match five-wicket haul.
Many support acts - Toby Roland-Jones, Steven Finn and even Jofra Archer to name a few - have briefly flowered since James Anderson and Broad became England’s undisputed attack leaders in 2007 without dethroning one of the greats.
In just two Test matches Ollie Robinson has shown he is more than just a pretender to one of those thrones and it was fitting that Broad held on to the catch that gave him his fifth wicket and the chance to lead England off the field for the first time.
Robinson’s five for 85 contrasted with Broad’s nought for 70 to inevitably draw the conclusion that a baton is being passed this summer. It was noticeable that Joe Root chose to bring on Robinson ahead of Broad when he needed to make something happen.
The general excellence of Robinson and Anderson can only go so far however to make up for England’s shortcomings, and with India taking a 95-run first innings lead, they are in the ascendancy in the first Test. England were 25 for no wicket with Dom Sibley and Rory Burns working hard when rain ended play early, and a fascinating weekend beckons.
Anderson moved into third place as Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker with four for 54 lifting him above Anil Kumble to 621, his pace and accuracy as consistent in this match as on his debut 18 years ago when most of his team-mates were still in primary school.
James Anderson roars with delight after taking the wicket of KL Rahul - AFP
Robinson achieved one important metric on his Test debut at Lord’s and that was to earn the respect of Anderson so quickly. You could tell he enjoyed Robinson’s success here, being one of the first to congratulate him on his fifth wicket.
They are such a good pairing with contrasting skills but similarly chippy and aggressive towards batsmen standing in their way. They ploughed relentless lines and lengths and provided an edge England normally lack without Ben Stokes, trying to unsettle batsmen with words and cold stares. They carried the attack to India after so many other aspects of England’s play have been passive in this match.
Sloppiness haunted England’s fielding, the rot beginning on Thursday with Sibley’s drop at slip off KL Rahul when he had 52, a score he turned into what could be a match-winning 84 in his comeback Test. It was a crucial turning point. India would have been 115 for five had he held on but it was the first of several times England let opportunities go, their fielding revealing a team distracted by other pressures.
There were misfields, three dropped catches and four missed run-out chances, all of which were convertible and had a bearing on India’s 278 total. India’s final three wickets added 75, marshalled by the dashing Ravindra Jadeja, who marked his fifty with his Rajput sword twirling celebration, before the final pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj stretched India’s advantage by clubbing 33 off 26 balls.
Bumrah had only reached double figures once before in 31 Test innings but England were guilty of bowling too short and allowed him to swing his arms for 28 off 34 balls.
This was Anderson’s best Test since the start of the India series with conditions he must have dreamt about on that tour where the pitches turned to sand. Joe Root dropped Rahul at first slip, missing a head high chance, when Rahul had 78 but it did not cost much because Anderson’s excellence was unrelenting. Rahul was caught behind with a carbon copy of the ball from Anderson that picked off Virat Kohli on Thursday.
Another Anderson length ball moved enough to take Shardul Thakur’s edge for a six-ball duck as he stayed on for a crucial spell despite the temptation to wait for the second new ball, recognising England needed wickets as India started to nose ahead.
Robinson had earlier snuffed out the blood curdling threat of Rishabh Pant, dropping mid-off back and tempting him to hit down the ground. All he could do was spoon a slower ball to short extra cover.
Dan Lawrence misjudged a run out when Jadeja was well short of his ground on four and he is such a dangerous player that chances like that can lose Tests. He has averaged 47 in the past four years and this was his 12th fifty since the start of 2017, justifying his selection ahead of Ravi Ashwin.
Ravindra Jadeja compiled an impressive fifty for the tourists - GETTY IMAGES
Jadeja flicked Anderson for six but took his time to play himself in, taking 35 from his first 72 balls before accelerating with 21 from his last 14 as wickets fell at the other end and he had to step up.
Robinson’s first ball round the wicket to a left hander in this Test was rewarded with Jadeja miscuing a catch to mid off, held by a back peddling Broad, and with India’s lead 49 Egland had clambered their way back in the game.
Anderson dropped a skier at long-on off Bumrah as he tried to smash Sam Curran all over Trent Bridge and Lawrence, for the second time, missed a run out when Bumrah was short of his ground.
Root took the new ball straight away and Robinson bowled Mohammad Shami off his pads, but for some reason England kept on Curran at the other end and he was picked off for a four and six by Bumrah in a costly over as the lead crept towards three figures.
Robinson was denied a fifth wicket on his debut at Lord’s when Broad dropped a sitter so there were ironic smiles from team-mates when he held on to a skier this time off Bumrah. Robinson’s arms were outstretched in celebration, the controversy from Lord’s fading to a bad memory.
One format per player is the blueprint for success - England should adopt the same approach as Anderson
by Isabelle Westbury, at Trent Bridge
Jos Buttler wants to be a multiformat England cricketer. As do Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Joe Root. James Anderson, though, does not.
Maybe there was a time when he did. Maybe this is a product of his age, his maturity: at 39 years old, needs must and specialism is perhaps just essential energy preservation. But Anderson is also a man who has spent the past three years building up to the moment when Virat Kohli walked out to the crease on day two of the first Test, confident stride, neatly clipped beard, world domination his aim.
Anderson did not have a World Cup to win in between, or a new format to navigate, or any other distraction to draw his concentration away from the little red bundle of leather gripped between his thumb and two fingers.
There is a growing wisdom that Test batters, beyond the age of 30, mature nicely, their mental resilience of far more value than anything their younger physiques could produce. For fast bowlers, generally, it is a quick peak and rapid decline. Not Anderson. Earlier this year he surpassed Courtney Walsh’s 341 wickets to become the seamer with the most wickets since turning 30. He now has 353.
This is a man who knows the exertion his body goes through on each delivery and prepares it accordingly. He eats better, trains more efficiently, culls any distractions that might have otherwise plagued a young talent in his twenties, red streak through his air and all. This is a man who, knowing exactly how few County Championship matches he would be afforded before the India series started, made full use of that one, peaked when it mattered and claimed seven wickets for 19 runs.
That preparation, the single-mindedness, the one format: it has worked.
A calf injury denied Anderson the opportunity to test himself against Steve Smith in 2019 but this time around the opportunity came calling. No matter that England’s batters cannot support him or that only Olly Robinson could partner him with the ball, Anderson knows he has a load to bear and prepares himself accordingly.
Considering how little else has worked as far as England’s Test approach is concerned, it is a wonder not more has been creamed from Anderson’s method. Even if it is one which started by accident, Anderson unceremoniously dumped from England’s white-ball plans after the 2015 World Cup debacle.
Anderson finished up with four wickets in India’s first innings. Olly Robinson, who has also, by accident, found himself focusing on red-ball cricket alone in the build-up to this Test, went one better, producing a five-wicket haul.
But really, we are asking too much of those a decade behind Anderson, and offering it all too. Like scrolling through Netflix on a quiet evening, too much choice is no choice at all, and any energy you once had is squandered on the prospect of a bite of everything. England must be ruthless. Offer each player a considered choice but make it a clear one too: play for England for one coloured ball or do not play for England at all.
Root, one of England’s greatest Test batters, is scrabbling desperately for a place on the plane to the T20 World Cup. Very few players in world cricket will ever have the ability to represent their countries to the calibre they, and their countries, deserve. Even then it will not be their best.
England's captain Joe Root (R) stands talking with England's James Anderson as players leave the field for a rain delay on the third day of the first cricket Test match of the India Tour of England 2021 between England and India at the Trent Bridge cricket ground in Nottingham, central England, on August 6, 2021 - GETTY IMAGES
We may lose talents to one format over the other. There will be boos and laments, and villains too, but we either have our best, at their best, in one, maybe two, formats, or we do not have them at all. It need not be irreversible; some flexibility to change when one path doesn’t unfold must be afforded.
But what we have now is not working. Look at Archer, we wanted him for everything and now have him for nothing, a shoulder injury ruling him out for the rest of the year. Buttler, relied upon so heavily by England in all formats, has been suffering on-and-off all year from a thigh strain. It is not just a physical strain, either, which afflicts England’s best; Stokes, so integral to his country’s plans in the near future, is out indefinitely to prioritise his mental health.
Australia’s Smith gets it. He has effectively withdrawn himself from contention for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup to focus on the Ashes. The Anderson way: it works.
As it happened - England vs India day three
05:15 PM
That's all folks
Play is abandonedfor the day at a seriously soggy Trent Bridge. The umpires had a little trip to the middle and a chinwag but have decided there's no chance of getting back out there today.
05:00 PM
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
But more heavy rain has just fallen over Trent Bridge so the planned 6.10pm restart looks like it's out of the window.
04:52 PM
While we wait for the rain to clear
Here's how Ollie Robinson completed his maiden Test five-fer earlier.
The moment Robbo took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket 👏
The resumption has now been delayed until 6.10pm after more rain in Nottingham.
04:38 PM
Not much luck with the rain on this stint
So I'll hand you back to David Cosgrove for what might be a thrilling finale in glorious late midsummer sunshine but is more likely to be a rain bedevilled hokey-cokey for an hour.
Guess what? It's raining again ...
04:28 PM
Play will resume at 5.45pm
Supporters cheer in the stands on the third day of the first cricket Test match of the India Tour of England 2021 between England and India at the Trent Bridge - PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
04:20 PM
Sky thinks there will be a delay of 20 minutes or so
And switches to Cardiff for the women's Hundred match between Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire.
04:12 PM
Rain stops play
After one ball of Siraj's over it starts to drizzle and the umpires take the batsmen off as the covers are called on. India walk off slowly as if in protest but then the rain intensifies.
04:10 PM
OVER 11: ENG 25/0 (Burns 11, Sibley 9)
Oh my days, Shami with a corker outside off stump, perfect line, climbed more than the batsman anticipated, wobbled a bit and beat the edge as Burns flashes an off drive at it. A thick edge off a loose-gripped push sends the ball scuttling past the slips for four. Although he was lucky not to nick off to the jaffa in the over, I think round the wicket suits Burns more than Shami coming over the wicket and zipping it about.
04:04 PM
OVER 10: ENG 21/0 (Burns 7, Sibley 9)
Siraj, too, chooses to come round the wicket to Burns which, I think, enables him to line it up a bit better and get behind anything on off stump and leave the rest. One leave and three solid blocks are followed by a single whisked round the corner to long leg.
04:00 PM
OVER 9: ENG 20/0 (Burns 6, Sibley 9)
Looking at sea to everything down the corridor, after three balls Burns is given a gift by Shami on middle and leg and glances it square for four. The ball later is on the same trajectory, swinging in too far from round the wicket and Burns tickles it fine for a single.
Sibley defends the last ball of the over into the onside. Burns is down Siraj's end for the first time in a while.
03:57 PM
OVER 8: ENG 15/0 (Burns 1, Sibley 9)
Siraj continues and Sibley, pushing forward, edges it low through third man for four while playing towards midwicket. Siraj gives him an earful and Sibley leaves the next two outswingers. Is he being set up for the inswinger ... yes but Sibley gets his bat down quickly and clips it to short midwicket where he was caught in the first dig but this time on the bounce. Siraj ends the over beating Sibley outside off and Siraj mouths off at him again. Sibley bows his head, not engaging.
England's Dom Sibley plays a shot during the third day of first test cricket match between England and India - AP Photo/Rui Vieira
03:50 PM
OVER 7: ENG 11/0 (Burns 1, Sibley 5)
Mohammed Shami, India's best bowler in the first innings, is finally given the ball and draws the edge from Burns, the ball falling short of gully. Burns fidgets and plays and misses at the next, all squared up, his knees and shoulders not acting in concert, his bat coming down from 2 o'clock. It's such an unusual technique but enables him to play anything into his body comfortably. Maiden over.
03:42 PM
Thanks David
England begin the third session of day three 84 runs behind. Play can continue until 7.30pm but is more likely, given the forecast, to end earlier.
03:36 PM
I'm handing over to Rob Bagchi
Who will be taking the reins for the first half of the evening session. Over to you Rob...
03:33 PM
Solid start from England's openers
Not much flamboyance on show from Burns and Sibley so far (and rightly so given the state of the match!)
Lovely shot from Sibley to start this Siraj over, clipping a delivery that was angling down leg to the deep square fence. Then he's back into his defensive shell - and Siraj chucks in another no-ball for good measure.
Sibley safely negotiates the rest of the over and that's tea.
03:26 PM
From one legend to another
VVS Laxman has just posted this tweet in reference to James Anderson becoming the third-highest Test wicket-taker in history. Class.
18 years of hunger and relentless pursuit of excellence at the top level. For any bowler it is a special effort, but for a fast bowler it is extra special. Many congratulations to James Anderson on becoming the 3rd highest wicket taker of all time . Richly deserved. pic.twitter.com/2Ot6FYydcg
Extras top-scoring for England at the moment as Bumrah throws in another front-foot no-ball and then a wide with a bouncer that is miles over Sibley's head.
Sibley gets off the mark from the final delivery of the over, courtesy of a leg-side nudge.
03:17 PM
OVER 4: ENG 3/0 (Burns 1, Sibley 0)
Siraj probing, Burns patient. Another maiden.
03:12 PM
OVER 3: ENG 3/0 (Burns 1, Sibley 0)
A solitary no-ball the only addition to England's tally from this Bumrah over. He has found his line and length immediately but Sibley's defence has been solid enough so far.
03:07 PM
OVER 2: ENG 2/0 (Burns 1, Sibley 0)
Siraj opening up at the other end and follows Bumrah in going over the wicket to Burns.
He probes away on a fourth and fifth stump line but a watchful Burns is happy to either let them go through to Pant behind the stumps or dab down into the cordon with soft hands.
A maiden.
03:01 PM
OVER 1: ENG 2/0 (Burns 1, Sibley 0)
Bumrah right on the money straight away. Over the wicket to left-hander Burns and he finds a beautiful angle across the England opener - although he oversteps on one of them.
Burns escapes a pair by flicking off his hips down to fine leg and Sibley sees off the last couple.
02:56 PM
Andrew Strauss
On Ollie Robinson - and he sounds suitably impressed.
"His height and accuracy really paid dividends for him - that was top-quality, consistent Test-match bowling."
02:52 PM
India are very much in the box seat here
They have secured a first-innings lead of 95 and also saw a couple of balls behave unexpectedly off the pitch. England's brittle top-order batting line-up have it all to prove in their second innings.
02:48 PM
Wicket!! India all out for 278
Bumrah c Broad b Robinson 28 Finally. Bumrah's big-hitting cameo comes to an end.
He top-edges a short ball from Robinson and Broad does superbly to cover plenty of ground and make the grab.
That's Robinson's maiden Test match five-wicket haul. He finished with five for 85 - and looks what it means to him:
Ollie Robinson celebrates the wicket of India's Jasprit Bumrah - PA
02:44 PM
OVER 84: IND 274/9 (Siraj 7, Bumrah 24)
The Sam Curran new-ball experiment lasted one over. Root whips him straight out of the attack and turns to Anderson hoping to stem the tide.
A couple of slashing mows from Siraj fall short of England fielders and Jimmy is ticking! He has a stern word with Siraj at the end of the over but India won't care one jot.
They've added 29 priceless runs for the 10th wicket so far and are nearing a 100-run first innings lead.
02:39 PM
OVER 83: IND 270/9 (Siraj 4, Bumrah 23)
Who is this man purporting to be Jasprit Bumrah?!
He punches a lovely drive straight back past Robinson for a couple before adding four more off the final delivery - although in somewhat more fortuitous fashion.
An attempted leg-side swipe goes over Buttler's head and runs away. His previous Test high score was 10 before today...
In his entire Test career before today, Jasprit Bumrah had hit five boundaries.
Bumrah tucks into the first three balls of Curran's over - going 4, 6, 4 and adding some really useful bonus runs to India's lead!
The first boundary is whipped through midwicket before he crashes a short ball over the leg-side fence for a maximum.
A looping edge over the cordon finishes off the trifecta of boundaries. A mildly miffed Curran claws it back with two dots before a leg bye off the last ball - which ended up being another failed run-out opportunity!
02:31 PM
OVER 81: IND 249/9 (Siraj 4, Bumrah 3)
Robinson uses the new ball to great effect with a fine delivery to rattle Shami's middle pole. Then Siraj pats back his first couple of deliveries before crunching a drive straight back past Robinson for four!
It's lucky the big fast bowler got his foot out of the way as that might have gone straight through his ankle - the Indian No 11 threw the kitchen sink at it.
02:27 PM
Wicket!!
Shami b Robinson 13 Full, straight and clips the pad before crashing into middle stump! Robinson really does look the part in Test match cricket - and will fancy his maiden five-for here. FOW 245/9
Mohammed Shami was cleaned up by Ollie Robinson - GETTY IMAGES
02:24 PM
OVER 80: IND 245/8 (Shami 12, Bumrah 3)
Sir Andrew Strauss bemoans England's "litany of dropped chances" on Sky and says India have got a "very decent lead already". Those two things may or may not be linked, especially after Sibley dropped Rahul yesterday.
Shami nabs a single off the first ball of this Curran over before five dots in a row to Bumrah.
England will take the new ball - and Robinson will have first bite with the new cherry.
02:20 PM
OVER 79: IND 244/8 (Shami 12, Bumrah 3)
Robinson beats Bumrah all ends up outside off in successive balls. Lovely line and length and Bumrah pushes at both but doesn't get any bat on either.
He manages to add two to his tally off the final ball, squirting another decent delivery past gully off a thickish edge. And that's drinks.
02:14 PM
OVER 78: IND 241/8 (Shami 11, Bumrah 1)
Curran to Bumrah...three balls at him over the wicket before going around for the final three. The No 10 sees him off without too much stress. A maiden.
02:12 PM
OVER 77: IND 241/8 (Shami 11, Bumrah 1)
A mix-up between the Indian batsmen nearly leads to a run-out opportunity, before Shami squirts a drive past Bairstow at point for a couple. Robinson ends the over with a couple of bouncers which don't cause Shami too much bother.
02:07 PM
OVER 76: IND 238/8 (Shami 9, Bumrah 0)
Curran replaces Broad. And Shami isn't going to die wondering! It's almost like he's trying to give the England fielders catching practice (and they probably need it given their efforts in this game so far).
Two of his big swipes find gaps between fielders in the deep - and Anderson grasses a steepling chance. Another dropped catch.
This is the fifth time this year that England have dropped 3+ catches in an innings. #ENGvIND
Robinson into the attack and Jadeja carves his first ball to the point boundary for four! That's fifty for Jadeja. He follows up with an off-side for a couple before clubbing Robinson over mid-on for another boundary.
But the all-rounder is dismissed off the final ball of the over and England will be desperate to wrap this Indian innings up swiftly now.
Robinson celebrates the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja - GETTY IMAGES
02:00 PM
Wicket!!
Jadeja c Broad b Robinson 56 After smiting 10 off the over Jadeja tries to launch Robinson into orbit off the last ball but gets a top edge which Broad pouches comfortably. FOW 232/8
01:55 PM
OVER 74: IND 222/7 (Shami 3, Jadeja 46)
Shami off the mark with a lovely shot, the No 9 rocks back and punches Broad through point for three.
Then Jadeja tries to rotate the strike with a nudge into the off-side and Burns has a run-out chance. One stump to aim at and Shami well short of his ground but he misses!
01:50 PM
OVER 73: IND 218/7 (Shami 0, Jadeja 45)
What's happened here?! Anderson's first ball bounces up off a length and catches the shoulder of Jadeja's bat, just past Burns' outstretched arm and runs away for four. Then Jadeja takes advantage of a length ball and powers it for six over midwicket! Ooft, shot.
01:44 PM
OVER 72: IND 208/7 (Shami 0, Jadeja 35)
Jadeja tries to climb into a short one from Broad and succeeds in sending an ugly attempted hook into a leg-side gap for a couple - although not sure that went exactly where he intended.
Broad continues with the short stuff and Jadeja retains the strike off the last ball, rolling his wrists and controlling it into the leg-side for a single.
01:38 PM
OVER 71: IND 205/7 (Shami 0, Jadeja 32)
A wicket maiden from the maestro. That's 621 Test wickets now for Anderson - an incredible achievement.
01:37 PM
Wicket!!
Thakur c Root b Anderson 0 Redemption for Root in the cordon as he snaffles a tough chance low down. England will be desperate to wrap up the Indian tail as quickly as possible now and limit the tourists' first-innings lead. FOW 205/7
01:33 PM
OVER 70: IND 205/6 (Thakur 0, Jadeja 32)
Much better from Broad to Jadeja, probing stuff from around the wicket. A maiden.
01:29 PM
OVER 69: IND 205/6 (Thakur 0, Jadeja 32)
Rahul started the over with a couple of lovely shots - a flick into the leg-side for two followed by a supreme drive through the covers for four.
But Anderson lured him into an uppish drive and Buttler did the business behind the stumps. Joe Root will be a relieved man after dropping Rahul in the first over after lunch.
James Anderson celebrates after dismissing KL Rahul - GETTY IMAGES
01:27 PM
Wicket!!
Rahul c Buttler b Anderson 84 The Indian opener took six runs off the first two balls of the over but Anderson gets his man as Rahul nicks off trying an expansive drive. That is Anderson's 620th Test wicket and moves him above Anil Kumble to third in the all-time list. FOW 205/6
Most wickets in Test cricket
Muttiah Muralitharan - 800 Shane Warne - 708 James Anderson - 620* Anil Kumble - 619
Broad around the wicket to the left-handed Jadeja. His second delivery is too full and straight and the Indian all-rounder whips him through to the midwicket fence. That was a lovely bit of timing.
Jadeja rotates the strike before Rahul ducks under two short balls - and they run a bye off the second as some late swing sees the ball dart past Buttler's outstretched hand.
01:16 PM
OVER 67: IND 193/5 (Rahul 78, Jadeja 27)
Rahul pokes the first ball of the session into the covers for a single, before Jadeja gets off strike courtesy of a leg bye which flicks his pad and runs down to fine leg.
Then Rahul is dropped by Root in the slips. Oh dear. He threw his hands at a wide one and it flew head-height to the England captain at first slip but he put it down! Anderson runs his hands through his hair in dismay.
01:10 PM
The players are back out on the field
And we will be back under way imminently. Jimmy Anderson to bowl the first over after lunch.
If England can rattle through a couple of quick wickets after lunch and restrict India to a slender lead then they'll feel they've still got a fair chance to win (batting flakiness aside - as pointed out by Rob).
But if the tourists push on to a 50-plus first innings advantage then they will be firm favourites to take a 1-0 series lead.
12:34 PM
Lunch: IND 191/5
All went a bit flat towards the end of that session for England. Robinson and Anderson have bowled magnificently but neither Broad nor Curran have been able to match their high standards and India have taken the lead. If they can push on towards 250 and beyond, the door of opportunity will slam shut on England, given the flakiness of their batting.
David Cosgrove will be your guide for the afternoon session. See you at tea.
12:31 PM
OVER 66: IND 191/5 (Rahul 77, Jadeja 27)
This partnership, 43 at the start of the over, has deflated England. The ball is still swinging but is going soft and India milk three singles off Curran.
That's lunch.
12:28 PM
OVER 65: IND 188/5 (Rahul 75, Jadeja 26)
India take the lead and it's appropriate that it's Rahul, playing that handsome back-foot drive, punching the ball at the top of the bounce through cover. Would have gone for four save for Bairstow's athleticism in chasing it down and dragging it back.
Anderson appeals for one that hits Jadeja on the gap between the bottom of the thighpad and top of the pad but was pitched outside leg and missing. Jadeja flicks two down to long leg but is then beaten by a jaffa that pitches on off and nibbles past the edge.
On comes the 12th man to give Rahul a drink, five minutes before lunch. The umpires really should put a stop to this.
12:23 PM
OVER 64: IND 183/5 (Rahul 72, Jadeja 24)
India move level with Rahul's single to midwicket off Sam Curran who can't get Jadeja to play at two of the three balls he delivers to him.
Root has seen enough of Broad, too, and brings back Anderson eight minutes before lunch.
Stuart Broad's Test bowling average in 2021 is 37.66 - his worst for any calendar year since 2010. Clearly, a function of the pitches he played on earlier this year, but the England veteran is a bit out of form. #ENGvIND
On his home ground and with the benefit of dark cloud cover and a helpful breeze Broad's nought for 58 off 16 overs are worrying. He has always been capable of a streak but since the Sri Lanka tour he has taken only six wickets in five Tests.
Jadeja plays a glorious on drive off a fullish ball, pinging it for four to take India to within one of England.
12:14 PM
OVER 62: IND 178/5 (Rahul 71, Jadeja 20)
Much better from Sam Curran and he does draw Rahul's edge with the outswinger the ball after arrowing one into to him. But his soft grip drops the ball short of second slip and Root makes a fine saving stop on the bounce.
12:12 PM
OVER 61: IND 177/5 (Rahul 71, Jadeja 19)
Rahul pushes a check drive for a single through cover, Jadeja flicks one off his pads and Rahul shows his judgment is still sound with a couple of leaves. Indian batsmen have always been masters of the leave, Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid in particular. Lokesh Rahul in this innings has been up with the best.
India batsmen Ravindra Jadeja in batting action during day three of the first Test - Stu Forster/Getty Images
12:03 PM
OVER 60: IND 175/5 (Rahul 70, Jadeja 18)
Sam Curran starts his spell with a gimme on the pads and Jadeja whips it for two then eases into an off-drive for four, all sweet timing and elegant execution. That stroke brought up his 2,000th Test run at an average of 35.77. That's one hell of a healthy average for the best left-arm spinner and one of the top five fielders in world cricket.
12:01 PM
OVER 59: IND 169/5 (Rahul 70, Jadeja 12)
Lovely shot from Rahul, punching a back-foot drive perfectly square for four, playing late, right under his nose. The right hander sways inside a bouncer and then England burn their last review.
Just because you're desperate for a breakthrough doesn't mean you should disregard the opinion of the wicketkeeper who saw clear daylight between bat and ball. The sound was from his back thighpad.
11:59 AM
NOT OUT
Missed the bat by quite a large distance. Weird. England have lost all three reviews. Buttler argued that they shouldn't review but Root over-ruled him.
11:58 AM
ENG review
Rahul c Buttler b Broad Definitely a noise but what was it?
11:55 AM
OVER 58: IND 165/5 (Rahul 66, Jadeja 12)
After a failed experiment coming round the wicket - failed because he can't get off the pitch quickly enough to satisfy the umpire - Robinson comes back over and bangs one in to Jadeja's ribs but on a leg-stump line so the left-hander leans towards the offside and tucks it fine for four.
Stuart Broad of England bowls a bouncer at Kannaur Rahul - Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
11:52 AM
OVER 57: IND 161/5 (Rahul 66, Jadeja 8)
Rahul aborts a hook stroke when the ball climbs on him but doesn't get his bat down and submariners everywhere and aficionados of Run Silent, Run Deep shout 'Up periscope'. Rahul drives for two, eating into the deficit unhurriedly and with the patience and discretion he has employed all innings.
11:46 AM
OVER 56: IND 158/5 (Rahul 64, Jadeja 7)
Three terrific deliveries from Robinson to Jadeja, flirting with the edge as he prods forward but he cashes in when the bowler changes his line and drifts on to his pads, whipping it fine for a single.
Having beaten Jadeja three times, Robinson ends the over with a ripper to Rahul, angling in and searing away, whistling past the edge. These are embryonic days in Robinson's Test career but his rich promise suggests he could be England's Hazlewood.
11:40 AM
OVER 55: IND 157/5 (Rahul 64, Jadeja 6)
First change and Broad replaces Anderson at the Radcliffe Road End. Not getting the same bounce and carry as Robinson from this end, though delivering from an even greater height, Rahul defends doggedly on the front foot then withdraws his bat a couple of times at the last second, leaving him vulnerable to one that jags back even further. Maiden.
11:36 AM
OVER 54: IND 157/5 (Rahul 64, Jadeja 6)
Goodness me. Dan Lawrence goes for the direct hit from cover when Rahul calls for a homicidal single. Jadeja wasn't even in the picture when Lawrence's shy flew past the stumps. Buttler was there, though, and Lawrence should have thrown it to him to remove the bails. That's two mistakes in the field from England's two most under-pressure batsmen - Sibley with dropping Rahul, Lawrence with his judgment on the throw. Michael Vaughan said on the BBC on Wednesday that he thought neither were Test class, through Lawrence, he said, 'may come again'.
After his reprieve Jadeja whips two off his pads past midwicket's left hand.
11:31 AM
OVER 53: IND 154/5 (Rahul 63, Jadeja 4)
Good probing over from Anderson, swinging it in to the left-hander and both ways to Rahul who works a single off his toes in front of square.
Since 2006:
Highest percentage of balls on a good line and length in Tests (minimum 2 matches):
Mohammad Abbas 50% Ollie Robinson 49% Kyle Abbott 48% Glenn McGrath 45% Mohammad Asif 45%#ENGvIND
Awkward delivery first up for Jadeja who gloves it off his ribs for four, taking his bottom hand off the bat to fend it away.
Robinson has two slips and a gully for Jadeja and, after pushing him back, pitches a couple up to try to bring them into play on the drive but he defends them well.
England lead by 30 runs.
11:23 AM
OVER 51: IND 149/5 (Rahul 62, Jadeja 0)
Huge appeal from Anderson when he pins Rahul on the front foot pushing forward but they don't review and wisely so as it struck him on the shin outside the line. He played a stroke at it so it was never going to be out. Anderson's inswinger is causing him problems and though he drives the outswinger for four, that delivery is treacherous for the batsman too as it came off a thick edge and only juts beat backward point diving to his left.
💥 WICKET! 💥 Robinson picks up Pant (25), who pops one up to short extra cover as the ball stops on him. India 145-5 on Sky Sports The Hundred #ENGvIND
KL Rahul wants to go off as there's a bit of mizzle in the air and the umpires seem to agree. Pant shoves his bat up his jumper to keep the blade dry but then, after a word from Anderson, the umpires seem to change their minds and decide to carry on.
Pant rolls his wrists on top of a bouncer for a single, Rahul takes a leg-bye when Robinson strays on to his hip then Pant flashes a drive wide of gully. Burns dives headlong to his left but couldn't reach it. Robinson bangs it in again and Pant pulls, top edging it very fine for six. But after a quick chat with Root and a change in the field, Robinson gets his man.
11:15 AM
Wicket!!
Pant c Bairstow b Robinson 25 Throws his hands at a drive but the ball bounces higher than he expected and he splices it to cover. FOW 145/5
11:09 AM
OVER 49: IND 133/4 (Rahul 58, Pant 14)
Anderson resumes, three balls left. Pant goes to cut one that got big on him and Anderson appeals for caught behind but with only one review left decides not to use it. Didn't touch it.
The next ball is pitched up and nips back into the fleshy part of Pant's thigh, as if shot by Bobby Bacala. Pant nicks the strike with a flick through midwicket for a single.
11:06 AM
Right - the players are back out
Lunch has been delayed until 1.30pm and the second session will be 2.10pm-4.25pm, evening 4.45pm to 7pm.
11:05 AM
Nick Hoult reports
'They're rolling the covers off again. Bit of blue sky, not much though.
"I was in a pub last night in Nottingham, the kind where they sell cheese cobs, and a bunch of middle aged Notts fans were saying how much they have enjoyed the Hundred, bought the shirts and have decided it is just 'Notts in another name'. Instant parochialism.
That's interesting - I took the 11-year-old to Oval Invincibles vs Welsh Fire on Monday and London Spirit vs Northern Superchargers on Tuesday. We were surrounded by enthusiastic kids and their parents but what was surprising was that there were also an awful lot like Nick describes . Lots of merch bought and worn by almost every age group. Shutting the bars at Lord's at 8pm helped stop the lairyness that's usually there. Only problem is that London Spirit are truly terrible despite the beautiful surroundings ... like a turd in a cathedral.
10:54 AM
It's raining again
Of course it is.
10:44 AM
Play to restart at 12.05pm
Twenty minutes away with the proviso, of course, that it stays dry.
10:36 AM
Bah!
The covers are back on.
10:25 AM
Play will resume at 11.40am
But apparently it is raining heavily a mile or so to the right of the commentary box.
10:23 AM
The covers are coming off
Which will spark the whole, wearying process. Inspection 10 mins after they come off, resumption 20 mins later ... let's hope they rip up the traditional, officious tarrying and GET ON WITH THE GAME.
10:19 AM
It has stopped raining
But the covers are still on and the groundsman is pointing to a big cloud above the Radcliffe Road End.
10:15 AM
The break should not be too long
The shower is passing and the drainage, even though they took longer than usual to get the covers on, will get rid of any surface water in minutes.
Rain stops play. A squally shower, quite heavy, surprises players and groundstaff.
After Pant leaves the first one that was sent down the corridor, he works two into the onside infront of square off middle then chassés down to Anderson and plays a glorious shot, leathering it through wide mid-off for four with well-oiled wrists. Pure Pant.
10:09 AM
OVER 48: IND 126/4 (Rahul 58, Pant 7)
Ollie Robinson starts with a loosener. There's a strong breeze blowing from the offside to leg, making it difficult to shape his outswinger and indeed his second ball goes with the wind and down the legside. Big inswing from Robinson, Rahul defends stoutly.
KL works one off his pads to midwicket and wants a single but Pant wisely sends him back. Rahul must have had what Rahane had for breakfast yesterday.
10:03 AM
OVER 47: IND 126/4 (Rahul 58, Pant 7)
Anderson starts full and fast, wobbling towards off stump and Rahul defends squeezing it through to cover point and taking a single. Anderson comes round the wicket to Pant and the left-hander inside-edges it into his pad as he tried to clip it through midwicket. And finally, the over finishes.
10:01 AM
Jersusalem rings out
And the players take their positions. Anderson will complete his 14th over 21½ hours after he began it. Bowling to KL Rahul.
09:43 AM
Nasser is missing on Hundred duty
But still mining gold ... breathlessly:
🏏 FIELDING POSITIONS 🏏@NasserCricket is really blowing now as he takes a whistle-stop tour of the fielding positions 😁
Where do you want your best fielders - and where do you want @robkey612?! 🤣
James Anderson will complete the 47th over which began with ball one on Thursday at 2.30pm, ball two at 4.16pm and balls three and four at 5.02pm.
India are 58 runs behind on first innings with six wickets in hand.
09:38 AM
And here he is
Lloyd in a Nehru jacket - Sky Sports
09:35 AM
I don't know if Bumble has come as
Jawaharlal Nehru or George Harrison circa 1966. Nice jacket.
09:32 AM
And the question on everyone's lips?
Nick Hoult reports from Trent Bridge:
It is overcast but looks like it will start on time. It drains well here.
Think you could hoop it round corners this morning.
The full forecast for today suggests lunch will bring the worst chance of a significant interruption:
Weather for Trent Bridge - Met Office
09:21 AM
Robinson primed to launch torpedoes at Australia
By Scyld Berry at Trent Bridge
Ollie Robinson might never be so good as Stuart Broad in his prime, on one of those inspired days when the spirit moved the Nottinghamshire man to kick up his heels. But Robinson in his second Test is a better bowler than Broad is now.
It was Robinson who pegged away through the second morning to keep England in the game. He bowled from a similar height as Broad, at a similar pace to Broad, and with a predatory hunger which James Anderson retains, and which Broad had too, but not so much any more.
With his rolling gait, Robinson resembles a man on an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean running after a plane to give the pilot a message before he takes off.
It was Robinson who struck, like a strike bowler should, just before the interval when the Test was draining away from unconfident England. When Robinson fired in the first bouncer of day two at Rohit Sharma, at exactly head height, India’s model of orthodoxy and economy of movement hooked to Sam Curran at long leg.
Had India gone to lunch at 100 without loss, it would have been the first century opening partnership in a Test in England by any touring team since 2016; and England, still smarting after making a total around 100 below par, would have been demoralised going into the afternoon – far from the surge which followed and which kept them in this opening Test.
Sam Curran takes a catch to dismiss India's Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Ollie Robinson - Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
The new stand at Trent Bridge, shaped like an elongated and opened spectacle case, should be named after Broad, for he is no mere student of fast bowling, he is the modern Regius professor of it, in addition to his 523 Test wickets; and no doubt he will contribute to the team’s cause of terminating India’s first innings. But brutal truth be told, he has been coasting since January and that wonderful Test he had in Sri Lanka when contributing to England’s victory in ferocious heat. This is his fifth Test since then, in which he has taken six wickets at 49 runs each; and, no longer a bowling all-rounder, he has scored 24 runs in his eight innings.
Where did this England team go off the rails? They recorded six away Test wins in a row before slumping from mid-table into mediocrity. It was in the second Test in Chennai, when England had gone 1-0 up and reduced India to 86 for three.
England needed Broad, who had replaced Anderson, to chip in then as one of the few senior players – perhaps to bounce out Rohit as Robinson did here, before he had scored 161.
Broad bowled four overs in his opening spell in Chennai and said later that he felt short of rhythm, which was fair enough as he had not played for a month. But he did not seize the ball for a second spell before or straight after lunch.
On that day when England’s worm turned, Broad bowled 11 overs, and Olly Stone 15 overs with all the fire and brimstone he could muster.
As Jofra Archer is out injured for the rest of this year, Robinson surely has to be promoted to share the new ball with James Anderson at Lord’s next week and thereafter. He is always at the batsman, and not only verbally (we already knew he had plenty to say).
He makes batsmen play rather than hanging the ball out wide of offstump as his famous seniors have been known to do in the interests of economy, not least on the second morning here.
Robinson beats both edges; he is up for a duel, as men are more likely to be in their twenties than thirties. In the last Lions Test in Australia, Robinson and Craig Overton were England’s opening bowlers, backed by Brydon Carse, the Durham bowler blooded in England’s one-day international series against Pakistan. They did the job, winning the match for England by nine wickets. Robinson took the most wickets, seven for 147.
If England are going to win an Ashes Test this winter, or next, whenever that tour of Australia may be, Robinson will have to be involved again. Not least, England have been rather too quiet on the field in their past two series down under, when they have lost 9-0.
What is the message Robinson wants to deliver to the pilot? “All ready, skip, to fire torpedoes at Australia.”
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