9.27am The umpires are walking out. The Indians have had their huddle, and are out to field on a bright morning. Alastair Cook and Nick Compton join them. Cook will love to score his fourth century of the series. And he won't be jumping out of that crease anytime soon. Ishant Sharma to bowl the first over. Two slips and a gully in

9.25am "Looking at the geographical map of India, if England does go on to win the Nagpur test, it wouldn't be unfair to say that the Indian cricket team was beaten up left, right and center!" Ujjwal Ingolikar, I am sure England are not thinking that far ahead right now. They are thinking of the first session and a good start

"One has to wonder whether Dhoni would have played 3.5 spinners if he had known he would be bowling first." John, that's the good part of our game, isn't it? That you have to pick your team before the toss

9.15am "Here you go. A perfect recepe for a defeat. I presume you should strengthen your batting when they are failing, not play Piyush Chawla." Tanvi Kapila, whisper it, but Chawla has been averaging 75 with the bat and 55 with the ball this Ranji season. So there you go. On a serious note, the last time India were desperate enough to play Chawla in a test it was in April 2008. That was a three-day Test. I am expecting something similar here

"Very poor selection. As many as 4 spinners and just one quick? Piyush Chawla getting a game with the recent average of tick under 50 is a joke, is it surprising? The score line is giving the answer loud and clear." Kalpesh Mashru, that average has crossed 50. A tick under 50 was when you last checked it. Chawla had another day of bowling in Ranji Trophy left

"My Silly Dhoni, has Rahane left the realms of your mind? Please wake up." Edward Lee, he is Always Missing Rahane after all

9.05am Where are the Ranji Trophy buffs? Is this the first time two players from Saurashtra are playing in a Test? Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja. About eight months ago, he was dropped even from the limited-overs sides

"I hope he doesn't break down," Geoff Boycott says when informed India are playing just one seamer

"Rahane going the Tiwary way?" Or the Rohit Sharma way, Mandy Chawla

9am Captains walk out in blazers and with team sheets in their hands. Slight delay. It's 9.01am already. Okay equations are changing as we wait for the toss. Ravindra Jadeja could be picked if India play two quicks

At 9.03am, the coin goes up, Alastair Cook calls heads and heads it is. No suprise England are batting after winning the toss. We have to forget about being at the verge of making history, Cook says. Tim Bresnan replaces Steve Finn, and Joe Root gets debut ahead of Samit Patel

MS Dhoni says his side is known to do well when pushed in a corner. India have stacked the side with spinners. They have four of them now. Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja come in. That's surprising. Ishant Sharma the only quick. Poor Ajinkya Rahane has been passed up again as Jadeja gets Test debut

8.50am Joe Root has received his Test cap from Paul Collingwood. We are sure Root is going to replace Samit Patel, who pats him on the back. Also this is Graeme Swann's 50th Test

8.45am The pitch looks flat, dry, whtish. The little bit of grass there is there to keep it together for the first two days or so. Lots of cracks on the surface. "Bottom of a dried river bed," Paul Collingwood calls it. These cracks are going to open up at some time. Collingwood also calls it a day-three pitch. Toss is crucial again. No water on the pitch for two days. All pointing towards three spinners for India. Toss in 15 minutes

8.40am On the Indian side, I am tipping Ajinkya Rahane to get a debut, and Piyush Chawla to play as a third spinner. Haven't seen the pitch this morning yet, so let's hold on to those horses

8.35am Talks of a bold move from the England camp. They could drop Samit Patel. Joe Root could get a debut. Paul Collingwood likely to present Root with the cap. Tim Bresnan likely to replace the injured Steve Finn

8.30am 'Allo, 'allo. Nagpur is the centre of India. There's a pillar in the city that is considered the geographical centre of India. They call it the Zero Mile Zone. For the next five days, Jamtha - in the outskirts of Nagpur - is the Zero Mile Zone for Indian cricket. And England are more than happy to take the falling skeletons from Indian cupboards take all the attention. This can be a seminal Test. This can result in England's first series win in India in 27 years. This can result in a miraculous comeback from the hosts. Even if if doesn't, it has the potential to wake them up. You, dear reader, are awake already. That's why you are reading this

0.1

Sharma to Cook, no run, short of a length, angling away, left alone

That pitch is so white I need sunglasses to follow cricket on it

0.2

Sharma to Cook, no run, shin high from short of a length, Cook behind it, in front of off

0.3

Sharma to Cook, no run, short of a length, on off, angling away, left alone

0.4

Sharma to Cook, no run, length ball, outside off, shooting through to Dhoni

0.5

Sharma to Cook, no run, good leave. Short of a length, middle and off, left alone with the angle

"If Dhoni had found a spot for RP Singh in the starting 11, his day would have been perfect.." Ramesh S, what about Shadab Jakati?

0.6

Sharma to Cook, no run, short of a length, middle and leg, angling away, defended to cover

So who of the four spinners will bowl from the other end?

"Is it the first time India is playing 4 spinners after the era of the spin quartet - Bedi, Venky, Prasanna and Chandrasekar?" Yes, Ramashankar, like they played Zaheer, ishant, Yadav and Vinay to reprise Holding, Garner, Roberts and Marshall

Pragyan Ojha to start

1.1

Ojha to Compton, no run, short of a length, outside off, punched to mid-off

Just one slip, no catching men in front

1.2

Ojha to Compton, no run, length ball, middle and leg, defended back

1.3

Ojha to Compton, 1 run, down the wicket, and right away they pick on Piyush Chawla. Hit straight to Chawla at mid-on, and he is nowhere close to running them out

Long-on goes back for Cook

1.4

Ojha to Cook, no run, full, middle and leg, defended to midwicket

1.5

Ojha to Cook, no run, on a length, on off, defended with the turn

1.6

Ojha to Cook, no run, full, on off, pushed to midwicket

Anil: "Not often you have a guy younger than 25 years old, averaging 60+ in first class cricket for over 5000 runs, being overlooked when the team is looking for a replacement with the bat..."

2.1

Sharma to Compton, 1 run, angling into the pads, worked away for a single to leg

A comment on England selection too. From James: "I'm just wondering if it is a completely wise decision to throw Joe Root in at 6 when, in all likelihood, he'll turn out to be an opener. Surely stick with Samit or get Jonny B some exposure. That said, good Luck Joe! Great moment for him."

2.2

Sharma to Cook, no run, length ball, straight, defended back to Ishant

"When did you last see the Rajkot wicket?" asks Sourav Ganguly when told of Jadeja's triple-centuries

2.3

Sharma to Cook, no run, short of a length, just outside off, left alone

2.4

Sharma to Cook, no run, length ball, on the pads, Ishant misses out, can't beat midwicket, but he won't get flustered

2.5

Sharma to Cook, no run, short of a length, middle and off, defended off the back foot

2.6

Sharma to Cook, no run, length ball, middle and off, angling away, defended with an open face. Ishant has been accurate so far

3.1

Ojha to Compton, no run, length ball on off stump, defended on the front foot towards cover

3.2

Ojha to Compton, no run, played off the front foot once again on the off side

3.3

Ojha to Compton, no run, goes back this time to a length ball and defends to the man at silly point

3.4

Ojha to Compton, no run, Compton strides forward and blocks towards cover

3.5

Ojha to Compton, no run, defended on the leg side

3.6

Ojha to Compton, 1 run, played towards mid-off

4.1

Sharma to Compton, no run, a short of a length ball doesn't bounce much at all, Compton lets it go outside off and the ball drops well short of Dhoni

4.2

Sharma to Compton, OUT, caught behind! Umpire Dharmasena checks with the leg umpire to see if the catch was clean but Compton's not waiting. The catch is fine. Compton stayed in his crease and poked at a short of a length ball that rose and was on its way down as it passed the batsman. It took the outside edge and Dhoni had to stoop to take the catch.

NRD Compton c †Dhoni b Sharma 3 (16m 12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25.00

Big breakthrough for India early in the day. Jonathan Trott to bat now

4.3

Sharma to Trott, no run, short of a length, just outside off, defended in front of off

4.4

Sharma to Trott, no run, shooter. Bounces halfway between the stumps and Dhoni who does well to get his body behind it

4.5

Sharma to Trott, no run, length ball outside off, left alone

Important for England to not let this affect their mindset

4.6

Sharma to Trott, no run, bouncer that bounces well short of Dhoni. That pitched in Sharma's half and barely left ground as it reached Dhoni

Cow corner and deep midwicket in place

5.1

Ojha to Cook, 1 run, full, middle and off, flicked away to deep midwicket to get off the mark

Right. The last time Ojha bowled to Trott he got a wicket. A slip, a silly point in place

5.2

Ojha to Trott, no run, short of a length, on off, punched into the shin pads of silly point

5.3

Ojha to Trott, no run, flighted on off, defended

5.4

Ojha to Trott, 1 run, driven to Chawla at mid-on, and another single is taken

5.5

Ojha to Cook, no run, flighted on off, defended towards mid-off

5.6

Ojha to Cook, no run, tossed up on off, defended again. Not much turn so far

6.1

Sharma to Trott, FOUR, first boundary of the match. And it seems only these balls - half-volleys - that can be timed on this slow pitch. Half-volley, on off, driven past the stumps at the other end. All along the ground

Silly mid-on in

6.2

Sharma to Trott, no run, short of a length, outside off, Trott for some reason plays at it, and is beaten by low bounce

6.3

Sharma to Trott, no run, short of a length, just outside off, punched to cover

Ashwin at slip. No Pujara, no shin pads

6.4

Sharma to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, defended towards mid-off

Trott doesn't look happy with the pitch, but they need to enjoy this challenge

6.5

Sharma to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, gets a stride in to defend

6.6

Sharma to Trott, no run, short, wide, looks to cut but there is no pace on the ball, and he ends up playing this in front of square

Leg slip for Cook now

7.1

Ojha to Cook, no run, full, on off, driven to mid-on

7.2

Ojha to Cook, no run, full, middle and leg, driven to mid-on, doesn't take a single

7.3

Ojha to Cook, no run, tossed up again, Kohli makes a diving save at midwicket

7.4

Ojha to Cook, no run, quicker, flatter, on off, defended back

7.5

Ojha to Cook, no run, fired down the leg side, Cook is across, has exposed the leg stump, but this misses the leg stump

7.6

Ojha to Cook, no run, full and straight, played to midwicket

Ojha bowling with a strong leg-side field and angling into the pads

8.1

Sharma to Trott, 2 runs, short of a length, into the pads, glanced away fine of fine leg. Another diving save from India. Ojha this time at fine leg

8.2

Sharma to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, driven to mid-off

8.3

Sharma to Trott, no run, it took a lot of effort to duck under this. People might twist their backs if they are ducking under bouncers here. This was a bouncer that went waist high, and Trott somehow gets under it

8.4

Sharma to Trott, 1 leg bye, big big appeal from Ishant Length ball, nipping in, beats the inside edge, hits him in front or just outside off. Not given. leg-byes signalled. Umpire thinks this has hit him just outside off. Replays show DRS would have come back with "umpire's call" in regards to impact. Half the ball hit him in front of off

8.5

Sharma to Cook, no run, wide length ball, shooting through, left alone

I don't think slips have made an attempt to come closer to the stumps. I don't see edges carrying

8.6

Sharma to Cook, no run, defended off the front foot

A slip, a silly point

9.1

Ojha to Trott, no run, lenght ball, middle and off, defended

9.2

Ojha to Trott, no run, flat, shoritsh, outside off, left alone

9.3

Ojha to Trott, FOUR, fired into the pads, 88ks, swept away from in front of leg, past short fine leg

9.4

Ojha to Trott, no run, flighted on off, solid in defence off the front foot

9.5

Ojha to Trott, no run, full, nearly a yorker, on off, dug out

Sam: "How can this pitch be good for cricket? Only 1-2 balls carrying through in the 4th over from Ishant Sharma?! Pitches like this only strengthen the argument India takes T20 more seriously than test cricket...."

9.6

Ojha to Trott, no run, length ball, middle and leg, driven to mid-on

Cook is 1 off 25. Don't see him getting flustered by that, though

10.1

Sharma to Cook, no run, short of a length, wide, angling further away, Sharma doesn't play at it

10.2

Sharma to Cook, no run, wide length ball, left alone again

10.3

Sharma to Cook, OUT, Sharma has got one. That never looked out. Poor umpiring. Length ball, angling away after pitching on off, hitting him outside the line too. Atrocious call from umpire Dharamsena. Not one ball has swung this morning, and you can't give this out when the ball is not swinging or seaming. There have been quite a few umpiring shockers this series, and this is close to the most shocking ones

AN Cook lbw b Sharma 1 (44m 28b 0x4 0x6) SR: 3.57

A slip, a silly mid-on for Pietersen

10.4

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, dug it in short, Pietersen is surprised by how it bounces only waist high. He shouldn't be surprised, though

10.5

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, short and wide, Pietersen doesn't go after it

10.6

Sharma to Pietersen, 1 run, short again, waist high again, pulled away for one

Ojha to continue to Pietersen. Have doubts been caused in KP's minds?

11.1

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, moving across to defend this in front of off

11.2

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, wide length ball, driven to extra cover

11.3

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, down the wicket, right down to the pitch of it, drives it powerfully, Ojha gets a hand to it, saves runs again. Ojha has been good in the field today

11.4

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, huge shout for lbw, but KP is half way down the pitch when he pads. This is angling down, though

11.5

Ojha to Pietersen, 1 run, driven towards cover, Gambhir parries it to mid-off. They take a single

11.6

Ojha to Trott, no run, full, middle and leg, pushed to mid-on

Ravindra Jadeja to bowl before Chawla and Ashwin

12.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, full, middle and leg, driven to cover

12.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, 3 runs, down the wicket. KP seems to be in the mood. Whips this off the pads for three past midwicket

Long chat between KP and Trott. They knock the gloves

12.3

Jadeja to Trott, 1 run, full, middle and leg, no turn, pushed past short leg for one

12.4

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, length ball, middle and leg, defended back to him

12.5

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, full, middle and leg, whipped away, but can't beat midwicket

12.6

Jadeja to Pietersen, FOUR, Shot. This pitch is calling for a KP special. And he looks in the mood. Down the wicket, and lofts this flat over the bowler's head

13.1

Ojha to Trott, no run, length ball, middle and leg, driven to mid-on

13.2

Ojha to Trott, FOUR, swept away from the pads, over square leg. Trott's response to this pitch is sweeps

13.3

Ojha to Trott, no run, length ball, defended back

13.4

Ojha to Trott, no run, flat ball outside off, left alone

13.5

Ojha to Trott, no run, flighted on off, defended off the front foot

13.6

Ojha to Trott, 1 run, pushed wide of Jadeja at mid-on, and Dhoni demolishes the stumps at striker's end, but you can't run KP out if he runs without hesitation

Time for a drink

A big disclaimer. This is just to compare the quality of umpiring, and not the motives. Cooks dismissal reminded me of this

14.1

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, middle and leg, defended to mid-on

14.2

Jadeja to Trott, no run, full, middle and leg, driven to mid-on

14.3

Jadeja to Trott, no run, short of a length, stays low, Cook defends from the crease

14.4

Jadeja to Trott, no run, huge appeal as he plays across the line to a near yorker. Hits the toe on a half-volley, and is headed down

14.5

Jadeja to Trott, no run, darted into the pads, hits them too

14.6

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, middle and leg, pushed to short midwicket

15.1

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, length ball, on off, KP right forward to push to cover

15.2

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, flatter, on off, on the front foot again to defend

15.3

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, huge appeal for bat before wicket. Inside-edged, big inside edge

15.4

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, full, middle and leg, defended to leg

15.5

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, down the wicket, halfway down the pitch, beaten on the inside edge, but you can't give those out

15.6

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, driven to extra cover

16.1

Jadeja to Trott, no run, India are excited again as the ball doesn't turn, but it has taken a big inside edge onto the pad

16.2

Jadeja to Trott, FOUR, down the wicket, takes this on a half-volley, driven between the stumps and mid-on

16.3

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, defended to cover

16.4

Jadeja to Trott, no run, another length ball, no turn, right forward to defend

16.5

Jadeja to Trott, no run, full, middle and leg, riven to mid-on

16.6

Jadeja to Trott, no run, flighted on off, defended

17.1

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, length ball, on off, angling in, defended

17.2

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, length ball, driven on the up, can't beat Chawla at extra cover

17.3

Ojha to Pietersen, no run

17.4

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, tossed up outside off, defended again

17.5

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, flighted on off, driven to mid-off

17.6

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, darted into the pads, defended again

18.1

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, outside off, turning, stays low, beaten

18.2

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, middle and leg, defended

18.3

Jadeja to Trott, no run, another forward-defensive

18.4

Jadeja to Trott, no run, full and straight, driven back to Jadeja

18.5

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, defended off the front foot

18.6

Jadeja to Trott, no run, defended off the front foot

19.1

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, length ball, angling in towards off, defended

19.2

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, flat ball, on off, driven on the up, can't beat short cover

19.3

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, driven to short cover again

19.4

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, flat, on off, defended off the front foot

19.5

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, flighted on off, solid in defence

19.6

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, flat, on off, no turn, defended again

Piyush Chawla to bowl now. Deep midwicket already. One slip in

20.1

Chawla to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, defended back to him

20.2

Chawla to Trott, 1 run, pushed through, on the pads, holds its line, worked away for one

20.3

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, full, on the pads, driven to straight midwicket

20.4

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, full again, driven to mid-on, decides against the single

20.5

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, straight drive, Chawla dives in his follow-through to save runs

20.6

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, turn now as Chawla pitches this short and on leg. Defended in front of off

21.1

Jadeja to Trott, no run, flat, on off, defended off the front foot

21.2

Jadeja to Trott, no run, length ball, on off, defended again

21.3

Jadeja to Trott, no run, defended off the front foot

21.4

Jadeja to Trott, no run, driven to extra cover

21.5

Jadeja to Trott, no run, full, on off, pushed back to Jadeja

21.6

Jadeja to Trott, no run, full outside off, defended to cover

22.1

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, tossed up, on off, defended

22.2

Chawla to Pietersen, 1 run, walks down, charges down, turns this into a half-volley, whips this to long-off

22.3

Chawla to Trott, no run, full, on off, defended to mid-off

22.4

Chawla to Trott, no run, short of a length, shoots through, defended well

Dharmasena seems to be having a word with Trott for running on the danger area

22.5

Chawla to Trott, no run, defended off the front foot

22.6

Chawla to Trott, no run, flatter, outside off, left alone

23.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, hit hard off the back foot but to cover

23.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, strides forward to block on the on side

23.3

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, Pietersen strides forward and drives to mid off

23.4

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, fired in on middle stump, Pietersen defends on the front foot, his front pad is out of the line of the ball

23.5

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, defended on the off side on the front foot

23.6

Jadeja to Pietersen, 3 runs, Pietersen moves on to the front foot and drives through cover point

24.1

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, legbreak, on off, defended with an open face

24.2

Chawla to Pietersen, FOUR, that's pure KP genius. Length ball, middle and leg, and he goes over mid-on. All wrists to get the power behind this

24.3

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, pushed through outside off, left alone

24.4

Chawla to Pietersen, FOUR, and KP clears mid-on again. Superb batting. Flat length ball, no turn, and he lofts over mid-on without any fuss

24.5

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, length ball, outside off, defended

24.6

Chawla to Pietersen, 1 run, short, wide, cut away, gets a single to cover-point

25.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, FOUR, poor bowling. Short, wide, can't cut them, but he has punched this through cover-point for four. Superb adjustment after realising he can't cut this

25.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, full, straight, defended

25.3

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, length ball, on off, defended back to him

25.4

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, driven to straight extra cover

25.5

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, fired in, defended from the crease

25.6

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, pushed back to him again

26.1

Chawla to Trott, no run, wide of the crease, wide of the stumps, left alone

26.2

Chawla to Trott, no run, short and wide again, Trott doesn't cut

26.3

Chawla to Trott, no run, length ball, middle and leg, defended

26.4

Chawla to Trott, no run, fired into the pads, defended to leg

26.5

Chawla to Trott, no run, flighted, middle and off, defended from inside the crease

26.6

Chawla to Trott, no run, flighted outside off, defended with an open face

No Ashwin yet. Jadeja to keep bowling his darts

27.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, fired in, defended again

27.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, flat, middle and off, defended towards cover

27.3

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, slight flight, and he drives this, but can't beat extra cover

27.4

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, fired in again, and he defends on the front foot

27.5

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, looks for the big drive again, but can't time it, and Jadeja does the fielding

27.6

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, driven to mid-off

28.1

Chawla to Trott, no run, flighted outside off, he doesn't play at it

28.2

Chawla to Trott, 3 runs, half-volley, wide, driven past Ashwin at cover and they take three when they should be getting two

28.3

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, short, wide, Pietersen is not playing horizontal shots

28.4

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, legbreak, outside off, turning away, doesn't need to play at it

28.5

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, another leave outside off

28.6

Chawla to Pietersen, no run, and another leave outside off

Finally, R Ashwin to bowl

29.1

Ashwin to Trott, no run, short, turning in, punched back

A slip and a short leg in

29.2

Ashwin to Trott, 1 run, bowled flat and fast outside off, paddled away for a single

Long-on and deep midwicket go back

29.3

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, tossed up outside off, well forward to defend

29.4

Ashwin to Pietersen, 1 run, flighted outside off, he reaches it, and plays a top-spin drive to long-on

29.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, flighted outside off again, Ashwin drawing them forward, smothers the turn

29.6

Ashwin to Trott, 2 runs, fired into the pads, paddled away for two. That's the mandatory loose ball from Ashwin

Sharma comes back before lunch. No slip. One short midwicket and a silly mid-on in

30.1

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, length ball, on off, defended well

Sharma has easily been the best bowler on show today

30.2

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, wide, but swinging in, and Pietersen gets an inside edge onto the pads. Loose shot from KP

30.3

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, short of a length, doesn't come on, kept down well by KP

30.4

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, wide length ball, KP doesn't play at it

"I don't know whether it's just because the batsmen aren't timing the ball too well but my impression so far is that the outfield is fairly slow. If that is the case then scoring runs is doubly difficult, because there are fewer boundaries and they have to run more." John, it's both. Timing on this slow pitch is very difficult, and outfield is lush too

30.5

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, whipped away off the pads, one bounce to short midwicket

30.6

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, swinging in, towards off, solid front-foot defence

Six minutes to go to lunch. This will be a 33-over session

31.1

Ashwin to Trott, no run, flat offbreak, on off, defended from the crease

31.2

Ashwin to Trott, no run, flighted now, beats Trott in the air, but he back and defends

31.3

Ashwin to Trott, no run, tossed up, gets some dip, outside off, turning in, inside edge onto the pad. That's what he has to bowl for about three overs without change

31.4

Ashwin to Trott, no run, flat again, defended outside off

31.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, fullish, defended back

31.6

Ashwin to Trott, no run, fired in wide, left alone

Last over before lunch

32.1

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, short of a length, swinging in, staying low, hits the toe end of the bat

That ball is going with the shine. How India must be missing a second quick now

32.2

Sharma to Pietersen, 1 run, short of a length, stays low again, toe end again, gets a single to cover-point this time

Trott takes a fresh guard

32.3

Sharma to Trott, no run, bouncer, and Trott pulls out great flexibility to duck under one that doesn't rise. This is a wicket for Daryl Harper-type lbws. Remember Tendulkar?

32.4

Sharma to Trott, no run, defended off the front foot

32.5

Sharma to Trott, no run, more reverse swing, hits the inside edge, onto the pad, but it won't lob up to silly mid-on

32.6

Sharma to Trott, no run, tries the reverse-swing the other way, but this starts wide, and is left alone

11.32am That's lunch. Some of the most unappealing cricket you will see. Low, slow pitch, Indians not trying to turn the ball, poor for stroke play. It's a can't-play-shots-can't-get-wickets pitch. And ironically, with India stacking their side up with four spinners, the wickets have fallen to a fast bowler and an umpire. Anyway, there is promise for after lunch. The ball has begun to reverse, so that might be a challenge. And KP is using his reach to turn balls into half-volleys, and is playing some unbelievable shots. We will be back around five minutes past noon

It's going to be one of four spinners, R Ashwin, lightly used in the morning, to open the bowling from the North End, that, before this game, was the Secretary End...

Hello everyone, Alex Winter here for the afternoon session of this final Test. India have had their huddle and now Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott are striding out looking to get England going after lunch, big runs in this first innings could be enough to secure the series...

33.1

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, tossed up on off stump, a lean forward and block

33.2

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, flicked to short midwicket from a similar line

33.3

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, slowly onto the bat and blocked again around off stump

33.4

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, much straighter, defended into the leg side

33.5

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, floated up, forward again defending to point

33.6

Ashwin to Pietersen, 1 run, leg stump, flicked around the corner and a single to deep backward square leg

And from the South End, by default, but it's actually the Pavilion End, it'll be Ishant Sharma with all that hair...

34.1

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, length ball on middle and leg, defended on the crease, low bounce again

34.2

Sharma to Pietersen, 2 runs, little bit of shape in here, worked with the angle from around middle stump on a length towards long leg, chase around for Sehwag and you won't be surprised to learn he can't save the second run

34.3

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, tails in again, fuller this time, driven to short mid on

34.4

Sharma to Pietersen, FOUR, too straight again, too full also this time too and Pietersen flicks past midwicket with good timing, poor ball

50 partnership comes up...

34.5

Sharma to Pietersen, 1 run, little full again, this is flicked wide enough of mid on for a single

Only just noticed there are no catchers at all behind the bat...

34.6

Sharma to Trott, 1 run, length outside off, angled down to third man

On the face of it, this pitch looks a belter, good uniform colour, not a hint of anything living on the surface but the bounce is an issue...and Paul Collingwood has just tweeted that this game will be done in three days! We shall see Colly...

35.1

Ashwin to Trott, no run, length on the stumps, back and flicked towards square leg

35.2

Ashwin to Trott, no run, fuller and blocked back up the wicket

35.3

Ashwin to Trott, no run, far enough outside off to leave alone

35.4

Ashwin to Trott, no run, forward more concertedly this time to drive but Ashwin saves with his right hand

35.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, propped forward to block back to the bowler on off stump

35.6

Ashwin to Trott, no run, little wider, front foot drive to cover

Sachin Tendulkar is having a word with MS Dhoni, looked a bit perturbed with the field for Sharma...there are two short midwickets...

36.1

Sharma to Pietersen, 1 leg bye, angled in, runs off the pad wide of Dhoni for a single

36.2

Sharma to Trott, 1 run, banged in and this doesn't bounce even remotely as it should, Trott went to sway inside the line but if it got over his hip it bounced a lot, he adjusted and got it off the gloves down to third man

36.3

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, more inswing, driven to the straighter of the two short midwickets

36.4

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, forward and blocked on a length on the off stump

36.5

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, middle and leg again, blocked back up past the bowler, mid on comes in to save the single

36.6

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, leg stump, flicked into the leg side and a flying Kohli saves at short midwicket

37.1

Ashwin to Trott, no run, full down the leg side and well taken

37.2

Ashwin to Trott, FOUR, loose wide half-volley and timed nicely through cover point

37.3

Ashwin to Trott, no run, long lean forward and blocked just outside off stump

37.4

Ashwin to Trott, no run

37.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, forward press to cover, couldn't quite negotiate the gap

37.6

Ashwin to Trott, no run, full of length, pushed to leg from off stump

38.1

Sharma to Pietersen, 1 run, short ball, tennis ball bounce is ever there was, pulled slowly to long leg

38.2

Sharma to Trott, no run, length ball just outside off, tried to be played from the crease, Trott was a little lazy and got a thick inside edge that he nearly managed to drag onto his stumps

38.3

Sharma to Trott, no run, forward outside off and blocked to cover point

38.4

Sharma to Trott, 1 run, leg stump and flicked in the air and the squarer of the two short midwickets wasn't far away at all from taking that, maybe got a fingertip on it, lands safely away from a deeper midwicket too

38.5

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, and that deep midwicket fields now as Pietersen pulls and mistimes

38.6

Sharma to Pietersen, 1 run, length ball on off stump, Pietersen forward and runs it off the inner half of the bat through square leg

No turn as yet for Ashwin...

39.1

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, leg stump and blocked to midwicket

39.2

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, blocked around off stump

39.3

Ashwin to Pietersen, 1 run, straighter and whipped down to deep square

39.4

Ashwin to Trott, no run, full on the stumps and flicked back up the wicket

39.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, waited for and turned to square leg where there's a good diving save

39.6

Ashwin to Trott, no run, flicked to the fielder saving one in front of square this time

Sharma to continue, he might have to continue for some time with only one seamer in the side...

40.1

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, length on off stump, solidly defended

40.2

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, forward again, a little looser in fact, but again blocked into the on side

40.3

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, forward once more and again blocked carefully, watched all the way onto the bat

40.4

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, fuller and a delicious on drive but very well saved by a diving mid on with a slide to his left

40.5

Sharma to Pietersen, FOUR, but this time gets the drive past the fielder, goes through the off side and times it to perfection, again it was overpitched

40.6

Sharma to Pietersen, no run, tails in from a length towards middle and leg, worked to square short midwicket

Just the one slip for Ashwin...

41.1

Ashwin to Trott, no run, forward on off stump and ran back up the wicket

41.2

Ashwin to Trott, no run, leg stump, looked to whip it away, struck on the pad, going down

41.3

Ashwin to Trott, no run, further down leg, flicks the pad through to the keeper

41.4

Ashwin to Trott, no run, forward on off stump and blocked again

41.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, pushed into the covers from just outside off

41.6

Ashwin to Trott, FOUR, wider and can unleash the full drive this time and times is very well past point

Time for the first change as Ojha comes into the attack...

42.1

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, blocked into the covers from off stump

42.2

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, driven from off stump now to mid off

42.3

Ojha to Pietersen, no run, length just outside off and Pietersen flicks at it awkwardly and plays and misses

42.4

Ojha to Pietersen, 3 runs, drives at this one and squirts it down to third man, sharp third run but more than safely home, doesn't stop umpire Tucker from checking it though

42.5

Ojha to Trott, no run, driven to a diving short cover

42.6

Ojha to Trott, no run, a flicked drive back to the bowler from off stump

"It's just second session of the Test match. Why has Dhoni already gone for defensive field settings. As an Indian Cricket fan, I am really unhappy about Dhoni's approach to the game." In his defence Dhamu there is absolutely nothing happening out there to justify anything but a ring field...

43.1

Ashwin to Pietersen, FOUR, too straight and helped on it's way, gets it very very fine and to the boundary

50 for Pietersen, batted nicely...

43.2

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, blocked in the crease

43.3

Ashwin to Pietersen, no run, lean outside off and a bit of cross-batted swipe, gets it off the middle to mid off

43.4

Ashwin to Pietersen, 1 run, too straight again, worked to square leg with a nudge

43.5

Ashwin to Trott, no run, blocked on the crease into the on side

43.6

Ashwin to Trott, 1 run, waited for and worked with the angle down to deep backward square

44.1

Ojha to Trott, no run, little bit of turn there, blocked off an outside edge into the off side

44.2

Ojha to Trott, no run, blocked more comfortably this time blocking around off stump

44.3

Ojha to Trott, no run, leg stump, went to sweep and missed, sliding well down

44.4

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward and blocking on off stump

44.5

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward and off an inside edge onto the pad

44.6

Ojha to Trott, no run, full flourishing drive to mid on, well timed but can't find the gap

Here's the man on debut, Ravindrasinh Jadeja...

45.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, forward blocking on off stump

45.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, forward on the stumps and blocked forward

45.3

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, flicked to mid on from the stumps

45.4

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, a rather loose drive back up the wicket, mistimed

45.5

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, hard strike this, on the drive, slapped straight to extra cover

45.6

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, waited in the crease and pushed square on the off side

46.1

Ojha to Trott, no run, back and probably should have been forward, tucked to square leg

46.2

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward, blocking around off stump

46.3

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward and blocked a little late, gets it into the leg side

46.4

Ojha to Trott, no run, touch straighter, tried to work it around the corner but didn't get enough on it

46.5

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward and pressing into the off side this time

46.6

Ojha to Trott, no run, tossed up outside off, driven towards cover

KP's having a banana...

47.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, forward and a firm drive back to the bowler

47.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, pushed hard back up the wicket again, the bowler fields

47.3

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, little unsure defending on the crease, keeps it out nevertheless

47.4

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, forward again blocking on the stumps

47.5

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, forward with soft hands trying to work it into the leg side, couldn't get it away

47.6

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, outside off, ball goes straight on and Pietersen shoulders arms

48.1

Ojha to Trott, no run, full and punched back to the bowler

48.2

Ojha to Trott, no run, pressed back to the bowler

48.3

Ojha to Trott, no run, another prop forward and press back up the wicket

48.4

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward blocking again

48.5

Ojha to Trott, FOUR, leg stump, swept away nicely, fully in control and gets it to the backward square boundary

48.6

Ojha to Trott, no run, forward to just block again

And that's the drinks break with England making very steady progress. 100 up, nothing happening with the ball, they really have a great chance here to put the hammer down on this series. Monty is sliding into place like a seal off a rock to take up the commentary...

Hello, hello, big hands all round, thank you, thank you ... What do we think of this pitch, then? KP and Trott appear to have bedded in and pulled the covers up to their chins. Pietersen getting a little bit of spray on his wrist during the break ... Jadeja to continue

49.1

Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, floated up on middle and leg, driven to mid-on

49.2

Jadeja to Pietersen, 1 run, tossed up, outside off, not much turn, gets forward and drives, misfielded at mid-off and they get one

49.3

Jadeja to Trott, no run, flighted on the stumps and blocked

49.4

Jadeja to Trott, OUT, left alone and bowled him! What was Trott thinking?! Maybe he had fallen asleep... Jadeja pushed through a regulation delivery that didn't turn, went on with the arm and Trott simply allowed it through, bat pointed at the sky, just a tickle of off stump but that's all it takes and Jadeja has his first wicket in Test cricket!

IJL Trott b Jadeja 44 (168m 133b 7x4 0x6) SR: 33.08

In comes Little Ian Bell - England need some Indian runs from him now

49.5

Jadeja to Bell, no run, tossed up on the stumps and Bell charges down the pitch like a headless chicken defends watchfully

49.6

Jadeja to Bell, no run, full and on the stumps, gets forward in defence