Root anchors England's first-innings effort with ton

India's spinners, R Ashwin in particular, had threatened to disrupt England's effort on the first day of the first Test in Rajkot, but Joe Root starred for the tourists with an impressive ton - his eleventh in Tests - to set the platform for a sizable score of 311 for 4 at stumps on Wednesday.

In the first two sessions of the day, England was reduced to 102 for three as Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja found spin early. But Root and Moeen Ali stood up to the spin challenge from India and took their side to a strong position with a 179-run stand for the fourth wicket, the longest and highest partnership by a visiting team since the start of the last season.

Root in particular was fluent and answered all questions posed to him by India's spinners. Ashwin, on his part, tested the right-hander with flight and drift, but Root cut and swept the ball with ease and struck 25 fours enroute in his ton.

Alastair Cook, England's captain, had at the toss said that his batsmen needed to stand tall in the first innings and Root, who was finally dismissed for a 180-ball 124 and Ali, who remained unbeaten on 99 at stumps seized early advantage in the Test and the series.

Since his recall in 2014, Root has scored 200 not out, 154 not out, 83, 98, 134, 85, 24, 0, 48, 40, and now 124 in his first innings of the series. Root's innings in Rajkot ended in an extraordinary fashion, when he drove the ball back towards Umesh Yadav, who caught it and in a single upwards motion flung it skywards, but with less control than he might have desired. England's number three stood his ground only to have the third umpire, Rod Tucker, uphold the on-field umpire's decision.

England at that stage stood at 281 for four with over ten overs to play. Root's hundred was his third against India, his third in Asia and his third away from home. He also became the first foreign batsman to score a ton in India since Michael Clarke scored his in February 2013.

Ben Stokes and Ali ensured they kept their wickets in tact to add to India's woes on the second day. Ali stands unbeaten on 192-ball 99. "We always thought seam might be a bit useful early on, and the guys at the top did well. We just knew we needed to build a partnership. I thought Mo was outstanding as well, look forward to watching him continue tomorrow," Root said.

"The way we practiced in the lead-up to the game, it's nice to go and get it out there in the middle. I think we saw throughout the innings the ball having variable bounce. It's important to get a first-innings score and put pressure on them that way."