Alfred: "The unsung hero - Foakes. Good to see him get some statistics for his effort." -- Yup. I've always thought Wriddhiman Saha is the best keeper against spin in Test cricket at this moment, but Foakes' display was as good as any of Saha's best.
Daniel Wesley: "India's first innings score is eerily similar to 2012 Mumbai Test between the 2 teams .. India scored 327 then .... Can Root play a KP like innings and get Eng past 400?"
Geetha: "Four ducks in a total of 329. What's the highest score to include four ducks, I wonder." -- India have fallen well short of West Indies' total of 467 at Georgetown in 2002.
This is, however, the highest Test-match total to not include any extras.
Ramc: "Ashwin will bowl first over.. what's yours thoughts guys?" -- It's quite possible.
Pravesh Jain: "Pant was furious at Siraj there and rightly so. He should be trying to survive and let Pant take care of scoring" -- I don't know how much you can expect from your No. 11. He has a method and he went with it.
10.08am Stone ends with excellent figures of 3 for 47, he's bowled very very well in his first outing in India. India end up with 329, which looks at the moment like a formidable total on this pitch. You only judge a pitch after both teams have batted and bowled on it, of course, but it's clear to see England have a big task ahead of them.
Mohammed Siraj c †Foakes b Stone 4 (4m 2b 1x4 0x6) SR: 200.00
Two slips, gully, short leg, leg gully.
In walks Mohammed Siraj. He likes to move around the crease and not offer fast bowlers a stationary target. Stone goes over the wicket.
Pankaj: "Why take a single on 1st ball? Don't they coach to farm strike?" -- He wanted two runs, but slightly overestimated how much power he had put on that shot.
Kuldeep Yadav c †Foakes b Stone 0 (27m 15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Leg gully goes into position too.
Two slips and a short leg for Kuldeep.
New challenge for Pant now. Here's Olly Stone. Around the wicket, just the slip in place, plenty back on the boundary on either side. Struggling to spot a single fielder in the infield. Jeevan: "That's the beauty of Indian cricket, it gives you heroes to keep on clinging to this beautiful game. I had Kumble, Sachin and after Dhoni I thought who now whom I will be fan of in any situation and condition........Thanks Pant...."
Sid Monga informs me that Pant, with 31 sixes, is already the 12th-highest six-hitter for India in Tests. One more and he joins Rahane at No. 11.
END OF OVER:95 | (maiden) | IND: 324/8
- Kuldeep Yadav0 (13b)
- Rishabh Pant57 (76b)
- Joe Root11-3-23-1
- Moeen Ali29-3-128-4
Root now has Kuldeep on strike for potentially six balls. Slip, gully, short leg.
END OF OVER:94 | 6 Runs | IND: 324/8
- Rishabh Pant57 (76b)
- Kuldeep Yadav0 (7b)
- Moeen Ali29-3-128-4
- Joe Root10-2-23-1
Extra-cover now comes into a single-saving position.
Three back on the leg-side boundary too. Only short fine leg is in a single-saving position, he's more there for the top-edged sweep.
Moeen continues. Four men out on the off-side boundary. Just a slip in place.
END OF OVER:93 | 1 Run | IND: 318/8
- Kuldeep Yadav0 (7b)
- Rishabh Pant51 (70b)
- Joe Root10-2-23-1
- Moeen Ali28-3-122-4
Just the one ball for Kuldeep to negotiate.
Two balls left in this over. How will Pant play it?
Root continues from around the wicket.
END OF OVER:92 | 9 Runs | IND: 317/8
- Kuldeep Yadav0 (6b)
- Rishabh Pant50 (65b)
- Moeen Ali28-3-122-4
- Joe Root9-2-22-1
Slip and gully in place too, apart from silly point.
Malli: "That's what dedicated wicket keepers can do, create opportunities out of nowhere. It could be a turning point in this match" -- Yup, Foakes has been absolutely magnificent. He's a pretty good batsman too.
