India v England: First Test – Day Three LIVE as England eye route back from big deficit

With England trailing by 70 runs, Jadeja comes in for Sirah, for his second over of the innings, as we’re back with spin again. Can Bairstow handle it as well as the openers did? He seems to be able to – even if he’s not in a hurry. He’ll frustrate the Indian attack as he can, and take the odd run where it presents itself. One in that over for him, and another for Pope who pushes through the covers to bring up Bairstow v Bumrah once more.

Thirty runs from the seven overs so far in this session, for the fall of two valuable wickets, as Bumrah returns for what must be one of his last overs for a while. He’s been brutal, causing England so much trouble with the pace and swing he’s found from the new(ish) ball. Johnny Bairstow looks determined to lead the fightback, though, starting by not taking any undue risks. He’ll get the bat in front of the ball all day if that’s what it takes, and has no issues taking the heat out of this particular battle. A single to finish the over denies Bumrah the maiden and ensures Bairstow keeps the strike.

Siraj steams in to take full advantage of the momentum which is now undoubtedly back with India. One run for pope in that over to give Bairstow the strike, who gets off the mark himself with the final ball of the over. England have been pegged back, especially in the last couple of overs, with wickets falling and singles the only runs they’ve been able to find. That missed DRS opportunity already feels like a distant memory.

Back with Bumrah, who looks to swing the ball back in and trouble Joe Root’s pads, or tempt him into a nick behind. Both the best in class, we have the prospect of a fearsome contest you’d have to say. Just the one run for Root from the first ball, pushing a single past point. Bumrah sends a yorker up to Ollie Pope who struggles with his feet but manages well to get his bat in place. The slower ball fools Pope a little, and he chips it up but it lands safely between fielders in the cover and England add another single. The final ball of the over sees Joe Root given out Lbw immediately, beaten by a length ball that hits him just below the knee roll. England’s review is in vain. He has not lasted long, just six balls for two runs.

Mohammed Siraj comes in to bowl his first over of the innings, which means England will be facing pace at both ends. Pope works a length ball to square leg for Siraj’s first ball, before Root gets himself going with the next one, just nodding it behind square. Good length from Siraj in this over, prompting relative caution from the England batters, who know they find themselves in a precarious, important position. What happens in the next couple of overs could well determine the course of this match.

Bumrah steams in after that missed opportunity and Ben Duckett plays positively at the ball swinging away, making great contact and sending it into the cover where there’s a misfield and it continues to the fence. Duckett defends the next two balls, before taking a fairly wild swing off the next one, making contact with the glove and picking up another four. He doesn’t get away with it twice, though as Bumrah gets his man with the next ball. Duckett makes for a booming cover drive but it’s straight through and rattles the off stump. A good 47 for Duckett, but now it’s Joe Root time. England trail by 77.

The very next ball brings up the first boundary of the session, a lovely shot from Ollie Pope as he steps to it and drives through mid-off for four. Another one from the next ball, as Ashwin gets onto the ball being sent down the leg side, helping it on its way to the boundary. Better balls from the next four from Ashwin keep Pope from scoring any more.

Jasprit Bumrah from the opposite end, looking to make the ball swing, force England onto the back foot and maybe find an edge or two. He sends the ball down both sides but Ollie Pope uses his feet well, to drive into the covers for a couple of runs and bring up the 50 partnership. Now trailing for less than 100 has got to be a psychological boost for England. Pope pushes at a length ball, which finds an inside edge but lands safe. The final ball of the over brings up a Lbw shout and an appeal but no review from India. It would have been successful though…

Ashwin opens the bowling after lunch looking to get up in the face of England, who don’t want to lose an early wicket. They have started with the same intent, though, Duckett scoring a single, and Pope picking up four from that over. They have inspired doubt in Ashwin’s mind, and it’s working to the visitors’ advantage.

After India’s batters looked to press home their advantage, it was Joe Root wot done it for England, taking two wickets in two balls in the 120th over of the Indian innings. The first was Jadeja, given Lbw defending. It might have taken an edge but ultraedge was inconclusive so it stayed with the umpire. No doubt about Root’s second of the day, however, as he snuck a full ball between Bumrah’s bat and pad, rattling the stumps and bringing delight to the visitors. No hat-trick for Root, but the final wicket came in the next over, Rehan bowling Axar Patel with a ball that stayed low and clattered the stumps.

With the bat, England have been even better, fearlessly ploughing their way into the formidable India lead. In just 15 overs their 89 runs have come at almost six an over. The only blot on the copy book is the wicket of Zak Crawley, who fell to Ashwin in the 10th over.

Good morning, and welcome to live coverage from the third day of the first test of the (northern hemisphere) winter series between India and England in Hyderabad.

If you went to bed hoping things would look (indeed be) at least a little happier for England in the early morning than they were at midday (UK time) on Friday, well I’m pleased to be the bearer of good news.

The situation at lunch finds England batting and currently trailing by 101 runs. They claimed the three wickets they needed for the addition of just 15 runs, and have gotten moving this morning. In the first 15 overs of the innings, 89 runs have been scored, for the loss of just Zak Crawley.

India remain in the box seats, but England are closer than they were to back in it. Play will resume shortly.

TNT Sports will become the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.

TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.

The means England’s five-Test tour of India, starting on Thursday 25 January, will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and you can follow live over-by-over updates here.

The new agreement also means:

• England’s five-Test tour of India, starting on Thursday 25 January, will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
• TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
• TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.