Summary

  • Bad light and rain brings early end to day four with England needing 35 more to win and India four wickets

  • England are chasing 374 to win fifth Test and secure series victory

  • Would be their second-highest chase and a record at The Oval

  • Root reaches 39th Test century off 137 balls but edges behind with England still needing 37

  • Brook hits stunning 111 off 98 balls to get England within 73 of victory

  • Brook was caught at fine leg by Siraj, but India quick stumbles onto boundary rope. Brook was on 19 and England 137-3

  • Fifth Test, day four, The Oval - England lead series 2-1

Root edges behind to leave England six down

Live Reporting

Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. Possible 'outbreaks of rain'

    Elizabeth Rizzini
    Lead weather presenter on Test Match Special

    The cloud will thicken for much of the rest of the morning. Then probably around 2-3PM we could possibly see some outbreaks of rain.

  2. Weather watch

    It's drizzling up here in Salford but the forecast for the Oval is... well, surprisingly positive at the moment?

    There is probably going to be rain this afternoon but how much is anyone's guess.

    Weather

  3. 'We have entered the final act'

    We have entered the final act. England have recent form for run chases, but knocking off 374 on this Oval pitch would be truly remarkable.

    Starting day four on 50-0 would have been a position of promise, but the loss of Zak Crawley from the penultimate delivery of day three tipped the balance further towards India ending with a 2-2 draw.

    If they do, they will have won the two Tests Bumrah has missed. They have managed their resources better than England.

    You can read more from BBC Sport's chief cricket report Stephan Shemilt here.

  4. 'England should consider Brook when Stokes is out'

    Harry Brook (left), Joe Root (centre), and Ollie Pope (right)Getty Images

    England should consider making Harry Brook captain if Ben Stokes endures further time on the sidelines, according to former skipper Michael Vaughan.

    All-rounder Stokes is missing the final Test against India at The Oval because of a shoulder injury, with vice-captain Ollie Pope deputising.

    The 34-year-old's recovery is likely to take around eight weeks, before the Ashes series in Australia beginning in November.

    Yorkshire's Brook became England's white-ball captain this year, winning his first series in full-time charge against West Indies.

    "Harry Brook, to me, looks a leader. He looks a born leader," Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast.

    You can read more here.

  5. Why can't England replace Chris Woakes?

    To repeat a point made a few times in this series, England are not able to replace Chris Woakes in this innings despite his serious shoulder injury.

    Injury replacements are not allowed in Test cricket's playing conditions.

    If your wicketkeeper gets injured, as Rishabh Pant did earlier in this series, you can replace them with the gloves but that replacement is not allowed to bat.

    England said before day two Woakes will not play any further part in the game. Theoretically he could come out to bat if England were nine down needing five to win - or some sort of similar situation.

  6. BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Test Match Special is the place to go for ball-by-ball coverage of the fifth Test.

    Click the 'listen live' button at the top of the page or find BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra on BBC Sounds.

  7. Highlights

    Here's a reminder of what happened on day three.

    India resumed on 75-2 and went on to post 396, setting England a target of 374 to win.

    England knocked 50 off their chase but lost Zak Crawley to the final ball of the day.

    You can read Ffion Wynne's report here.

    Tongue takes five wickets but India have the edge in fifth Test after day three

  8. Hello!

    Hello there!

    It's day four of the fifth Test between England and India at the Oval.

    Could this be the final day of the series? England need 324 more runs to win.