West Indies legend Brian Lara is answering questions about this match on his Twitter page. 

Sharjeel must deal with spin, the offies of the seemingly double-jointed R Ashwin. Already Sharjeel looks about as comfortable as a giraffe at a polar bears only bridge club. It's ragging square. 

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, AP

"If a batsman gets the timing right on this pitch there really could be fireworks."

Close!published at 1 over

1 over

Pak 3-0

Like a drunken youngster on the town on a Friday night, Sharjeel is on the pull. He's looking for anything short, but only getting another single. Very good from Nehra, cramping both men for room. Ooohhh, that's close. Shehzad almost pats a catch back to the bowler. First over is India's.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"I'm not sure what would have happened if that first ball had been hit for four. We probably would have been catapulted into space by the sound."

A roar to raise the dead urges Nehra to the crease for the first delivery. The burly Sharjeel pulls it around the corner for a single. We're off.

Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad, the Pakistan openers, wander out to the middle. The ageless Ashish Nehra has the ball.

Anthems belted out, India players into a huddle. Man with microphone screams into it. I'll be honest with you, mate, this crowd doesn't need any encouragement.

The players emerge for the anthems. Crowd roars. Tim Peake looks out of the window to see what the noise is.

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (capt and wkt), Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Rabindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra.

Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Shahid Afridi (capt), Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan.

Isaac Qureshi: This game transcends sport. This is a fierce clash of cultures, politics and religions. Much more gravity than the Ashes.

If you spent some time under a rock yesterday, you might not know that England knocked off 230 to beat South Africa. Honest. Don't believe me? Watch the highlights...

RJJ: India should be confident because they always win the big games against Pakistan.

It's actually Imad Wasim who misses out for Pakistan. Line-ups coming up.

India captain MS Dhoni: "The wicket has been under the covers for quite some time and feels a bit sticking. It gives us time to see what's happening on the wicket.

"I have always been a thinker that the past doesn’t matter and that once you step into ring you have to be at your best because nothing really matters. 

"We have to start well. Our batsmen have faced fast bowling all around the world, every team has its own strength and Pakistan’s is fast bowling

"The occasion is what it is all about. You want to compete and represent your country and win games. It is the pride factor that really counts when you represent India."

Pakistan have made one change, with pacer Mohammad Sami coming in. I think he's replaced Sharjeel Khan, but I'm waiting on confirmation.

Have you ever heard a coin toss greeted with a noise like that? The roar tells us that Shahid Afridi has called incorrectly, allowing MS Dhoni the choice. India will field, with MS saying the pitch might be tricky after being under the covers. His team are unchanged. Afridi wanted to bowl too. 

Image source, AFP

Rakesh S: If Ashes is about history and pride, Ind Vs Pak is about life and emotions of two countries.