Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

They just can't penetrate the defence because the pitch is so slow. They don't help the game these, because if the bowlers feel they can't get the tailenders out it starts to send people to sleep. Chennai usually has quite a bit more bounce but the rain has done this to it.

I'm told that today is Panic Saturday, presumably because everyone is getting the last-minute Christmas prep done. No panic in Chennai, where Rashid and Dawson are wondering why they aren't batting higher up the order. R Ashwin changes ends, but is only met by the dexterous wrists of Rashid. Silence from the stands, Virat Kohli looking like a man about to have a tantrum.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

This is England's highest partnership for the eighth wicket in India, beating the previous record by Douglas Jardine and Hedley Verity on the 1933-34 tour.

This England eighth-wicket pair have repelled the spinners, so Kohli has no option but to return to the pace of Umesh Yadav. Liam Dawson, looking as flustered as a man watching Miracle on 34th Street with a cigar and a brandy, pushes the sweat from his helmet and calls for some new gloves. Parthiv asks for a catch down the leg side, but it's out of desperation rather than hope.  

Image source, Reuters

Sunil Gavaskar
Former India captain on BBC Test Match Special

How much England would have loved a score like this in some of the earlier games but Rashid has really batted well here.

50 for Adil Rashidpublished at 08:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2016

08:05 GMT 17 December 2016

Eng 422-7

This has been some knock by Adil Rashid, gradually illuminated by eye-catching strokes, a second Test half-century reached with another inside-out cover drive. A raise of the bat to not a great deal of applause from the home crowd. He's giving England a sniff of the sort of total required. A second drive of the over, this time behind square, has a hint of mickey taking about it. Virat Kohli not amused. That's the 100 partnership too.

Image source, Reuters

Joel, Birmingham.

Finally the crowd get their wish, with Ravichandran Ashwin back into the attack. He too is round the wicket, allowing Dawson a nudge off the hips for a single. This is a very slow race to a half-century, but it's wonderful stuff for England. The crowd roars with Ravi Jadeja flicks a throw back at the non-stiker's end, but a diving Rashid is back home. Crowd quiet again.

Image source, Reuters

Richard

India are going through all the plans here. I think we're down to about Plan F now - bowl into the pads and hope for a mistake. Jadeja, a rock star in his own mind, fizzes the ball outside Rashid's leg stump, meeting nothing other than some big, white pad. Try again, Ravi.

Sunil Gavaskar
Former India captain on BBC Test Match Special

The tickets may well have been sold it's just they haven't turned up. A lot of it might be to do with the cyclone or also because India are not batting. A lot of people just want to watch India bat.

That might be Dawson's first mistake since he wore a bouncer in the mush from the second ball he faced. Mishra round the wicket, Dawson's top-edged sweep just about landing safely. Rashid, on the other hand, is turning into a one-man highlight reel. This time he's inside out with a drive through the covers for three. 

Image source, Reuters

Sunil Gavaskar
Former India captain on BBC Test Match Special

With leg-spinner facing a leg-spinner he pretty much knows the tricks of the trade and is wating for the wrong un. Earlier Rashid played one through mid-wicket which shows he can bat, even though he has got out in some disappointing ways in this series. He is applying himself well here.

As you'd expect from a fellow leggie, Rashid is picking Mishra. Jadeja, at the other end, doesn't have the same variations, so England are to be patient in the face of his accuracy. This stand is worth 83.

Sunil Gavaskar
Former India captain on BBC Test Match Special

This partnership can help England's new ball bowlers because the Indian opening batsman would have been thinking they were going to be batting soon and they might end getting frustrated.

Funny you should say that, because the crowd are chanting "we want Ash-win". I'm with you both. I can't see how Amit Mishra is a better option than the offie at the moment. Dawson, more than 100 balls in and hunting a half-century on debut, admonishes himself when he plays slightly across the line, then jabs through the covers for a single. Rashid! That's shades of Kevin Pietersen with a whip over mid-wicket for four. 400 up.

Image source, Reuters

dukkhaboy: I know I am sitting on my sofa in another continent having just woken up, but why isn't Kohli bowling Ashwin?

I think it's because they are more intelligent, Ed. Ravi Jadeja after drinks, slip and silly point in place for Rashid, who defends on the front with a dead bat. A maiden to the soundtrack of some excited chat from Parthiv Patel.

Ed Palmer: How come spinners are generally better batsmen than fast bowlers?  

The players are taking drinks, by the way. I can't tell, but I suspect Virat Kohli is dishing out a rocket. Rashid and Dawson take a swig of Felix Felicis, not that they have needed it so far.