Phil

We've spoken about Liam Dawson's decent first-class batting record, but his eight tons are beaten by the 10 of Adil Rashid. The Yorkshire leggy hasn't always done himself justice with the bat in Test cricket, but these are some valuable runs. A thick edge off Umesh for four, followed by a jumping tickle fine to the boundary. That's the 50 partnership between these two. Very, very useful.

Chris King: At my best friend's wedding on the final day of the 2005 Edgbaston Ashes Test. Vicar updated us with score three times during the service.  

On the subject of things you have missed in the name of cricket, I once turned down a ticket for the Wimbledon men's final in order to play in a cup quarter-final. Ravi Jadeja back into the attack, left-arm tweakers turning past the groping outside edge of Rashid. There's an appeal for caught behind. Not given, no review.

Image source, AP

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Kohli is drying up the runs and spreading the people out. There is no movement for the seamers and nothing happening for the spinners so he is just changing his bowlers around.

Liam Dawson looks to be following in the footsteps of some of the game's great fidgeters. Sanath Jayasuriya, Robin Smith, Alec Stewart, now Dawson. Helmet, arm guard and trousers are all adjusted between deliveries. He looks every inch a man who averages 34 in first-class cricket. Organised, high-elbowed defence, good judgement, nice through the off side.

Julian, Surrey

Now then, what's gone on here? There is a rouge pair of batting gloves laying dormant on the outfield. Who has left those there? England sub Ben Duckett has to sheeplishly emerge from the dressing room in order to collect them. That's the most important thing he's done in the past month. 

Narendra Mistry: I am full of praise for this young England who have excelled despite their minimal success. Roll on 2018 with India in England!  

On the subject of the BBC Sport Christmas do, I should stress that your humble cricket team was not in attendance. We were getting the shut-eye so that we can present this entertaining and informative live text to you. It follows the ancient tradition of missing events in the name of cricket. Weddings, birthdays, funerals, anniversaries. Let me know when you've done the same.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

India realise there is nothing in it for the seamers and the spinners can only get it to turn slowly, so it is difficult to beat the bat, you can almost play two shots, you can be beaten in the air but go back and play it. So it's a bit of a stand-off.

R Ashwin, almost omnipresent in the India attack, shares afternoon duties, an action of a man whose wrists have been tied together. Rashid, looking for any chance to use his rubber wrists, almost has short leg interested then takes a single on the leg side.

Jez

Ishant Sharma, all stubble and suncream, has the ball in the sunshine. Liam Dawson, shortish of stature but well-built, a scrum-half, has a streak of dirt up the back of his white shirt. Ishant is going full and straight, looking for the stumps and the pads. A couple of times he doesn't get it quite right, allowing England runs on the leg side.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

I'm not that worried about Dawson's batting, I want to know if he can bowl, because England need some quality bowlers and some quality spin bowlers, that it what they haven't got. Ansari was ok but I'm not sure ok does it, it's hard to win Test matches with ok.

The players are on the way back out after the break. India are having a big cuddle on the outfield, no doubt being 'encouraged' by Virat Kohli. England's batsmen are already in the middle. Virat doesn't wait for you, you wait for Virat.

Steve Smith has passed 50 as Australia pile on the runs against Pakistan in the day-night Test in Brisbane. He's 59 not out from 66 balls, with 10 fours, after choosing not to enforce the follow-on.

The Aussies are 130-2 from only 29 overs, an overall lead of 417.

Image source, AP

Leon Lewis: The challenge for summer is to get the England batting line-up operating as a unit and how to get Joe scoring big hundreds again

It was the BBC Sport website Christmas bash last night, along with countless others up and down the country. Let me know if you're just getting in/feeling the effects of yours. 

Thanks, JL. Not only the Strictly final on BBC One tonight, but also SPOTY and the Apprentice tomorrow night. Winners Weekend. For England, the weekend has begun with some grim clinging on to their first innings in Chennai.