Summary

  • KL Rahul 199 (311 balls); adds 161 with Nair

  • Nair (71*) dropped on 34; hits maiden Test fifty

  • Parthiv (71) & Rahul in opening stand of 152

  • Eng 477 (Moeen 146, Root 88, Dawson 66*)

  • Final Test; India lead series 3-0

  1. Postpublished at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I think those of us who like a bit of drama are quite pleased it is Stokes to bowl at Kohli. Whether he will pepper him with the short one.

  2. Ind 181-2published at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Stokes 4-0-15-1

    Almost as soon as the catch was taken, the crowd roared. Not because they were celebrating, but because Virat Kohli was climbing from his seat. They chant his name even as he takes guard. It's a rare breed of fame, the man who can draw adulation for just showing up.

  3. Postpublished at 06:58 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It was a poor shot, you have to suspect he was anticipating another bouncer but it was a good length ball outside the off stump.

  4. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 06:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Pujara c Cook b Stokes 16 (Ind 181-2)

    Oh yes! Ben Stokes is a man who makes things happen and he has done just that here. A hint of movement away from Cheteshwar Pujara, who is playing a limp, flat-footed push. Neither forward or back, a nothing shot. The edge is taken by sole slip Alastair Cook. Big wicket, because Pujara bats long.  

    England celebrate the wicket of PujaraImage source, AP
  5. get involved

    Cricket comediespublished at 06:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Text 81111

    Dawson's creek: Liam Dawson visits creeks up and down Britain and has to build working bridges across using only cricketing equipment.

    Martin, Liverpool

  6. Ind 180-1published at 06:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Rahul 91, Pujara 16

    Liam Dawson after lunch. He's had quite a rise from bloke who barely bowls for Hampshire to beginning two sessions for England in a Test in India. Shades, stubble, big blond hair, very limby action. No great turn, Pujara looking like he could play it with a mop. Speaking of Liam Dawson...

  7. Postpublished at 06:50 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    At the moment you don't feel that unplayable ball is around the corner. The pitch is behaving pretty well and Rahul has played very positively. He hits two sixes off Dawson and there was nothing wrong with those deliveries.

  8. Ind 175-1published at 06:50 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    What is Joe Root doing to Alastair Cook? It can only be described as a shoulder rub. "Come on, you can keep going as skipper. I don't want all that hassle yet." New ball, same result. It's as likely to move as Mike Gatting from the buffet.

    Mike Gattting
  9. get involved

    Cricket comediespublished at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    #bbccricket

    Chris Brown: Bo Selecta! The entire selection panel are replaced with a group of itinerant musicians and steer England to an Ashes win 5-0

  10. Ind 174-1published at 06:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Indeed Stokes does test out the middle of the pitch, ticking the armpits of Pujara. Just three balls into the session, England are asking if the ball is still spherical. Umpire Fry has the tool that looks like a set of handcuffs out. I think England have got their wish. 

  11. Postpublished at 06:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Stokes has the sort of field that suggests he is not going to pitch many up.

  12. Ind 173-1published at 06:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Finally, Ben Stokes has the ball. Che Pujara, a man who will still be batting after the Four Hoursmen arrive, is scratching at the crease.

  13. Postpublished at 06:42 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Afternoon session late in getting under way. Who do I complain to?

    India's Rahul plays a shot on the leg sideImage source, AP
  14. Listen again: The Test Matchpublished at 06:41 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    If you've just woken up and you missed the start of "The Test Match", the cricket-themed episode of Hancock's Half Hour which TMS have just played out, you can listen again here via the BBC Radio 4 Extra website.

  15. get involved

    Cricket comediespublished at 06:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    #bbccricket

    Jay: Monty Fi(ve)thon - A documentary about Monty Panesar practising his high fives

  16. Postpublished at 06:38 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    I didn't see the Strictly final last night, it was on much too late for an early rising cricket type. I'm hearing some anger about the result. Let's be honest, the series peaked when this happened...

    Media caption,

    Ed Balls & Katya Jones Salsa to Gangnam Style.

  17. Postpublished at 06:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    So far, none have been commissioned. Do feel free to send in your own ideas.

  18. Postpublished at 06:35 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    And so I took the opportunity to pitch a number of cricket-themed comedies to him.

    Broadsided - Stuart and dad Chris travel around the Norfolk Broads, with hilarious results.

    Mo Money, Mo Problems - a down-on-his-luck Moeen Ali starts selling the gear of his team-mates to make some cash on the side (think Only Fools and Horses meets the England cricket team).

    Can't Cook, Alastair Cook - Alastair Cook inherits a restaurant and has to run it despite not knowing the first thing about food.

  19. Postpublished at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    When arranging the BBC cricket Christmas curry night, I discovered that one of our social media team shared the same name with the editor of BBC comedy - both men are called Sam Bryant. The comedy one was getting my emails, the tweeter was not.

  20. Postpublished at 06:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    In keeping with the theme of cricketing sitcoms, I have a very tenuous link between the cricket live text team and the BBC comedy department...