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 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    The cricket has been steady. India have scored 113 runs without anything special happening.

  2. Postpublished at 06:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Thanks, JL. I'm afraid I do not arrive with a wave of optimism. At the moment, it's hard to see anything than hard yakka for England for at least another day. I'll be taking suggestions on any subject other than cricket for us to talk about.

  3. Postpublished at 06:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    As our third comrade in the com box makes his way to the microwave for the 'traditional' 6am Sunday morning pasta bake, Stephan and I discuss the nutritional value of the microwave meal. It is likely to be more attritional than nutritional this afternoon in terms of the cricketing action but we'll get the coffees in and here's Stephan Shemilt with the afternoon session.

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

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  5. Rank your cricketing moments of 2016published at 06:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    As the year draws to a close, we want to know what have been your favourite cricketing moments of 2016.

    There was Ben Stokes' unbelievable innings at Cape Town, or the time he was on the receiving end of Carlos Brathwaite's four sixes to win the World T20.

    Middlesex won a thrilling County Championship, the Aussies were rolled for 85 by South Africa in Hobart, and England smashed a number of ODI records against Pakistan.

    Or maybe you fondly remember a lighter moment like Misbah-ul-Haq's press-ups at Lord's, or the dog running on the pitch at Visakhapatnam.

    We've picked some of the best moments for you to pick your favourites - the winner will be revealed on the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show on BBC Radio 5 live on Tuesday.

    Ben Stokes, Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite and a dogImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 06:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

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  7. get involved

    International Beard XIpublished at 06:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Text 81111

    Burt Whiskers at 3? Roger Stubble at 5? Derek Facial-Hair?

    Matt

    There's Goatee Ghambir.

    Dave Ramshaw

    Burt? I'm going to leave this one with Stephan...

  8. Postpublished at 06:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    BBC Test Match Special

    TMS has something a little different for you to listen to at lunchtime today - as part of the BBC's celebration of 60 years of the sitcom, it's a chance to hear a cricket-themed episode of the classic show Hancock's Half Hour, entitled "The Test Match". That's going to flummox anyone tuning in late.

    Tony Hancock
  9. Postpublished at 06:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    So in that rather gruelling 28-over session, we have seen 113 runs for the loss of just that one wicket, Parthiv, having kept wicket throughout England's 477 and then opening the wicket, getting a tired top edge that looped up to Buttler at cover.

  10. Postpublished at 06:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    It's been nice batting, nice bowling. There's nothing you can criticise England for. Even at this stage it looks like a draw. I don't see how anyone could get 10 reasonably cheap wickets. It's so easy for batting.

  11. Lunchpublished at 06:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Ind 173-1 (Rahul 89, Pujara 11, 304 runs behind)

    Over the wicket for left-armer Dawson again, with a short-leg resolutely staying put. Nothing doing again, singles for both batsmen and that will be lunch, with Rahul needing a further 11 this afternoon to reach his century.

    India's Rahul near his centuryImage source, Reuters
  12. Ind 171-1published at 05:58 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Rahul 88, Pujara 10

    The rigours of Rashid, there is a slip, a short-leg and a silly point all crouching in hoping for a catch but he sends down a full toss and a long hop that are both dispatched ruthlessly to the mid-wicket fence by Pujara.

  13. get involved

    International Beard XIpublished at 05:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Text 81111

    International Beard XI: Shave Warne (who usually comes in After Shave Watson). Anonymoustache

    I sense a limited shelf life for this..Ryan Sideburns? no, I can't think of anything either.

  14. Ind 163-1published at 05:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    314 runs behind

    Dawson returns in his white sunglasses, tweaking away Ashley Giles-style from over the wicket into the vaguest of patches of rough outside the leg stump. With his light brown hair brushed back and a light sprinkling of stubble he bears a passing resemblance to Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen, who will be hoping for three points against Burnley at the Lane this afternoon.

  15. Postpublished at 05:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    There's nothing England can do other keep swapping the bowling round and try to get a mistake. You can't criticise a bowler on a surface like this - it's too difficult.

  16. Ind 161-1published at 45 overs

    Rahul 87, Pujara 1

    Having got an inside edge to a vacant short-leg, Pujara gets off the mark with a single. He's faced 737 balls in this series. Kohli has faced over a thousand and he is still to come.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Text 81111

    It's Sunday. My son got me up at 4.30. And the cricket, i.e., the only reason for ever getting up early, appears to be following a similar story line to the rest of this series.

    John, miserable, in Bromley

  18. Ind 158-1published at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    319 runs behind

    Catchers close in on both sides of the wicket for Moeen, young Joe Root opting against a helmet which might well get him a telling off from his mum. Another expertly played reverse sweep brings Rahul his eighth four.

  19. Postpublished at 05:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't see the cricket changing throughout the day. I'd be stunned and amazed if a clatter of wickets goes down. It's going to be very difficult for a bowling side to take 10 wickets reasonably cheaply.

  20. Ind 153-1published at 05:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2016

    Rahul 80, Pujara 0

    Steady if unspectacular from Rashid, with all six deliveries timed around the 48mph mark.