Summary

  • Bess - dropped on 19 by Rohit - ends 28 not out

  • Ishant takes two wickets in two balls in final hour of day

  • Root hits 218 - his fifth double-century - before being trapped lbw

  • Stokes - dropped twice in his 30s - hits aggressive 82

  • Pitch already breaking up - signs of spin and uneven bounce

  • First Test, day two, Chennai

  1. Postpublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    That is us done for the day.

    Matt Henry's report on day two is here.

    The scorecard is here.

    The latest Test Match Special podcast will be available to download later on this afternoon here.

    And if you want more live cricket you can follow the closing stages of the Big Bash final here.

    See you tomorrow at 03:45 GMT.

    Joe Root celebrates his double centuryImage source, BCCI
  2. Postpublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    It’s been a great day. I’m sure many England fans are asking why they haven’t declared and given India eight or 10 overs tonight but in Indian conditions when you get the opportunity to bat first, you bat as long as you can.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Text 8111

    Just wonder how much pressure (if any) Archer has with his place in the team. I'm not saying drop him but he rarely contributes with bat meaning if he doesn't with the ball we are carrying him and bowlers is something we have a lot of in talent.

    Daniel in Peterborough

  4. Bowling figurespublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Ishant Sharma: 2-52 off 27 overs

    Jasprit Bumrah: 2-81 from 31 overs

    Ravichandran Ashwin: 2-132 from 50 overs

    Shahbaz Nadeem: 2-167 from 44 overs

    Washington Sundar: 0-98 from 26 overs

    Rohit Sharma: 0-7 from two overs

  5. Postpublished at 11:38 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    Mark Wood would be handy on this pitch. Jofra has to do what Mark did in Galle. Joe Root will be asking him to bowl quick.

  6. 'Be lovely to bat for another hour tomorrow'published at 11:36 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    England all-rounder Ben Stokes speaking on Channel 4: "It was a really good day. To be in this position we can’t really complain so heading into day three with a couple of wickets in hand. It would be lovely if we could bat for another hour.

    "Things didn’t really change for me until those couple of balls spat out of the rough at me so I thought I’d put the pressure back onto him (Nadeem). I decided I’d rather get caught on the boundary than going back into my shell and being caught at short leg.

    "Joe Root makes me feel rubbish – that’s pretty much where he’s at, at the moment. He’s an amazing player. I’m not too sure we’ve had an England player play spin so well – with such ease and with such control. He makes it look very easy and it’s a pleasure to watch."

    Ben Stokes and Joe Root fist pumpImage source, BCCI
  7. Postpublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    The win has gone out the equation for India; I can’t see how India get 700 quickly and then get England out cheaply. Mentally, that’s a challenge for the batsmen.

    Joe Root has got good options. I think Jimmy Anderson will be the key, he’s that good at reverse-swing and in these conditions. And obviously the spinners and then Jofra being used in short, sharp bursts, three or four overs with pace. Then Stokes will produce all kinds of skill from his hands.

  8. Joe Root statspublished at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    • Joe Root's 218 is the highest of any batsman in their 100th Test - he is the first to get a double century
    • It is the best by an England player in India
    • It was also the first double hundred by an overseas player in the country since 2010
    • He also became England's third highest run scorer in Test history - overtaking Alec Stewart
    Joe Root celebrates his double centuryImage source, BCCI
  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    #bbccricket

    Rebecca: Good job we’ve got 500. Nothing happens in India until tea on day 4, then it turns square & is impossible to bat on. Third innings collapse always the danger. Need 600 if possible.

  10. Postpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    Ben Stokes is a freak. He really is a wonderful cricketer. If Ben can have the year like the previous two, anything is possible for the Test team.

  11. Postpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on The Cricket Social

    StokesImage source, BCCI

    Everyone will talk about Root, and rightly so, but I think Stokes was brilliant today. It was a brilliant example of what to do as a left-hander when the ball is causing problems near your off stump. It was unfussy and ruthless. If I had to sit down and watch an innings again tonight, it would be the Stokes innings. It was brilliant.

  12. Postpublished at 11:26 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    England have got themselves in such a fantastic position. They have to take their opportunity, take all the chances in the field. With three more Tests to go, it’s not easy, India will have their time, we know that.

  13. Big Bash final set to go to wirepublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Lancashire's Liam Livingstone is still in for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash final against Sydney Sixers.

    He's on 45 with his side chasing 189 to win their fourth Big Bash title.

    You can listen and follow the score over here.

    Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers badge graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  14. Postpublished at 11:21 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    England have added 293 runs for the loss of five wickets. They will no doubt say that is their day again.

    Joe Root was absolutely superb to move to another double century, while Ben Stokes, who was dropped on 31 and 32, was brilliant in his 87. His ability to go through the gears really put the pressure on India.

    Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler and the unbeaten Dom Bess have all chipped in too on a pitch that is getting more and more difficult.

  15. Postpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    If England get a couple of wickets with the new ball, make early in-roads, then they will put added pressure on the fantastic Indian stars in the middle order.

  16. Postpublished at 11:17 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    England should bat on tomorrow. If India have a couple of bad sessions, they will lose the game. But they have the skill and players and history tells you it won't be easy for England.

    I think Jimmy Anderson, on these kind of wickets, will be key.

  17. Postpublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    That final session saw England add 101 runs for the loss of four wickets.

    It was a more equal sesssion but the tourists are in a fantastic position. That doesn't stop Virat Kohli smiling as he makes his way back to the changing room.

  18. Close of playpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Eng 555-8

    Another no-ball. That's 19 in the innings and Jasprit Bumrah himself has bowled six. Woeful.

    England then pick up four leg-byes to take this partnership to 30. Very useful.

    That's us done for the day. England's day again.

  19. Postpublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    This pitch isn't as flat as it was yesterday. In the last half hour we've seen reverse-swing from Ishant Sharma.

  20. Eng 550-8published at 179 overs

    Now Ravichandran Ashwin is bowling no-balls! That's 18 in the innings. It was an absolute beauty as well that spun between bat and pad.

    He then comes over the wicket to Leach and hits him on the pad but the left-hander is outside the line.

    One over to go.