Summary

  • Pant hits 91 off 88 balls after India fall to 73-4

  • Pujara out for 73 after ball loops off short leg's back and into hands of mid-wicket

  • Bess has Kohli caught at bat pad; Rahane falls to superb Root catch

  • Archer removes Rohit & Gill with new ball

  • First Test, day three, Chennai

  1. Postpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    It has been another good day for England. They are still in command of this first Test, and if anyone is going to win the game they are the most likely.

    It is time for us to call it a day and get some sleep.

    Matt Henry's report on day three is here.

    Scorecard is here.

    The latest Test Match Special podcast will be available to download from here later.

    Be sure to check out our report about the West Indies' remarkable win in Bangladesh too. They chased down the fifth-highest total in history with debutant Kyle Mayers making an unbeaten 2010.

    See you tomorrow at 03:45 GMT.

    Dom Bess celebrates taking a wicketImage source, BCCI
  2. Postpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Jofra Archer was superb with the new ball today. His line and length, and general hostility, was brilliant.

    England will get their hands on the second new ball after six overs in the morning. That could well be crucial to deciding how this game ends.

  3. Postpublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    I think the England team will be delighted with Archer. He hasn't played any cricket recently to get rhythm. But he bowled exactly how I want him to bowl in Test cricket; short, sharp and intimidating.

  4. Postpublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    He only made 29 today, off 28 balls, but Shubman Gill's innings was eye-catching.

    He timed the ball so so well, and looked to have a lot of shots in the box.

    I imagine quite a few people would pay to watch him too.

  5. Postpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    I do think Shubman Gill will be the next big thing in world cricket, he will be up there with the best in two or so years, he’s a wonderful player.

    Shubman GillImage source, BCCI
  6. Postpublished at 11:53 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    A lot of people would pay good money to watch Rishabh Pant bat.

    What a talent.

  7. Postpublished at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    Pant has to improve his keeping. But with the bat in, in Australia he was the standout and here again today he’s changed the course of the day’s play with an incredible innings.

    I would certainly work hard with Pant because he's a match-winner. He just needs to put in the yards and become a better wicketkeeper.

  8. 'We'll take the wickets and assess what to do'published at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    England spinner Dom Bess, who took 4-55, talking to Channel Four: "I was trying to land it on a spot and build pressure for a long time and I guess the dismissal of Virat kohli just happened. I wasn't trying to bowl a magic ball and I just wanted to make sure my line and length weren't missing and I was just hitting the box. It just went a little bit more than the rest and I'm so glad to see Ollie Pope back at short leg.

    "It was a great catch by Rooty [to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane]. It was one of those days where it sticks for you. What a player Rooty is at the moment. It's his concentration and fitness having done two days batting. He's leading from the front and it's phenomenal."

    On Rishabh Pant's innings: "He is a phenomenal talent. We saw it in the Australia Test and it's the confidence. They are four down and he's charging at Leachy and if they are five down there it could be a very different innings. Fair play to him, it was a great innings. It was very courageous."

    On the plan for the rest of the game: "We'll take the four wickets and then see where we are. The pitch has broken up and started spinning. I thought today was a really good day but we'll take the wickets and assess from there."

    Dom Bess celebrates taking a wicketImage source, BCCI
  9. Postpublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    It’s been a great three days but there’s still so much left in this game. If India get another 80 or 100 in another session then it’s eating up a lot of time.

  10. Postpublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    The strange thing about Jack Leach's figures will be that he'll sit back and think that he didn't actually bowl that badly.

    Jack LeachImage source, BCCI
  11. England bowling figurespublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    James Anderson: 0-34 from 11 overs

    Jofra Archer: 2-52 from 16 overs

    Ben Stokes: 0-16 from six overs

    Jack Leach: 0-94 from 17 overs

    Dom Bess: 4-55 from 23 overs

    Joe Root: 0-1 from one over

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    #bbccricket

    Lee: Great Test match. First time I've watched a Test innings by Rishabh Pant. This guy is talented!! Maybe needs to take a few less risks in the five-day game.

  13. Postpublished at 11:39 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    From an England perspective, it’s been three days of perfect Test cricket. You can’t play any better than that, apart from Jofra dropping a catch.

  14. Postpublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    England have had a tough old day in the field. The skipper and coaches will have to tell them that it's a great day and they're still in a great position.

  15. Postpublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

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  16. Postpublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    So, England end day three with a 321-run lead. India still need another 122 runs to avoid the follow-on with four first-innings wickets in hand.

    But will they enforce it if in a position to do so? Who knows.

    Overall, though, it was another superb day for England. They have controlled this Test match from the word go.

  17. Postpublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on The Cricket Social

    It's been a very frustrating last hour or so for England with Sundar and Ashwin resisting but things can happen quickly.

  18. Close of playpublished at 74 overs

    Ind 257-6

    Wow! That has turned a mile! It pitches outside off stump and grips and turns past, and around the back of, Washington Sundar.

    Sundar had almost dragged on earlier in the over too.

    That'll be close. A good end from Jack Leach.

    Another fantastic day for England.

  19. Postpublished at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Just to help you work out if you agree with Tuffers or not, Archer currently averages 8.17 in Test cricket, with a high score of 30.

  20. Postpublished at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    I think Jofra Archer has a Test century in him.