Stone is cracking it up now, getting up towards 90mph. That said, a bouncer loops past Pujara's grille and the batsman has plenty of time to watch it go by.

The pitch looks like a muddy, well-trodden footpath that has been baked in the sun.

Edward Hunter: Following the social whilst enjoying the T20 final in Wellington. Great start England.

Image source, Edward Hunter

Broad finds the edge of Pujara's bat but even with the new ball the bounce is very, very low. The ball doesn't even come close to carrying to slip, evades a dive and runs down to third man for four.

A shrug from Broad. Not what a bowler wants to see.

There's a massive cheer from the fans in the ground as Rohit drives the first runs of the day. A Rohit special through the covers.

Kelsey: Oh yes Olly Stone! Already justifying my decision to get up at 4am.

Jonathan_G: I’ve only ever seen Olly Stone bowl three balls, and I’ve decided I like him.

John Atkinson: Olly Stone!!!!

Image source, BCCI

A wicket maiden for Stone. Not particularly fast but very effective.

Oh what a start for England. Cheteshwar Pujara is in early.

We've seen the ball tracking of that lbw shout. It would have hit the top of off stump. A perfect delivery.

Stone dead.

Ollie Stone is sharing the new ball in his second Test.

Joe Root attacks with three slips early on but there's no swing in sight for Broad. It looks baking hot.

A maiden to start. It's flat.

Oh this is good. "Ro-hit, Ro-hit" chant there spectators as Broad runs in first up. This ground holds 50,000 so it's by no means full but those in attendance are making a fair racket.

Rohit defends the first delivery.

The fans in the ground roar from behind their masks as Rohit and Gill wander out to the middle. It feels like proper cricket again.

Stuart Broad - bandana in place - has the new ball in his hand.

That'd be the South Africa tour at the start of 2020 back when bubbles were only seen in sport at West Ham.

Play will be starting in a couple of minutes.

Stuart Broad to make a point again after being left out?

Tom Quinn: When was the last time England played in front of fans?

England bowler Stuart Broad, who returns in place of James Anderson: "It is quite hard to replicate match conditions when you're in the nets. You just have to try and up your intensity as much as you can. That's where you can fall back on experience. I've played a lot of cricket and I can fall back on a lot of knowledge.

"We've practised a lot of reverse swing in the last few days. It might be a patience game for three and a half days, and then you can strike as a bowler later in the game."

England captain Joe Root: "We would have definitely batted first. It's an opportunity to try and get some early wickets. We've got a very exciting attack full of energy. We're trying to get the best attack to take 20 wickets.

"We lost the toss twice in Sri Lanka and won both games. There's no reason why we can't do the same in India."

"We expect it to slow down and roughen up drastically from day two onwards". That tells you what Kohli thinks of this pitch.

England are going to have to do it the hard way.

Sound the 'Big First Hour' klaxon.

India captain Virat Kohli: "It is a good wicket. Day one it is going to be pretty good for batting. We expect it to slow down and roughen up drastically from day two onwards. It is a good toss to win for us."

Image source, BCCI