Summary

  • Root's composed century helps England recover from 112-5 at lunch

  • Root and Foakes (47) put on 113 for sixth wicket

  • Pitch offering unpredictable bounce and movement

  • Debutant Deep takes three wickets in first hour of Test

  • England win toss; Day one, fourth Test, Ranchi; India lead five-match series 2-1

  1. Root returns to form to rescue Englandpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    Well it's fair to say Joe Root is back, if he ever left.

    His masterful century has taken England from a perilous position to a really good one on day one of this fourth Test against India.

    Root made 106 not out to take the tourists to 302-7 at the close, having earlier been 112-5.

    There were loads of talking points and they'll be discussed on the TMS podcast which you'll be able to download here this afternoon.

    In the meantime scroll down for all of the reaction and analysis or read Stephan Shemilt's match report. We'll be back at 03:45 GMT for day two.

  2. Postpublished at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner

    England really did make India pay from a precarious position. At 112-5, if you give away cheap wickets you are bowled out for 200.

    That could be a match-winning innings from Joe Root. England have got a good score through his determination, application and skill.

    It was a classical Joe Root innings.

  3. Postpublished at 11:26 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Here are a few stats from today's play:

    • The afternoon session when England score 86 runs without losing a wicket was England's slowest session in the Bazball era.
    • Joe Root's century was England's slowest under Stokes and McCullum.
    • Root and Ben Foakes' partnership was the slowest century stand since under this regime.
  4. 'Joe Root is phenomenal'published at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England batter Zak Crawley on TNT Sports: "Yeah, it was tricky early on with the ball nipping around a lot and we had to throw a couple of punches back, which I think myself and Jonny did well.

    "But then it did start to get easier, the boys read the situation brilliantly and Foakes and Root played unbelievably well.

    "I was tying to bat normally at the start but it was so difficult, I just felt like there was one with my name on eventually. So I thought I'd throw something back and I did start to feel a bit more comfortable after that."

    On the no-ball: "You know what, it is such a good feeling! You're so low about getting out and then you get another chance, I was pretty excited about that."

    On Joe Root: "We're so happy for him, and we never doubted him. If anything we know that when he's got a couple of low scores he's even more likely to get a big one and we expected that from him.

    "He's phenomenal, one of if not the best we've ever had playing for England.

    "The boys played unbelievably in the middle session and then Joe got very good support from Tom and Ollie as well. I said beforehand that if we get 280-300, we're in a very good position so I stand by that - we are ahead of the game."

  5. Postpublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Zak Crawley says England are "ahead of the game" at the end of day one.

  6. Postpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Ben FoakesImage source, Getty Images

    As Alex says, Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson batted really well as the pitch flattened out.

    Foakes made a careful 47 in a partnership of 113 from Root which took England from 112-5 to 225-6.

    Robinson came in after Tom Hartley was spectacularly bowled and is 31 not out, sharing an unbeaten partnership of 57 with Root which made it to the close.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Can we give some huge credit to Foakes for giving Root the chance to get to that glorious century? Has he finally cemented his place in this team or will he be dropped again in the summer?

    Alex, Birmingham

  8. Postpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    What a remarkable and unpredictable day. The image of Stokes walking off laughing at lunchtime was in stark contrast to his celebration at Root’s brilliant century. So good to see him back at his best. No fretting, just Joe Root.

  9. Postpublished at 11:13 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Jonny BairstowImage source, Getty Images

    Joe Root's innings is even more remarkable given the scenes when he came to the crease.

    In the first two hours the ball was doing all sorts and England lost five wickets.

    Zak Crawley took the aggressive option and, having already been bowled off a no-ball on four, crashed 42 from 42 balls in response.

    That gave England a decent start in the circumstances but debutant seamer Akash Deep took two wickets in an over as India hit back.

    Deep was majestic. He was the one to bowl Crawley with a no-ball but then had Ben Duckett caught behind, Ollie Pope trapped before knocking over Crawley for a second time.

    Jonny Bairstow counter-attacked well with 38 from 35 balls until he was pinned lbw by Ravichandran Ashwin on the sweep and, on the stroke of the interval, Ben Stokes got one that effectively rolled from Ravindra Jadeja to leave England five down.

  10. Postpublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on TNT Sports

    It was a fantastic day but a strange one.

    At 112-5, there were some criticisms of England but there was also some very good bowling from India.

    And then there weren't as many demons in the pitch but it was a masterclass from Joe Root. I know how much he hates it when he's not contributing.

    He has defied it all to play that innings. He's gone back to his basics and batted time, and that class will always shine through.

  11. Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    A fantastic innings from Joe Root, ably supported by Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson down the order.

    It is amazing when you get partnerships going, even when the pitch looks tricky, how the opposition get down.

  12. 'The day England played the situation perfectly'published at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain

    A really good day for England and a masterful hundred from England's best player in Joe Root. This was the day England played the situation perfectly. I've loved it.

  13. Postpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Joe Root grits his teeth as he shakes hands with Ollie Robinson before being slapped on the back by almost every member of the England dressing room.

    When England were at 112-5 on the liveliest of pitches I'll be honest I did not see this coming.

    It has been a superb knock from Root. England are right in the game.

  14. Close of play - Eng 302-7published at 11:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    Root 106, Robinson 31

    That is stumps!

    And dare I say it? It's got to be England's day thanks to Joe Root...

  15. Eng 302-7published at 89.5 overs

    There's half an appeal for lbw against Root but nothing doing.

    One ball to go...

  16. Eng 301-7published at 89.3 overs

    Ollie Robinson slams a short ball away and the England fans rise to their feet.

    300 up!

  17. Eng 297-7published at 89.2 overs

    This is the first time Jaiswal's loopy leg-spin has graced the Test arena. He has bowled one over in a T20 for India.

  18. Postpublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    The last over of the day is going to be bowled by... Yashasvi Jaiswal.

    He has already scored two double centuries in this series.

    In the words of Han Solo, I've got a bad feeling about this...

  19. Eng 296-7published at 89 overs

    Ollie Robinson looks at ease as he defends what should be the penultimate over from Kuldeep Yadav.

    Remember when England were 112-5.

  20. Eng 296-7published at 88 overs

    Root 105, Robinson 26

    Ollie Robinson through the covers! That's some shot.

    "Four more, to the Eng-er-land, four more," echoes around an emptying stadium.