Zak Crawley is going to look like a ladybird by the end of this innings with cricket-ball shaped marks all over his body. He's taking quite the battering as the ball zips all over the place.

He does land one blow in response, a nice drive down the ground.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer in Ranchi

Just on that very first over of the match. I might be wrong (often the case), but I thought the one that hit Crawley on the gloves was a very well directed bouncer. It was certainly quite short, rather than leaping off a length.

It was the next ball, the one that kept quite low, that was possibly more telling.

Image source, Getty Images

Akash Deep continues to shake his head throughout the rest of the over. The ball jagged off a crack in the pitch and sent Zak Crawley's off stump cartwheeling.

It would have been the perfect start for the debutant who has looked very impressive.

A life for Zak Crawley.

Phil Tufnell
Former England spinner

Oh, what a let off for Zak Crawley! His stumps were knocked out of the ground.

It still looks like it's going to be a very tricky pitch, though.

Image source, Getty Images

Oh Akash Deep.

He bowls Zak Crawley with an absolute beauty but it's a no-ball!

He's gutted. Absolutely gutted.

Phil Tufnell
Former England spinner

It's doing all sorts for the seamers! It's bouncing, the odd one really leaping up and there's swing and seam.

It's going to be very challenging for England to get through this.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

So much has been said about this pitch. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it plays. Clearly a massive toss for England to have won.

Ben Duckett slashes at a wide ball from Mohammed Siraj but India already have a fielder in the deep for that shot in a defensive move early on.

Who's up, then? I want to know you're out there.

Phil Tufnell
Former England spinner

It's a very good toss for England to win. The pitch looks very dry, looks like it could crumble.

First-innings runs - as always in India - will be crucial.

Akash Deep hurries in and gets it down at a decent pace. He's a slender quick with his hair thinning a little on top.

The last ball is a beauty but there's not as much drama off the surface as in Siraj's over.

Crawley and Duckett knock a single apiece.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer in Ranchi

We're in Dhoni country, the hometown of MS. There's a very good chance there would be no international cricket here had the great man not put Ranchi on the map.

There was a lot of activity outside the ground - shirt sellers, people just going about their daily lives.

But the big stadium - it holds about 40,000 - is currently pretty empty.

Akash Deep is going to open the bowling from the other end on debut...

Woooft! The third ball from Siraj leaps to hit Zak Crawley on the gloves in front of his chin. Crawley looks a little startled as though he's taken a right hook from Ricky Hatton.

This pitch could be lively.

The first delivery is down the leg side from seamer Siraj but there is a bit of bounce through to the wicketkeeper.

We know Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will not die wondering. England's approach is not going to change after the criticism last week.

Mohammed Siraj is going to start with the ball...

Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on TNT Sports

It is quite unnerving facing the first ball when you have no idea how those cracks in the pitch are going to play. You have absolutely no idea what's coming at you.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler

Jasprit Bumrah not playing is a huge reason for optimism for England.

It's tough for anyone to replace the superb Jasprit Bumrah but that task will fall on 27-year-old Akash Deep in this Test.

The seamer has been selected by India for the first time in any format.

He plays for Bengal in first-class cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

He impressed for India A in the recent series against the England Lions where he twice took four wickets in an innings.

Image source, Getty Images

There has already been a lot of talk about this pitch with England captain Ben Stokes saying earlier in the week he had "never seen anything like it".

On TV, Graeme Swann has just described it as a dried up riverbed. There are already plenty of cracks.

Deep Dasgupta reckons it won't be as bad as it looks.

India: Rohit (capt), Jaiswal, Gill, Patidar, Jadeja, Sarfaraz. Jurel (wk), Ashwin, Kuldeep, Akash, Siraj

England: Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes (capt), Foakes (wk), Hartley, Robinson, Bashir, Anderson.