Summary

  • Fifth Test, day two, Dharamsala - India lead series 3-1

  • Rohit and Gill complete sublime centuries in first session

  • Rohit bowled by Stokes for 103 - England captain's first ball in 251 days

  • Anderson moves to 699 wickets by bowling Gill for sparkling 110

  • Sarfaraz & Padikkal hit fine fifties to restore India's total dominance

  • Bashir & Hartley chip away in final session but India close on 473-8 - leading by 255

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

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    (Re Chris 4:20) I ask myself the same question as the alarm pierces the quiet at 3:50am and I drag myself to the kitchen to make a coffee. It’s tough being this committed a fan, especially mornings like this!

    Keane, Southampton

  2. Ind 199-1published at 43 overs

    Trail by 19

    A change for England as left-arm spinner Tom Hartley replaces off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.

    Tidy start for the Lancashire man, conceding just two singles.

    This partnership is worth 95 off 134 balls now.

  3. Ind 197-1published at 42 overs

    Trail by 21

    Maybe on this flat pitch, Evan, but surely generally in India the spin is tougher to face than pace. Regardless of the time of the day.

    Chance for England as Mark Wood draws the edge of Shubman Gill's bat but it goes through where a second slip would be and away for four. Joe Root rocks back his head and laughs. Gill has a rueful smile too.

    Wood responds with a vicious bouncer that has Gill weaving, but the India batter is unfazed, punching the next delivery to the point fence.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

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    Is starting the day with spin the lowest form of pressure you can exert on an opposition? Especially in India? It just shows no intent, no aggression, where's the firepower?

    Evan, Cardiff

  5. Ind 189-1published at 41 overs

    Trail by 29

    Debutant Devdutt Padikkal is carded to come in next. I bet he can't wait to get a go on this track.

    Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who are still looking to consolidate their places, are probably thinking the same too.

  6. Ind 186-1published at 40 overs

    Trail by 32

    Three singles from Mark Wood's over.

    Apart from one half-chance at leg slip for Zak Crawley off Shoaib Bashir to dismiss Rohit Sharma, England haven't created anything in the opening 40 minutes.

  7. 50 runs

    50 for Shubman Gillpublished at 39.1 overs

    Ind 184-1

    A controlled pull for a single brings up another half-century for Shubman Gill.

    A couple of Tests ago it felt like he was under serious pressure for his place in this India side but he's put that talk to bed.

    This has been a very good knock so far. He put real pressure on the England bowlers last night and has continued today.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:36 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

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    Currently in Berlin on a stag do… didn’t quite anticipate staying up this late on the first night! But it means I can follow England as long as I stay awake so all positives! We can get early wickets though... right?

    Pete

  9. Ind 183-1published at 39 overs

    Trail by 35

    India have added 48 runs in nine overs so far today.

    Keep going at that rate and they'll be in the lead by drinks in this morning session.

    You don't want to think about the sort of deficit England will face if they continue at that pace all day.

  10. Postpublished at 04:32 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    Beautiful shots from Gill, off both front and back foot.

    England urgently need wickets or this is heading for a flogging.

  11. Ind 180-1published at 38 overs

    Trail by 38

    A change for England as Mark Wood replaces James Anderson. There was little to no movement for the latter so can the pace of the former provide the breakthrough?

    Not with all balls like that. Short and wide from Wood and Shubman Gill cuts away to the fence.

    He follows it with a gorgeous front-foot drive, and then a quick single to mid-off.

    India are all over England at the moment.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

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    For all the talk of England's aggression in this new era, this Indian batting line-up knows how to dial-up the run-rate when the time is right. Would love to see a comparison in series scoring rates.

    Alan, Hampshire

  13. Ind 171-1published at 37 overs

    Trail by 47

    Arghh! Through the man at leg slip.

    Rohit Sharma turns Shoaib Bashir round the corner and Zak Crawley just isn't able to react quickly enough.

    He doesn't even lay a finger on it and the ball races away to the fine-leg boundary.

  14. Postpublished at 04:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer in Dharamsala

    It really is glorious in Dharamsala this morning. Clear sky, bright sunshine, the warmest temperature of the week so far. No sign of those horror weather forecasts we were hearing a few days ago.

    Not that is any comfort to England, who are at risk of being steamrollered here. England have made all the right noises about not thinking of home, but these long tours give the opposition the chance to work you out.

    India have slowly marinated England over the past three Tests. Today is the day for the barbecue.

  15. Ind 166-1published at 36 overs

    Trail by 52

    England are already experimenting with the field for James Anderson. He's down to just one conventional slip with a leg slip/gully in as well.

    A lovely bit of grace from Rohit Sharma sees him guide Anderson to the vacant third-man boundary. Too easy.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:20 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

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    Remind me why I'm up so early (as I have done every day of every match)?!

    Chris, in need of a month's worth of sleep

  17. Ind 162-1published at 35 overs

    Tighter over from Shoaib Bashir, just the single from it.

    It's a beautiful day in Dharamsala by the way. For all the talk of sleet and rain in this game potentially, it's currently clear blue sky.

  18. Postpublished at 04:17 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    India seem set on really punishing England today. They sense this is the chance to ram home the scale of the gulf between the two teams. I think England’s young spinners will be put under real pressure.

  19. Ind 161-1published at 34 overs

    Trail by 57

    Short and wide from James Anderson and Shubman Gill crashes the cut away to the fence.

    Anderson then strays slightly down leg side and it trickles away, despite the appeals from England, for four leg byes.

    India have added 26 in four overs so far, with 24 coming in the last two.

  20. 6 runs

    Ind 153-1published at 33.2 overs

    Trail by 65

    This has got all the hallmarks of being a long day for England already.

    Shubman Gill charges James Anderson and gracefully slots him back down the ground for six more.

    Anderson won't like that.