Tea, day one – India 149-3 (Jaiswal 58, Rahul 46) v England
Inserted in murky Manchester light, India coasted to 94 without loss before England’s bowlers – and a returning Liam Dawson – reeled them in during a disciplined second session.
Chris Woakes opened the door, KL Rahul pushing at one that left him and feathering to third slip for 46. “I felt in decent rhythm all morning,” Woakes said, “it was just a matter of hitting the seam often enough.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal, typically expansive, reined himself in to post a measured fifty – his eighth score above 50 in just 16 Test innings against England. Yet Dawson needed only seven deliveries on his first Test appearance since 2017 to remove him, the left-hander driving and edging to Harry Brook at slip. “Lovely to feel a red-ball in my hand again,” Dawson grinned. “You dream about moments like that when you’re running drinks.”
At 125-2, Ben Stokes sniffed an opening. Bowling for the second time since his knee surgery, the captain pinned Shubman Gill for 12 with a nip-backer the batter opted to leave. The verdict came only after a long appeal; Stokes admitted, “I wasn’t letting that one go – sometimes you have to convince the umpire and your own team-mates.”
England’s only blemish was Jamie Smith spilling debutant B Sai Sudharsan, on 20, down the leg side off Stokes. Otherwise Dawson’s seven-over spell of 1-21, aided by tight lines from James Anderson and Woakes, kept India’s rate under three an over.
Assistant coach Jeetan Patel praised Dawson’s control: “He offers us what Shoaib Bashir couldn’t quite manage earlier in the series – accuracy from ball one.” India batting coach Vikram Rathour, though, was content: “If you’re 149-3 after being put in, you’ll take it. The surface still looks good.”
The contest feels delicately poised: a newish ball, overcast skies and England’s energy set against India’s middle order and a pitch expected to ease. As Rahul noted before trudging off, “First hour after tea could swing it either way.”
