England suffered a top-order wobble when Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope made ducks and were swiftly followed back into the pavilion by Zak Crawley.
However, Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied the ship somewhat. Even if Brook’s aggressive approach was questioned at times.
They will resume unbeaten on 18 and 30 respectively on Friday.
This is the hole England would have found themselves in at Headlingley had it not been for the obliging Indian collapse. This time it went to script.
Simon, Hackney
Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
The fact that this felt like quite a long, slow innings when India scored at almost four an over is strange looking back now, but that was tough Test match cricket.
That intensity is what makes me worry about players coming into Test matches without the proper preparation beforehand.
Of course, we should not forget that earlier today Shubman Gill produced a stellar innings as he made the top score by an Indian in England with his majestic 269.
I think the pile-on merchants should just take a step back and reflect on what this England team are capable of doing in turning round what seems to be a slam dunk defeat into a victory. It’s day two for goodness sake!!
Neil from Chester.
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
So far in this Bazball era they either blow teams away, chase brilliant or they get hammered. They don’t play the boring draw because they’ve never had to.
I’ll be intrigued to see what happens if England lose a few quick ones tomorrow and if they think we have to dig deep.
The crazy thing about Bazball is that nobody knows whether 77-3 at the end of the second day in response to 587 is a good day or not.
From Peter Price in Morecambe
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
I’m not too sure what England will be thinking. I hope Ben Stokes is thinking, ‘we should’ve batted first’.
The way that England bowled today was a slight concern. There were a few things I saw in the field which made me think this looks a bit ominous going forward.
Sometimes you bat first to grind the opposition into the dirt and that’s what England looked like. They played three tired shots.
It couldn’t have gone any better for India. They got lucky because Shubman Gill wanted to bowl first and I don’t know why you would even consider that.
India captain Shubman Gill speaking to Sky Sports: “Good position to be in with England three down. Hopefully we get a good start tomorrow.”
On his batting form: “I worked on a few things before the series and after the IPL. Looking at the results, those things are working for me.”
On what India worked on after the first Test: “Getting the catches was really good confidence for us. Fielding is something we spoke about going into this match. If we were half as good [at Headingley], the result would have been different.”
Harry Brook sees off the final delivery.
That’s stumps. India’s day, without any shadow of a doubt.
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Harry Brook does well not to stand on his stumps there.
A square drive from Harry Brook for four off Prasidh Krishna. This partnership now worth a 50.
Next ball, Brook jabs one into the pitch and is then like Bambi on ice as the ball loops up and is heading back down towards his stumps. Brook resists the urge to punch the ball – ala Graham Gooch – and instead shoulder barges the ball away.
Heart-in-mouth stuff from Joe Root as he takes on a bouncer from Prasidh Krishna and top edges it towards deep square, but the ball does not carry.
Three balls left in the day. Harry Brook to face them.
Two dots to Joe Root from Prasidh Krishna to start the final over.
Ollie Pope, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir – none of them are good enough for Test cricket. I don’t care about Pope’s hundreds, he’s shockingly inconsistent. Drop them all for the next Test and start building a team that can actually complete Down Under.
Brett, Leeds
Despite Harry Brook’s procrastination, India manage to get round quickly enough to get one more over in. To be bowled by Prasidh Krishna.
Harry Brook is backing away to leg between deliveries from Ravindra Jadeja, trying to ensure this is the last over. But he gets a ticking off from the square-leg umpire.
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
PA Media
We all know England don’t play for draws. India look like they’re going to dangle the carrot and not let them score at five or six an over.
Just a single off Prasidh Krishna’s latest over as England tick down towards the close aiming to not lose another wicket. It’s certainly settled down considerably following that frantic passage of play.
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
This England pair have taken the sting out of the game. India were buzzing about before.
Joe Root has played nice and controlled but I’m perplexed by the tactics of India so far.
I think India are spooked by England’s big chase here a few years ago and what happened at Headingley.
