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Preview: Visitors England will have their task cut out for them against the in-form No.1 Test side India in the first match of a five-game series, beginning at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Wednesday. England’s two-test series in Bangladesh was testament to their drop in form and also the fact that their batsmen are not equipped to tackle a relentless spin threat on turning tracks which they will also get in India. Alastair Cook’s wards though will take heart from their success in the 2012 series where they rallied back wonderfully to win the four-match series 2-1 despite losing the first Test to India. England beat hosts Bangladesh in the first Test in Chittagong but hardly looked convincing. [caption id=“attachment_3096406” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Joe Root. AFP[/caption] They were then humbled in the second match, losing by 10 wickets allowing the hosts to level the two match series 1-1. The series, more importantly, exposed their frailties against spinners on turning strips. India on the other hand have not lost a Test at home since losing the 2012 series to England, blanking Australia and the West Indies, crushing South Africa and more recently whitewashing New Zealand in September. Cook, who has hinted this five-Test series could be his last, has acknowledged the monumental task that lies ahead of them saying, “It’s a huge challenge to these guys who have not played a huge amount of cricket in the subcontinent as a group.” The 31-year-old will break Michael Atherton’s record of 54 Tests as captain during the first match against India. England’s woes against spin were laid bare by teenage Bangladeshi off-spinner Mehedi Hasan who accounted for 19 wickets in his debut series, rattling the visitors in the process. As many as 38 of the 40 English wickets, in the two Tests were taken by slow bowlers. England will have to encounter arguably the world’s best off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in his home conditions, who has taken 58 wickets in India’s last seven home matches against South Africa and New Zealand. How England play Ashwin will determine the fate of the series. Not only Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and the in-form Amit Mishra will also test England to their limit. One good news for England has been the prospect of pace spearhead James Anderson returning earlier than expected from a shoulder injury. But going by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, he won’t be the game-changer. “I wouldn’t play him (Anderson) in India to be honest,” Ganguly told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday. “It’s not the same Anderson as 2012. I saw him in the Test series in England recently. He has lost a bit of pace.” “And I think Stuart Broad and Steven Finn and Ben Stokes (will be more effective) because you will need a bit of pace in these conditions to get that ball to reverse. So I don’t know whether he will make the side when he comes back. Not in Vizag (Visakhapatnam) where the ball will turn square,” he added. The visitors, however, have a top class fast bowling attack led by Stuart Broad and will have the tall Steven Finn, Chris Woakes and all-rounder Ben Stokes to fall back on depending on the combination they choose to field in the playing eleven. The spin department though is thin on experience with Moeen Ali, Gareth Batty, Zafar Ansari or Adil Rashid not knowing the subcontinent conditions well. Coming to India’s batting, captain Virat Kohli will be keen to improve his far from impressive record against the visitors. Kohli, who recently celebrated his 28th birthday, is expected to lead the way in batting along with Rahane and the likes of Murali Vijay, the recalled Gautam Gambhir and Cheteshwar Pujara, the team’s leading scorer against New Zealand, who will be playing in his home town in Rajkot. Because of an injury to Rohit Sharma in the One-Day series against New Zealand, either Karnataka batsman Karun Nair or Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya appear set to make a Test debut. This will also be the first Test series in India where the Decision Review System (DRS), which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has consistently opposed, will be used. The teams: India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice Captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav. England: Alastair Cook (Captain), Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Moeen Ali, Zafar Ansari, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.
India vs England, 1st Test, Day 1, Highlights: Visitors end day at 311/4, Moeen unbeaten on 99
Live scores and updates of day one of the first Test between India and England in Rajkot.
 "India vs England, 1st Test, Day 1, Highlights: Visitors end day at 311/4, Moeen unbeaten on 99")
Stumps on day 1: England 311/4. Moeen remains unbeaten on 99, Stokes on 19*. Root made 124. England's day! https://t.co/r8Y8TMU0iA #INDvENG
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 9, 2016
When it comes over rate in Test matches, India are generally very good. Currently 91st over is in progress. #INDvENG
— Moulin (@Moulinparikh) November 9, 2016
Ashwin has conceded 100 runs in the first innings of a home Test for the first time since 2013 (7-103 v Australia in Chennai) #INDvENG
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 9, 2016
After 88 overs, England are 297/4 (Moeen 96, Stokes 8)
Shami’s issues with hamstring have continued, but he’s still bowling. Stokes has scored his first runs against the Indian team. On the other hand, Moeen Ali breaks free after being stuck in the 80s for more than 7 overs and has entered the nervous nineties. India has re introduced spin into the attack in the 88th over, Ashwin replaces Shami.
If anyone of you have doubts regarding Joe Root’s dismissal, this video might just solve them.
????When is a catch a fair catch? #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/OHFFP7x4Wm
— Lord’s Ground (@HomeOfCricket) November 9, 2016
I sincerely hope that a few extra overs tonight don't cost Shami the series. #indvnz
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2016
Ben Stokes against IND in Tests
— JSK (@imjsk27) November 9, 2016
0
0
0
0 batting #INDvENG
After 83 overs, England are 281/4 (Moeen 88, Stokes 0)
India took the new ball after 80 overs, and then they opted against it. Maybe, Kohli wanted to see whether it’s reverse swinging before taking it. ANd it worked! Umesh Yadav strikes in his comeback over. Shami comes back to bowl, but stops after 4 balls. Looks in pain and the Indian physio is out again on the field and has done a good job I reckon? Shami finishes the over. Stokes has replaced Root at the centre, while Moeen is batting on 88 and is getting closer to his first overseas ton.
Not sure thats a catch. Went away a bit from Yadav i think. #IndvEng
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 9, 2016
Out and all that is fine, but WHY WOULD UMESH DO THAT? :O#INDvENG
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) November 9, 2016
OUT! Umesh gets the breakthrough. He caught Root on return but dropped it while celebrating. The decision went upstairs and the third umpire rules Root out. He falls for 124.
After 78 overs, England are 270/3 (Root 122, Moeen 79)
Reverse sweeps, lofts towards cow corners, all happening at Rajkot. India are on backfoot, England are scoring freely and with brisk rate. Defensive field set by Kohli already. The visitors have scored 26 runs off the last 5 overs. Just waiting for the second new ball, maybe?
After 73 overs, England are 244/3 (Root 110, Moeen 65)
Jadeja comes back into the attack and Joe Root dances down the ground to greet him with a six over long-off. Both the batsmen have started using their feet more against spin and are rotating the strike effectively.
Brilliant knock by Root. Absolute control. Helps if you win the toss and get to bat on a day one wicket too. #IndvEng
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 9, 2016
After 69 overs, England are 230/3 (Root 101, Moeen 61)
Good news for India. Shami is back on the field, but it still remains to seen whether he can bowl. Meanwhile, both England batsmen have got to their milestone. Mooen scored his 9th fifty, while Root got to his maiden ton in India.
CENTURY! Joe Root paddle sweeps Ashwin and takes a double to bring up his maiden ton in India. It’s his 11th overall.
9th Test fifty for Moeen Ali! #INDvENG
— Nikhil Mane 🏏🇦🇺 (@nikhiltait) November 9, 2016
50 for Moeen
Moeen Ali takes 99 balls to reach his half century. A measured innings by the English southpaw as the hosts reach 215/3.
Umesh Yadav brought into the attack now.
In other news, Karun Nair is in for the injured Mohammad Shami
After 64 overs, England are 209/3 (Root 93, Moeen 48)
Big blow for India. Shami walked off the pitch holding the back of his thigh. Not something that the hosts might’ve expected, the session has gone from bad to worse. Moeen is also 2 runs away from his half-century. Vital for India to break this partnership before the situation goes out of hand. Yadav has started reverse swinging, Root tries to flick but misses. India appeals, umpire says no. Kohli reviews. Replays showed it pitched in in line, impact was also in line but the point of contact with the stumps is an umpire’s call. Root survives on 92. And it’s tea!
Umesh appeals for lbw, which is turned by umpire Dharmasena. India opt for DRS, and get umpire's callhttps://t.co/r8Y8TMU0iA #INDvENG
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 9, 2016
Shami injured. What's it with Indian fast bowlers breaking down on day one of #IndvEng Tests?
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) November 9, 2016
Zaheer at Lord's in 2011.
Not a single boundary by stepping out...only one by sweeping (full toss). That's Joe Root vs Spin today. #INDvENG
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2016
After 58 overs, England are 191/3 (Root 88, Moeen 36)
After giving 8 runs off his 5th over, Mishra bowling with much authority now. Tempts Root with a good length ball and the ball spun past his bat, not edging it fortunately. And as usual Jadeja is bowling his overs as fast it gets. England on the other side have dominated this session so far and will be aiming to end it without losing a wicket.
Great to see @ECB_cricket putting up a good show on Day 1. Let's make a match of it, eh? No India-like turn to be seen yet in Rajkot.
— Akarsh Sharma (@Akarsh_Official) November 9, 2016
After 53 overs, England are 166/3 (Root 69, Moeen 30)
Cheeky efforts from Kohli to break the partnership, placing silly mid-off for Root off Jadeja’s bowling. Mishra and Jadeja are bowling in tandem now. The leggie in a bid to bowl with more flight bowled a full toss to Root which was slapped for a boundary towards square leg. The duo is batting without any risks, just looking to rotate the strike. Not spinning much as of yet. India need to bring back Shami maybe, the ball was reverse swinging.
Donald Trump to be US President.
— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) November 9, 2016
Can we use DRS for #Election2016 as well? #IndvsEng
'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for fifth Test against England at The Oval Workload management was believed to be the reason behind Bumrah's absence The pacer, however, reportedly has a knee injury, a BCCI official claimed in a report.
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