Rahul drags Woakes on as England find breakthrough under grey skies

BBC News

31-07-2025

Update:
Date: 12:27 BST
Title: Post
Content: Deep DasguptaFormer India wicketkeeper
Has Josh Tongue tried to do a little too much today? It seems like he's trying to swing the ball with his wrist position.
Update:
Date: 17 overs
Title: Ind 44-2
Content: Sudharsan 13, Gill 0
Josh Tongue would have hoped the cameras were not rolling for this opening over. I am not kind enough to hide it away.
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A first over to forget for Tongue
Update:
Date: 12:24 BST
Title: How's stat?!
Content: Ashwanth R KavuluriCricviz analyst
In the first 15 overs, India played 25% false shots - the second most in the first 15 overs on day one in this series.
Also, India managed to play in complete control (good shot%) on just 4% of the deliveries they faced.
Update:
Date: 16.2 overs
Title: Ind 44-2
Content: Lovely from left-hander Sai Sudharsan, who drives Josh Tongue for a rare four through mid-on.
Update:
Date: 16 overs
Title: Ind 40-2
Content: Brendon McCullum has said England don't consider Jacob Bethell a frontline spinner, Chris. If they're going to do that it would have to be exceptional circumstances and Stokes would have to be unable to bowl.
Update:
Date: 12:21 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
With Stokes for Woakes, and the seamers rotating with Archer and Wood, is this the Ashes squad with no spinner and Bethell brought in?
Chris, Bristol
Update:
Date: 12:19 BST
Title: Post
Content: Deep DasguptaFormer India wicketkeeper
A little lapse of concentration from KL Rahul. He was batting so well and this is big for India because he has been their rock.
Update:
Date: 12:17 BST
Title: Post
Content: That's a big moment because it removes KL Rahul but it also gets Shubman Gill in early while the clouds and low and the ball is moving.
Update:
Date: 12:16 BST
Title: Post
Content: Daniel NorcrossTest Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Bowled him! Chris Woakes has got the breakthrough. Not a great shot from KL Rahul and it's splattered onto the stumps.
Update:
Date: 15.1 overs
Title: WICKET
Content: Rahul b Woakes 14 (Ind 38-2)
Got him!
After a couple of quiet overs after drinks, KL Rahul chases one on the cut. He's usually so careful outside off stump but this is too close to him and the ball deflects off his edge and onto the timbers.
England needed that.
Update:
Date: 15 overs
Title: Ind 38-1
Content: Sai Sudharsan is squared up just a tad by Josh Tongue at the end of this over but he still manages to use the middle of his bat.
Update:
Date: 12:12 BST
Title: Post
Content: Deep DasguptaFormer India wicketkeeper
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Jaiswal tucks Woakes delivery away to deep mid-wicket for first boundary of the day
The thing that can put the bowlers off, with the outfield being wet, is a lot of bowlers struggle with their foot mark. You saw Chris Woakes putting saw dust where he starts his run.
Woakes' front foot landing is under his knee, so it doesn't slip as much. But Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson's foot lands ahead of the knee with forward momentum, which can be difficult.
Update:
Date: 14 overs
Title: Ind 37-1
Content: Rahul 14, Sudharsan 8
KL Rahul is playing late. Sai Sudharsan is playing like he's in a straitjacket, desperately trying not to push his hands away from his body. It's working so far.
Update:
Date: 12:06 BST
Title: Post
Content: Chris Woakes is going to hope a change of ends improves his fortunes.
Update:
Date: 12:05 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
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'Ollie looks happy!' - Pope review pays off as Jaiswal dismissed lbw for two
Re Martin @ 11.53: I am welcoming back Gus Atkinson. He has 55 wickets in 12 tests at 22.3. I think that's probably a better average than any current England bowler.
Philip, Salisbury
Update:
Date: 13 overs
Title: Drinks - Ind 36-1
Content: Just as Josh Tongue looks near his best, his internal sonar system fails again. He hurls a couple more well wide of the pegs.
There's a bit for England to ponder over drinks.
Update:
Date: 12:01 BST
Title: Post
Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special
That's a nightmare ball to face. That was a fantastic delivery, full, right at the pads of Sai Sudharsan.
Update:
Date: 12.2 overs
Title: Ind 34-1
Content: Floored! A big inswinging yorker from Josh Tongue swipes Sai Sudharsan off his feet as he ends up looking like he's had the rug pulled from beneath him.
England go up for lbw but there's a big inside edge.
Update:
Date: 12 overs
Title: Ind 34-1
Content: It's easy to focus on the negatives but Gus Atkinson is bowling nicely here. That's six on the spin for him on his comeback. He has only conceded the seven runs and is up above 85mph.
Encouraging.
Update:
Date: 11:57 BST
Title: How's stat?!
Content: Andy ZaltzmanTest Match Special statistician
Those 11 runs conceded by Josh Tongue from wides is the most runs in wides that a bowler has ever conceded in a single over of Test cricket, according to the Cricviz database.