England v India: first Test, day four – live!

55th over: England 171-3 (Root 81, Bairstow 26) Thanks Tim, hello everyone. Ravindra Jadeja comes on for Mohammed Shami, and Root premeditates the deftest of laps for four. That takes him to within 19 runs of the most glorious century. But first, with England leading by 76, it’s time for drinks.

54th over: England 166-3 (Root 77, Bairstow 25) After spending the first innings trying to be a Test-match sobersides again, Bairstow is now approaching the task as if he’s wearing the bright red and hot pink of Welsh Fire. He sees a ball from Siraj that is neither very short nor very wide and cuts it for four. He has hogged the strike too, in a good way – facing 36 balls out of 49 since Sibley’s demise, thus allowing Root to calm down. Maybe he’s playing first fiddle. Time for me to hand over: a big hand, please, for the great Rob Smyth. Thanks for your company and correspondence.

53rd over: England 160-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 20) Shami becomes the latest bowler to think he’s got an LBW, and Bairstow’s new red-ball technique certainly encourages the thought – but it’s a bit high and India can only review now if they’re sure the umpire has made a howler. This is one of the best things about DRS: if you use it badly, it turns into VAR.

52nd over: England 158-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 18) It’s a double change, which means they’ve seen off Bumrah for now, and it turns out that Siraj was just changing ends. Bairstow again produces a warm welcome, cutting him for four. At the risk of sounding like Alec Bedser, I have to say that a lot of runs would have been saved in this Test if either captain believed in having a third man.

Meanwhile Emma John gets in touch again. “Does anyone,” she wonders, “know the origins of Fox Road and Hound Road here at Trent Bridge? i was wondering about the lovely symmetry of those two roads/stands as i walked round the ground at lunchtime.”

51st over: England 153-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 13) Shami takes over from Siraj and Bairstow greets him with a lovely shot, opening the face to send a flowing drive through backward point. Bairstow has started much more assertively in this innings after doing a Sibley impression on Wednesday. England lead by 58.

50th over: England 148-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 8) A couple of singles off Bumrah. He’s bowled five overs in this spell, so England are wise to see him off.

“Dear Mr. d,” says Adam Roberts, “I may not know much about cricket, not having edited Wisden and that, but I was surprised not much has been said about the decision to bat first. I’d have thought a greenish Trent Bridge wicket with Anderson/Broad and clouds around would have been a no-brainer. Am I missing something?” No, you’re right. Leaving out your spinner and then opting to bowl last is not exactly joined-up thinking.

49th over: England 146-3 (Root 75, Bairstow 7) Siraj, the Broad of the subcontinent, is convinced that Bairstow is LBW. Nobody else agrees, but Kohli does one of his late reviews. Sure enough, it’s missing leg stump, so Michael Gough is right again, Kohli is wrong again, and India, like England in the previous innings, have got down to their last review rather early on. Bairstow celebrates with a back-foot force for four.

48th over: England 142-3 (Root 75, Bairstow 3) Jonny Bairstow has a role to play here: second fiddle, as opposed to 15th fiddle, which is what Sibley was. He gets off the mark with a nice easy push to midwicket for three off Bumrah. Root, still skittish, plays and misses, then gets a nick, but keeps it on the floor. Can Bairstow, who knows him so well, calm him down?

47th over: England 139-3 (Root 75, Bairstow 0) The lights are on now and the ball is beginning to move again. Siraj thinks he’s got Root LBW with a sharp nip-backer, but Michael Gough decides it’s going down and Hawk-Eye agrees with him. Root retorts with a cover drive that is straight out of the Root playbook.

46th over: England 135-3 (Root 71, Bairstow 0) That’s a great grab by Pant and the end of another long vigil from Sibley. The partnership was 89, and Root made 71 of them.

Sibley finally goes! He went for a shot on the off side, for once – a big loose drive – and could only get an inside edge. Rishabh Pant had a lot to do to change direction, but he managed it with aplomb.

45th over: England 134-2 (Sibley 28, Root 70) Another over from Siraj, another single to Root, another set of dots for Sibley’s collection. He has now faced 131 balls, and has even hit two of them for four.

44th over: England 133-2 (Sibley 28, Root 69) A single for Root off Bumrah, courtesy of an overthrow after a shy hit the stumps – the lowest form of run-scoring, even worse than a leg bye.

“Re England’s top order,” says Gareth Wilson, “I was astonished to see Burns and Sibley have played 25 and 20 Tests respectively. What would Compton, Lyth, Carberry, Robson, Duckett have given for that level of (blind?) loyalty?” It’ll be interesting to see if Duckett gets back in. He’s been impressive with Welsh Fire in The Hundred, both as a blaster and a stand-in captain.

43rd over: England 132-2 (Sibley 28, Root 68) Kohli takes Jadeja off, for no apparent reason, and brings back Mohammed Siraj. Root greets him with a square drive for four. England lead by 37. Root now has 132 runs in the match, for once out, while the Rest of England have 158 for 11 times out. It’s the World XI at one end and Ilford 2nds at the other.

42nd over: England 127-2 (Sibley 28, Root 63) At the other end, Bumrah is back. Root leg-glances his first ball for four, deft as a dancer, and pulls the last one for a single. In between, even Sibley manages a scoring shot, tip-and-run to mid-on. In the last ten overs he’s made four, to Root’s 28.

41st over: England 120-2 (Sibley 27, Root 57) Jadeja continues and Root takes a single first ball, pushing towards point. A caption shows that he’s made a thousand runs this calendar year – 1012 in nine Tests, at an average of 59. And that’s with a five-match drought in the middle. How many would he get if he wasn’t lumbered with the captaincy?

The Indians are out there and Virat Kohli is giving a speech. He’s got his serious face on.

40th over: England 119-2 (Sibley 27, Root 56) Root dabs Shami for a single, Sibley does a bit of blocking, and that’s lunch, with England feeling much happier. It’s been a rocky ride for Root, but he has single-handedly seen off the danger of an innings defeat. He’s in his thirties, he’s played a hundred Tests, he’s a father of two, he’s been England captain for years, and he’s still the boy stood on the burning deck. Now all he has to do is add another hundred to his fifty.

“Delighted there’s so much play,” says Robert Wilson. “It’s drab day-long drizzle here in Paris which, despite the tourist clichés, always makes the place look like an industrial estate just outside Darlington.

“Jadeja yesterday and Root today prove once more that the Gods just dote and smile on some players, no amount of scratchy form or tricky conditions can dent the sure progress of their cheeky thirty-somethings and stolen fifties. Since childhood, we’ve all seen players like this in all sports as we lurk resentfully in changing room corners while they bask in their permanent sunbeam. It’s not luck. Because you’ve got to be good to have it (Jadeja has always been better than people think). It’s an ancient notion we’ve lost. It’s felicity. They’re felicitous, these blokes. It’s not always easy to spot its presence, but its absence is visible from actual space. And it’s what the England top order do not have.” That is a top-class rant. But Crawley does have it, doesn’t he?

39th over: England 118-2 (Sibley 27, Root 55) Jadeja, finding himself bowling to Sibley, takes the opportunity to whizz through a maiden.

38th over: England 118-2 (Sibley 27, Root 55) Shami replaces Thakur and Root flirts with danger yet again, dabbing through the slips, but he gets four more and that’s his fifty – 52 off only 68 balls. It’s been frantic but effective. To show that he really is Joe Root, not some impostor, he then plays an imperious on-drive.

37th over: England 109-2 (Sibley 26, Root 47) Root sweeps Jadeja, not timing it but picking up three to midwicket. He’s still batting like a 14-year-old who’s just tried a double espresso.

36th over: England 105-2 (Sibley 25, Root 44) Thakur is still on and Root is still not being quite Rootish enough. He plays that vertical back-foot defensive shot again, straight down into the crease, and then misses another hook. Sibley may have to have a quiet word: Skip, you’re not playing for Trent Rockets now.

35th over: England 102-2 (Sibley 25, Root 41) Root succeeds where he failed in Jadeja’s previous over, playing a late cut for four, but then he tries it again and the ball is too close to him. For once in his life, he looks like a wicket waiting to happen. When Sibley gets down the business end, Jadeja finds some turn. Deep in the England dressing-room, Jack Leach may well be holding his head in his hands.

34th over: England 97-2 (Sibley 25, Root 36) Root flirts with danger again as he almost gloves a bouncer from Thakur. At the moment, he needs a little more of Sibley’s zen. Maybe they can strike a deal? Sibley could do with a tenth of his talent.

33rd over: England 96-2 (Sibley 25, Root 35) Root is itching to attack Jadeja, late-cutting, then sweeping, but finding the fielders. the only runs come from four byes – which are enough to level the scores. There’s another review as Root misses Jadeja’s arm ball, but it’s a silly one from Kohli as Root was playing a shot and was struck well outside off. A shovel from Sibley sends England into the lead. The crowd give them a big cheer, perhaps unaware that they are effectively 1 for 2, or perhaps acclaiming the fifty partnership. Sibley’s contribution has been 9 – Sibleyish to the last.

32nd over: England 91-2 (Sibley 24, Root 35) It’s a maiden from Thakur, who has done a solid job as the fourth seamer, conceding only seven runs off five overs.

Sibley survives! It was about three inches wide of the leg bail. A poor decision from the umpire, a good one from Root. Reviews are easier when you’re nowhere near Stuart Broad.

Could be going down. England review – not something they’ve had much success with in this match.

31st over: England 91-2 (Sibley 24, Root 35) Time for some spin! Kohli turns to Jadeja, who starts rather bathetically with a no-ball. He may be a little rusty after bowling only three overs in the first innings. Sibley takes a quick single that leaves Root hobbling.

“Sibleyish is a wonderful word,” says Colum Farrelly. “Does it replace Tavaréesque?” Ha.

30th over: England 88-2 (Sibley 23, Root 34) This game has been a tale of missed run-outs, mostly by England, but now it’s India’s turn to mess up as Root sends Sibley back and Siraj, swooping at midwicket, fails to spot that Sibley is the one in more danger.

29th over: England 85-2 (Sibley 22, Root 33) Two more for Root, clipping off his pads, followed by a quick single. England’s overdraft is down to ten.

Meanwhile I’ve been having a text conversation with Emma John, who is at Trent Bridge. “There’s a dude outside the ground,” she says, “holding a sign saying God Is Love. I thought God was Kohli. But then maybe Kohli Is Love?” Emma’s been doing the sidebar every day for The Guardian and she’s been on top form – find them here.

28th over: England 82-2 (Sibley 22, Root 30) Thakur tries a bouncer and Root pulls, confidently, getting on top of it, but straight to the man out at deep midwicket.

Over on Twitter, there’s the age-old sound of England fans harrumphing. “The England top order,” says Mick Collins, “needs to avoid the impression that it is a closed shop. If you score runs at the county level, you deserve a chance. Keep batters fresh and instil more competition for places.”

27th over: England 80-2 (Sibley 21, Root 29) Root works Shami through the covers and although it doesn’t sound as if he’s middled it, it just beats the fielder to the rope. Next ball he does it again, and this time there’s a nice crisp ring to it. Kohli, as so often, turns himself into an emoji – “dismayed face”.

26th over: England 72-2 (Sibley 21, Root 21) Root clips Thakur for a single and catches up with Sibley – not, admittedly, the toughest challenge in Test cricket. Root has faced 27 balls, Sibley a very Sibleyish 78. But Root plays and misses too as Thakur holds his line outside off. He’s not quite himself today.

25th over: England 71-2 (Sibley 21, Root 20) Shami goes wide of the crease and draws another inside edge from Root. The Harrow drive is in danger of becoming his signature shot.

A guy in the crowd, possibly supporting India, holds up a sign saying “THANK YOU BRITISH WEATHER.” Today’s India are pretty hot in any weather. And that’s drinks, with England wobbling as usual. They are still 24 behind.

24th over: England 68-2 (Sibley 20, Root 18) It’s a double change as Siraj gives way to Shardul Thakur. Each batsman takes a single off his hip; no prizes for guessing who is the more elegant of the two.

23rd over: England 66-2 (Sibley 19, Root 17) Mohammed Shami finally gets a go and he’s right on the spot, beating Sibley on the inside edge, then the outside. He’s such a good bowler.

22nd over: England 65-2 (Sibley 18, Root 17) Root cover-drives Siraj again and it’s an even better stroke than the first one, taken on the up. Then he tucks through square leg, on the back foot. He’s not putting on the hair shirt, as Bairstow and Buttler did in the first innings, and I reckon he’s right – it doesn’t take much to persuade Kohli to go on the defensive.

21st over: England 56-2 (Sibley 17, Root 9) Root may be ropey when the ball is straight, but he’s superb outside off. He guides Bumrah for four through the slips, then threatens his own stumps again with a back-foot push that goes down into the crease, pops up, and has to be shovelled away. Next he plays with the outside edge for the first time as Bumrah turns him round, but the nick drops short of the slips. That’s a lot of false shots by Root’s high standards, and England are still in the mire – 39 short of avoiding an innings defeat.

20th over: England 52-2 (Sibley 17, Root 5) Joe Root, who must feel like rolling his eyes in despair, shows his class by getting off the mark with a textbook cover drive. But then Siraj, who has a bit of spice to him, finds the inside edge of Root’s bat – not once, not twice, but three times. The third is a Harrow drive that brings a single. Andrew Strauss, on commentary, shows that Root is vulnerable to straight balls, averaging only 14 against them in England since 2017. Wow.

19th over: England 47-2 (Sibley 17, Root 0) Just to show that he’s still Sibley, Sibley gets a juicy full toss from Bumrah and turns it into a dot. Still, with 17 off 61 balls, this is one of his sparkier performances.

18th over: England 47-2 (Sibley 17, Root 0) Another single to Sibley, who is raising his stock just by virtue of still being out there. The wickets are being replayed and the commentators reckon both batsmen had to play at those deliveries, so I take it back about Burns (as well as Siraj). For elevenses, I will be tucking into some humble pie.

“Re Tom van der Gucht’s comments just now,” says Bill Hargreaves, “I hope that at one point in my life I, too, may taste the sweet nectar of this oft-mentioned last-chance saloon. Truly the Holy Grail of all establishments for imbibing. If you score a ton, do they put your name on the wall?” Ha.

One brings two! It’s a good ball from Bumrah, angling in and seaming away, and another disappointment for Crawley.

16th over: England 43-1 (Sibley 13, Crawley 6) Kohli celebrated that wicket as if it had been taken by his baby daughter. Siraj nearly makes it two in two, turning Zak Crawley round and drawing a leading edge, which zips to the third-man boundary. Crawley then ducks a bouncer before finding the middle of the bat with an on-push for two.

The breakthrough! And it’s Siraj, moving one away as Burns commits himself when he could have left it. To think that some people wondered why Siraj was bowling.

15th over: England 37-0 (Burns 18, Sibley 13) The ball isn’t swinging today, so Bumrah pulls his length back and beats Sibley by jagging it away off the seam.

14th over: England 37-0 (Burns 18, Sibley 13) A few singles off Siraj, which are not to be sniffed at: rotating the strike is one of the many things England have struggled with lately.

13th over: England 34-0 (Burns 17, Sibley 11) Rory Burns, too, gets an early freebie, as Jasprit Bumrah hands him a half-volley on leg stump. It should be a single but there’s a fumble at fine leg. Bumrah finds some lift and movement with that catapult action of his, but then drifts on to leg stump again and gets clipped for four. This is a positive start from England.

“Let’s be honest,” says Tom van der Gucht, “half of the England batting line-up are drinking in the last chance saloon. Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Bairstow and Lawrence all have question marks next to their name and (in all fairness) Buttler is still underwhelming in Test cricket. This is the chance for a hero to step up and announce they’re ready to cement their place for the Ashes. There’s a few young (ish) guns breathing down the necks of the incumbents: Livingstone, Malan, Hameed… Broad must sense Mahmood hot on his heels now Archer is out for longer as he brings something different to the attack.” That’s a bit harsh on Buttler, who averages 46 since lockdown, and a bit flattering to Malan, who is 34 next month, but yes, Mahmood should be in the Test squad now.

12th over: England 27-0 (Burns 11, Sibley 11) Virat Kohli sprang a surprise last night by opening with Mohammed Siraj and he does it again now. Dom Sibley is so relieved that he takes runs off the first ball of the day – a nurdle for two. There’s an LBW shout at the end of the over, but it’s too high for Kohli to risk a review.

“Glorious day,” says David Lloyd. “Blue sky.”

Rory, Dom and Zak. They could be contestants on Love Island. We’ve got to know them all quite well. Rory has silly hair and is on the short side, but he’s very likeable. Dom, who is affable too, is much taller, with sensible hair. Zak is even taller and often looks a bit embarrassed, but he’s everyone’s type on paper. Now, though, the crunch has come, and at least two of them are in danger of being voted off the show.

This is a big day for England’s top three. Burns and Sibley, whose average opening stand since lockdown is just 27, need to turn a promising 25 for 0 into at least 50 and preferably 100, to wipe out India’s lead. Sibley, even on a good day, bats like a crustacean. Lately he’s been a crustacean under general anaesthetic – and after an innings of 18 that was painful to watch, he went and dropped KL Rahul. One more flop and he’ll be carrying the drinks for Haseeb Hameed.

Crawley was one of only four England batsmen who looked good on Wednesday, alongside Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran, but he has to convert his confident strokeplay into runs. Since making his name last summer with 267 against Pakistan, he’s been dealing in fractions of that. His biggest Test score since has been 53 (opening, against India, in some style), the next-best 27 (in this match). It feels as if another big one is round the corner, but that’s not enough. England need it right now.

India are sitting pretty, still 70 runs ahead, which is a lot in a low-scoring Test. So far they’ve done everything better than England – from preparation to reviewing. The weather forecast, for once, is not too bad: just a 10pc chance of rain this morning, rising to 20pc at 3pm and to 50pc in the last hour. The rain will only save England if they save themselves first.