England v India: second Test, day one – live!

42nd over: India 122-0 (Rohit 82, Rahul 30) Jimmy Anderson returns to the attack, nursing expensive figures of 8-3-11-0. The lights are on, so in theory this should be the perfect time for Anderson to bowl. It would also be a fine time for Rohit and Rahul to break a record.

Anderson beats Rohit with a length outswinger, a lovely piece of bowling. The Rohit of a few years ago would surely have nicked that. As Dinesh Karthik says on Sky, this has been a masterclass in how to bat in English conditions.

41st over: India 121-0 (Rohit 82, Rahul 29) Rahul lifts Moeen lazily over long-off for six. That’s the first boundary of his innings, from the 108th delivery, and I’m starting to seriously doubt whether this match will have a happy ending for England.

40th over: India 114-0 (Rohit 82, Rahul 22) Rohit survives a big LBW shout after being hit on the pad by a very full-length delivery from Curran. Michael Gough said not out, and England decided not to review. It was probably missing leg stump, umpire’s call at best.

Meanwhile, I’ve found a cracking one-sided opening partnership, though it wasn’t in a Test and it didn’t quite reach three figures. But apart from that… in an ODI in 1996, Sanath Jayasuriya added 70 for the first wicket with his fellow pinch-hitter Romesh Kaluwitharana, who was out for a duck.

39th over: India 113-0 (Rohit 82, Rahul 21) Rohit pats Moeen for a single to move to within 18 of a first Test century overseas. He is impressive proof that, even as they approach their mid-30s, openers can change their spots.

38th over: India 111-0 (Rohit 81, Rahul 20) Curran, who is bowling better in this spell, moves around the wicket and slips a beauty past Rahul’s outside edge.

“How does this pair compare to century opening partnerships in terms of the uneven distribution of runs?” asks Craig Fawcett.

I can’t answer that I’m afraid, at least not without 10 minutes on Statsguru, but it does bring to mind one of my favourite partnerships. In the course of an astounding unbeaten 200 on a vile turner at Colchester in 1981, Javed Miandad added 43 for the eighth wicket with Robin Hobbs – who was out first ball. And I’ll always be able to say I wasn’t there, because I was five years old and I barely knew my own name. But one of these days, Alice, when I can afford that bloody DeLorean, that’s where I’m going.

37th over: India 108-0 (Rohit 81, Rahul 18) Moeen continues to bother Rahul, who is beaten by one that skids straight on. Buttler fumbles it, though there wasn’t a chance of a catch or a stumping. The bad news for England is that Moeen is bowling on the first afternoon; the good news is he’s started well.

36th over: India 108-0 (Rohit 81, Rahul 18) Curran draws a false shot from Rohit, another of those inside edges, but it sneaks away for two. That’s drinks, with India still lording it at Lord’s, and England rather needing Jimmy Anderson to come on and grab the game by the scruff. Time for me to hand over to Rob Smyth. Thanks for your company, correspondence and contrasting opinions on all those selection issues.

35th over: India 105-0 (Rohit 79, Rahul 17) A single to each batsman off Moeen’s fourth over. The commentators are discussing Root’s decision to bowl first. “Those dread words,” David Lloyd says. “‘We’ll have a bowl.’” Michael Holding suspects it was more a case of not wanting to bat – “not having faith in the top order”.

34th over: India 103-0 (Rohit 78, Rahul 16) Three more runs off Curran, who may have to give way to the man mentoring him from mid-on.

33rd over: India 100-0 (Rohit 75, Rahul 16) Rohit decides it’s time to hit Moeen over the top, and does so with the greatest of ease because England have a deep mid-on, not a long-on. He adds a two and a single, and that is the hundred partnership. These two have gone one better than in the first Test, when they added 97. And they’ve done it after being put in to bat. England haven’t bowled at all badly, but they haven’t bowled well enough against an opening pair who are serenely well organised.

“Rahul,” says Mark Hooper, “seems to be playing the innings England want Sibley to play?” True.

32nd over: India 93-0 (Rohit 68, Rahul 16) Curran is being coached by Anderson, who is standing at mid-on, and you can see it in his line, which shunts across to off stump or just outside. It’s a much better over, acclaimed with a little clap from Buttler, but Curran still can’t quite find his ability to make things happen.

31st over: India 92-0 (Rohit 67, Rahul 16) Moeen concedes his first run as Rohit pushes to deep mid-on. Then there’s a glimmer of a chance as Rahul sets off for a quick single to cover, only to be sent back by Rohit, but Buttler and Sibley converge on the ball and rather get in each other’s way. The fielder who did everything right was Hameed, who moved smoothly from short leg to the stumps when he saw Buttler taking off.

30th over: India 91-0 (Rohit 66, Rahul 16) It’s a double change as Wood, who bowled better than figures of 5-1-22-0 might suggest, gives way to Sam Curran. He’s on at the right end this time, running in with the members behind him, and there are thick clouds to help him swing it. But he’s too much on the pads, handing out singles and leg-byes.

29th over: India 86-0 (Rohit 64, Rahul 15) So here is Moeen, playing his first home Test for two years, fresh from the role of the master blaster in The Hundred. He’s in the groove right away, beating Rahul with a nice loopy arm ball, and again with a flatter one that’s too close to cut.

We’re about to see England’s first over of spin in this series.

28th over: India 86-0 (Rohit 64, Rahul 15) Wood draws an inside edge too as Rohit swaps his usual elegance for the old Harrow drive. Realising that this is beneath him, he then sees a 93mph short ball and pulls it well in front of square for four. Imperious.

27th over: India 78-0 (Rohit 56, Rahul 15) It’s still Robinson, bowling to Rahul and aiming at middle-and-off rather than middle-and-leg. That would be a maiden if it were not for a no-ball off the sixth delivery, called late as is the way now. Robinson, rather than sulking, uses the seventh to find the inside edge of Rahul’s bat.

26th over: India 77-0 (Rohit 56, Rahul 15) Wood beats Rohit with an amazing delivery, a short, fast, fiery leg-break. Then he bounces him again, and Rohit, though not in control, hooks for six! That’s how England got him out the other day. Fine margins.

25th over: India 71-0 (Rohit 50, Rahul 15) Robinson is bowling straighter, which seems a good ploy against Rahul, less so against Rohit. He helps himself to a couple of comfy tucks into the leg side and reaches fifty off 83 balls. It’s been authoritative.

24th over: India 68-0 (Rohit 48, Rahul 14) Rohit is handling Wood well, pushing square for two, flicking off the hip for four, and best of all leaping to defuse a rip-snorter on off stump. “Mark Wood can generate some serious pace,” says Michael Holding, which is like being complimented on your writing by Marina Hyde.

23rd over: India 61-0 (Rohit 41, Rahul 14) Robinson beats Rahul with a fabulous ball – angled in and jagging away.

Meanwhile a couple of tweets have come in about Sam Curran. “If Curran can’t look threatening with the ball in the bowling conditions provided at Trent Bridge and today,” wonders Gareth, “when exacty can he?”

“Sam Curran,” says Tom Wellman, “is a very good bits and pieces cricketer but first change in a Test match? Not on your nellie.” Well, he was good against India in 2018, but there’s something not right with his bowling at the moment. I was surprised they picked him today: with Broad ruled out, they could have run to one more non-batting seamer, and I would have loved to see Saqib Mahmood. He doesn’t look like a first change either – he looks like the real deal, ready to take the new ball.

22nd over: India 57-0 (Rohit 40, Rahul 11) Wood touches 94mph and bowls his first bouncer – the first of the day from anyone, if memory serves. Rahul fends it off, uncertainly, but there’s no short leg. Root’s aversion to having a man there is surprising. England missed a trick at Trent Bridge, not because catches went there, but because it allowed batsmen like Rishabh Pant to stand outside their crease. Root may be conscious that Wood can be expensive, but he’s started parsimoniously enough here.

21st over: India 56-0 (Rohit 40, Rahul 10) A ball from Robinson, by contrast, bounces twice before reaching Buttler and goes for four byes. That’s a bathetic way to bring up another fine fifty partnership. These two added 97 last week and they’re at it again now. Rohit celebrates with four off the edge.

20th over: India 46-0 (Rohit 35, Rahul 10) Wood’s first ball makes Rahul play and it’s 89mph. That’s impressive, after no cricket for six weeks. Second ball, he reaches 90mph, with good shape too. And soon he’s making the ball leap, with Jos Buttler taking it up above his shoulder. Pace, tick. Bounce, tick. Heart, tick. He just needs to threaten the stumps, especially to Rahul, whose strength is outside off.

19th over: India 46-0 (Rohit 35, Rahul 10) Ollie Robinson has two balls left of his over. One is a loosener outside off, ignored by Rohit. The other is on the spot, blocked by Rohit. That’s a maiden. And now HERE COMES WOOD!

England are in their huddle. It’s not clear who is doing the pep talk: maybe Mark Wood, to give him something to do.

The covers are off and Shane Warne is on the telly, living the international cricketer’s dream – getting paid to plug a company that combats baldness.

“So,” says Simon McMahon, “Kohli has lost eight tosses in a row in England? On the spin, as it were. I wonder what his system is? He probably calls heads or tails I reckon, but maybe he needs to have a rethink, possibly toss a coin beforehand to help him make his subsequent on-field call and see if his luck improves.”

Sky is using the time well, by showing the work of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, which supports families as they face the loss of a love one. Heartbreaking stuff. People in the UK can send £20 by texting TWENTY to this number: 70600.

Lunch is going to be taken after all, but not till 1.10. Cricket, like God, moves in mysterious ways.

The covers are on and there are raindrops on the camera. The umpires, apparently, have not called for an early lunch, which is puzzling.

“Just wondered.” says Paul Sokhy, “why England want the ball changed so often. Third time today, very prolific at this. The umpire has checked and handed the ball back. Is it that Anderson is not getting the movement of the Sultan of Swing? Or is it a tic now?” You might very well think that.

They’re off again. Rohit walks back to the pavilion with his bat under his shirt and gives Rahul a pat on the arm.

Joe Root had just had time to change the bowling again. He took off Curran after those chastening last two overs. It was clearly time for Mark Wood – but no, it was back to Robinson. He bowled four dots before the rain came.

18th over: India 46-0 (Rohit 35, Rahul 10) A good over from Anderson, moving the ball both ways, to Rahul, whose only scoring shot is a streaky two, squirted past point off a leading edge.

“I have a ticket to Lord’s on Saturday,” says Steve Hudson, “and I can’t wait to see Jimmy, for what feels like the last time. He’s one of the best I’ve seen since the 70s. I can’t help thinking though that if there is any doubt over his fitness whatsoever, he shouldn’t be playing with the Ashes looming. He’s 39, injuries will come more often and they will take longer to heal properly. Still, here’s to Saturday.” I’m not sure they’d miss him in the Ashes, except at Adelaide. Phenomenal as he has been for the past few years, elderly seamers hardly ever do well in Australia.

17th over: India 44-0 (Rohit 35, Rahul 8) England have got a deep square instead of a fine leg, perhaps because Rohit was caught hooking at Trent Bridge. But they haven’t bowled a bouncer yet, as far as I can remember, and not having a fine leg is a gift to a batsman with any finesse. Rohit duly cashes in with a two and a four. Of his 35 runs, 22 have come off Curran’s last two overs.

16th over: India 38-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 8) Anderson, appalled to see 16 coming off one over, restores order with a maiden. He now has the very Jimmyish figures of 7-3-9-0, but England would swap some of that thrift for a bit more penetration.

“Agree with Crawley being dropped,” says Peter Salmon, “but if only both he and Sibley could have gone! Seems a little odd we’ve all just accepted an either/or argument. But anyway, I think the true horror may still be to come, when Sibley scores 68 off 290 balls and can’t be dropped. And does that every third Test he plays for eternity. For. Eternity.”

15th over: India 38-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 8) Rohit eases Curran past point for the second four of the day. Just when you’re thinking, hmm. should Curran have given way to Saqib Mahmood, he produces a better ball and draws the edge, only to see Rohit keep it down. Next, he beats him outside off. Then Rohit strokes it through the covers again, taking a big step forward and meeting the ball on the up. And finally, as Curran adjusts his line, Rohit helps himself to a freebie on leg stump. After 14 overs for 22 runs, we’ve had 16 off one. And that’s drinks, with the first hour belonging to India’s openers.

14th over: India 22-0 (Rohit 13, Rahul 8) Rahul, facing Anderson, plays an off push for three. He has only faced 34 balls so far, to Rohit’s 50: hard to say who’s been the more circumspect, but it’s working for them just as it did last week.

A tweet from John Etheridge of The Sun. “Threat of losing more WTC points already seems to be helping the over-rate,” he notes. “13 overs in first 53 mins – much quicker than normal. About time, too.”

13th over: India 18-0 (Rohit 12, Rahul 5) A boundary! Curran gets that inswinger too full and Rohit flicks it to fine leg’s right. The first four of the morning comes off the 77th ball.

Here’s Tom van der Gucht. “I’d say, feeling somewhat surprised, that this looks like England’s most balanced Test side I’ve seen in ages. Blockers taking the shine off the ball, dashing middle order with potential to counter-attack, giving way to more explosive lower order and a bowling attack packed with variety combining spin, bounce, swing, left-arm and pace. It has the feel of an Ed Smith team, too… His benevolent spectre hangs over the team – like the ghost that helped Liono in Thundercats.”

12th over: India 14-0 (Rohit 8, Rahul 5) Anderson changes ends, looking for some joy from his inswinger, and nearly gets some as he raps Rohit on the pad in line with the off stump. HawkEye reckons the ball was about two inches too high to hit the leg bail.

11th over: India 13-0 (Rohit 8, Rahul 5) Curran is getting some inswing now, up the slope, and he draws a thick inside edge from Rohit. A single to each batsman: this scorecard is the stuff of Dom Sibley’s dreams.