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

188th over: England 577-9 ( Leach 14, Anderson 1) The huge Chennai stadium is empty, must feel a bit like playing in a multi-storey carpark. Ashwin has his suncream war-paint generously smeared on his cheeks, as Anderson snatches a single. Imagine the sun on your face – must be nice.

187th over: England 576-9 ( Leach 14, Anderson 0) A miserable over for Ashwin: first Leach clodhoppers him for four over mid-on, then Pant misses a straight-forward stumping, then four leg-byes as Pant fumbles again.

A nuggett for you, thanks to the radio: 34 per cent of stumpings are missed at Test level.

186th over: England 567-9 ( Leach 9, Anderson 0) Bumrah tries two deliveries with the old ball before discarding it for a bright shiny cherry, and a wicket. Useful runs from Bess (would Moeen have made more?) as Anderson lopes out. He survives the over, squirting one into the leg side.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m learning to love the No Ball Klaxon. How long till it’s marketed as a sought-after ringtone? Hope it doesn’t alarm the puppy.” Martin Wright, just no.

And with the first delivery of the new ball, Bumrah gets one to slide in to Bess and trap him on the leg stump.

185th over: England 567-8 ( Leach 9, Bess 34) Ashwin comes round the wicket and Dom Bess shimmies down the pitch and clubs him for four. Nifty footwork there.

“As someone who bitterly opposed THAT declaration in Adelaide in 2006 at the time (and not with benefit of hindsight), I say bat on and bat long …” Brian Withington, I’ll be sure to pass your message on to Joe Root.

184th over: England 562-8 ( Leach 9, Bess 29) A 143kph Bumrah yorker nearly does for Jack Leach, but with spade and rake he digs it out.

Next to me on the sofa, the puppy watches the cricket while chewing a glove.

183rd over: England 560-8 ( Leach 9, Bess 29) A couple off the over; England are going to grind to 600 it seems.

“Good morning from Helsinki, where white-ball cricket would be a very bad idea at the moment ;).” Hello Adrian Goldman. “Does this match begin to have the look of a high.scoring draw to you? – is it likely that England can bowl India out twice in less than three days…?

Good question, I think we wait to see how Anderson, Stokes and Archer do on this pitch.

182nd over: England 558-8 ( Leach 8, Bess 28) Bumrah oils his joints and turns the clockwork key. And we have the first no ball klaxon of the day – far, far, too early for such a din. The 20th no-ball of the innings. Bumrah is still bowling with the old ball. A nice, neat over.

The pitch is Chennai salmon, should Farrow and Ball be looking for a new colour.

181st over: England 556-8 ( Leach 7, Bess 28) over . It’s Ashwin for the first over, high and floaty. A quiet start, just the single to Jack Leach.

Into my email pings Tone White, “Waiting with a glass of barley milk … does the OBO begin at 04.00?… that’s 05.00 here in France. I shall be patient and hope your coffee is kind to you.And your children, and the weather.”

It’s tea this morning. Tea then coffee, no?

In the studio, they mull over the perceived rivalry between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, Australian stand-in miracle worker. SirAlastair thinks Kohli was calmer and quieter in the field yesterday. If India lose this Test, it will be his fourth loss in a row.

The players are on their way….

Over in Chennai, Mark Butcher is in a tight blue suit with a pink silk hankerchief in his top pocket, as he reports that temperatures are going to reach 30 degrees today.

A short burst of Mambo No. 5, and we’re back in the Channel 4 studio. Sir Alastair looks smart in his armchair. And some sad news from Barbados where West India fast bowler Ezra Mosley has died in a traffic accident.

Good morning! There’s a arctic wind a blowing outside but get the kettle on, play starts in ten minutes.

Tumble outta bed, And I stumble to the kitchen, Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life. Switch on the TV, Lookin’ for some cricket action, Root n Kohli but please no klaxon, at an ungodly hour on Channel four .(sorry, Dolly)

Will it be worth getting up for? I slam my cards down on the table and say yes, yes! you crazy fool. A early-morning rattle by nine-Jack-Jimmy, before Anderson and Archer take the new ball to India’s intimidating top order. Kohli’s side will need 350 plus to avoid the follow-on, which Joe Root can swill pleasantly round his mouth this morning as he brushes his teeth.

As for Root – what a wonder he’s been these last two days. The first batsman ever to make a double century in his hundredth Test, in a Steve-Smithian vein of form. And England have their highest total in India for 35 years, largely thanks to his efforts

A brilliant read on him below by Jonathan Liew

Can Virat Kohli raise him? C’mon, that’s what we’re here to find out..

To remind yourself of yesterday’s antics, here’s a super account of the day’s play by Ali Martin .