England take on India at Edgbaston today as their protracted Test series finally comes to a conclusion.
The two sides went head to head last year in a five-match series which saw India take charge, leading 2-1 with one Test to play. But a Covid outbreak in the Indian camp scuppered the final match at Old Trafford, and the series is only now being resolved. England come into the match in much better shape than last year and full of confidence after dispatching New Zealand 3-0 under the stewardship of new captain Ben Stokes and new head coach Brendon McCullum.
England make two changes with Sam Billings taking over from the unwell Ben Foakes and James Anderson back to lead the bowling attack. Foakes missed the last couple of days of the victory over New Zealand at Headingley after testing positive for Covid-19, with Billings stepping in as an emergency replacementy. With 39-year-old Anderson fit again after a niggling ankle injury, England made the difficult decision to drop Jamie Overton. The Surrey seamer, who made 97 on debut and took two wickets, has been unable to edge ahead of a first-choice trio comprising Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts.
Follow the latest score and Test updates below:
India 264-5 (Pant 107*, Jadeja 53*) – 60 overs
Ben Stokes brings himself on to bowl and opens up with his customary no-ball for overstepping… Later in the over, it’s a no-ball on height and the final delivery is well down the leg side. Billings has no chance and that’s FOUR byes.
Turned into a very average over form Stokes despite nothing off the bat – six runs from it.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:56
India 258-5 (Pant 107*, Jadeja 53*) – 59 overs
A single off the first ball before Pant crunches one through backward square for FOUR! Billing then drops one behind the stumps – was that an edge? Ultra Edge is inconclusive, so Billings gets away with one.
A couple more singles to finish off the Leach over.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:52
VIDEO: Pant brings up a magical century
Rishabh Pant brought his ton after a majestic innings.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:46
50 UP! India 251-5 (Pant 102*, Jadeja 51*) – 59 overs
Broad welcomes Pant to the 100 club with a bouncer that he hooks for one. Jadeja then edges a ball through the slip region for FOUR! Leach chases it but can’t get there in time.
Jadeja only a single away from his 50 and he gets it next ball with a budge to the off side. He’s supported Pant superbly. An 18th fifty in 60 Tests for Jadeja.
Pant then goes for another pull, which earns him one, before another single makes it 10 from the over.
That’s also DRINKS! A great final over pre-drinks for India – all happening.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:42
CENTURY! India 243-5 (Pant 100*, Jadeja 45*) – 57.1 overs
It only took one ball of Broad’s over for Pant to reach his CENTURY! He pulls the ball fine to long leg and runs hard for two – a dive into his crease to make sure!
A quite brilliant ton – things were desperate when he came to the middle. That’s his 5th Test hundred and his 3rd against England. Lovely stuff.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:39
India 241-5 (Pant 98*, Jadeja 45*) – 57 overs
Pant was more reserved to Leach in the previous over but not in this one… He absolutely charges down the wicket and spanks the spinner over midwicket for FOUR!
The next delivery is even more incredible, down the wicket again, slogs hard and somehow ends up on the floor but the ball is back over Leach’s head for another FOUR! Bizarre!
Single from the next ball and Jadeja then gets him back on strike but the final delivery is swept for just one. He’s on 98 – two from his century and on strike for the next over…
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:37
India 230-5 (Pant 88*, Jadeja 44*) – 56 overs
First ball of Broad’s over is pretty wide and Billings misses it when he dives but Joe Root wears it on the shin to prevent four byes! The former England skipper looked like he was trying to get out of the way of it in all honesty…
Later in the over there’s no stopping those FOUR leg byes though as Jadeja’s attempted clip misses but the ball races away regardless.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:32
India 226-5 (Pant 88*, Jadeja 44*) – 55 overs
It’s spin time from the other end as Jack Leach enters the attack. Pant was smashing him to all parts prior to tea.
He’s more reserved initially this time, settling for a single worked around the corner. Jadeja then in defensive mode before another single off the final ball.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:30
India 224-5 (Pant 87*, Jadeja 43*) – 54 overs
Broad into the attack in place of partner in crime Jimmy Anderson.
Pant nurdles a first-ball single but the rest of the over is very tight and there’s no more runs off it
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:27
India 223-5 (Pant 86*, Jadeja 43*) – 53 overs
First ball of the over is edged by Jadeja flashes hard and it goes for FOUR with no third man.
Jadeja then adds another two from the final ball – another six from the over.
Luke Baker1 July 2022 17:20
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here