England vs India: Stuart Broad Rips Through India to Put Hosts in Control

First day, first session and India lost four wickets inside six overs, a disappointing start from which they never recovered and were bundled for a mere 153 at Old Trafford on a pitch that had zip and carry for the seamers on Thursday in the fourth Test.

Stuart Broad led from the front and ripped through the famous Indian batting line-up to finish with an outstanding figure of six for 25, while James Anderson swung the red cherry both ways and put aside his recent woes to claim three wickets.

The mayhem started in the first hour itself, when Broad and Anderson troubled both Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Murali Vijay. Gambhir (4), who made a comeback on the Indian side after two years, was the first to go, when he was squared up by Broad and caught in gully.

Gambhir's departure opened the floodgates for India, as the visitors lost four wickets in the space of 13 deliveries. Vijay (0) was the next to go, when he was forced to play on a pitched up delivery that landed just on the middle stump line.

With quite an unexpected start, it was on Cheteshwar Pujara (0) and Virat Kohli (0) to drive India out of mess but they failed to trouble the scorers. Six Indian batsmen got out for duck to equal the world record, which they would like to forget sooner.

Kohli, just like previous matches, opened his bat on a ball that pitched just outside the off stump and English skipper Alistair Cook made no mistake in taking a fine catch at first slip. Pujara also got out while driving and was caught by Chris Jordan.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made a brave decision of batting first on the 'English' pitch, found himself in the middle in the sixth over. He and Ajinkya Rahane (24) put a valiant fight to see off Anderson and Broad and stitched a much-needed 54-run partnership.

Rahane, after doing all good work, would be kicking himself, as he got out just before lunch on Jordan. Ravindra Jadeja (0) walked on to the crease but his stay was short lived as Anderson let his bowling do the talking and trapped the all-rounder lbw.

Dhoni tried to anchor the innings but he got no support from the other end, although Ravichandran Ashwin looked good for his 42-ball 40. The Indian captain and Ashwin made a 66-run partnership and just when the things were looking going India's way for a moment, Broad struck again.

Ashwin did not shy away from short deliveries and Broad set him up by pitching it short and the off-spinner pull one straight up in the air and Sam Robson took an easy catch. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0) couldn't find his mojo this time and was castled by Broad.

India innings didn't survive long as Dhoni (71) was the next to go, followed by Pankaj Singh (0), while Varun Aaron remained unbeaten on one.

Indian pacers started pretty well but were not lethal like Broad and Anderson. Bhuvneshwar provided India the first breakthrough, when he got Robson (6), who shouldered arms to an in-swinger.

Aaron made an impressive comeback and got the wicket of English skipper Cook (17) to put England in trouble. But Ian Bell and Garry Ballance balanced the innings with a 77-run partnership for the third wicket.

Aaron came to the fore once again and broke the partnership by trapping Ballance (37) lbw, Bell (45 not out) and nightwatchman Jordan (0 not out) saw off the remaining as England finished the day on 113 for three and were in firm control.