Alastair Cook, after so many failures and so much scrutiny, both over his batting form and captaincy, finally scored some runs to relieve a bit of that pressure and with it also put England in a strong position after day one of the third Test against India in Southampton.
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Day 2 of the third Test in Southampton is scheduled for an 11 am local time (3.30 pm IST, 6 am ET) start with live coverage on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports HD1 in India. The match can also be watched via free live streaming online HERE. Watch the match live online in the UK HERE, with TV coverage on Sky Sports 2. Listen to the Test natch via BBC Radio 5 Live HERE. The macth will be telecast live on ESPN 3, while the match can also be live streamed HERE.
Gary Ballance was supreme with the bat yet again for England in a summer of three hundreds with Ian Bell giving the left-hander company at the close of play as England finished on 247 for 2 following the wicket of Cook in the final session.
England decided to bat first after winning the toss and it proved to be the right decision as the India fast bowlers were left frustrated on a pitch that looked like it might have something in it, but eventually proved to be not enough to trouble the batsmen too much.
India were also dealt a blow with Ishant Sharma ruled out of the third Test with an ankle injury, while his replacement Pankaj Singh, despite bowling pretty well, could not pick up a single wicket, albeit with luck definitely not being on his side.
Day 2 will be about England looking to maintain their batting momentum, with Ballance hunting a big hundred, while Bell, who is due a big score, will look to give his teammate company for as long as possible.
"It's a great day for England," Cook, who was given a reprieve while on just 15 with Ravindra Jadeja dropping a simple catch in the slips off Pankaj, told ECB's official website. "Obviously Gaz [Ballance] played exceptionally well for another hundred, and it's nice to finally score a few myself.
"We've forged a good position, let's hope we can rest up well tonight and really hammer home this advantage, get a really big first innings score and really put some pressure on the Indian batters.
"I think the wicket will get a bit quicker. You saw that second new ball carried a little bit better, which is a good sign, and I think if it stays quite warm it should deteriorate a little bit later in the game."
The wicket does not look like it has too many demons in them and the India fast bowlers could be in for another long day, especially if they bowl as wide as they did for much of day one, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami not quite hitting their straps.
Pankaj Singh, desperate for his maiden Test wicket on debut, troubled Bell, in particular, and with the second new ball just ten overs old, India will look for some early wickets on Day 2.
Early wickets will be crucial for the visitors, or else, they could be staring at hauling down a score of well over 400 in the first innings.
