India seem to have forgotten what it is like to score runs collectively in England, after another pathetic batting performance putting them well on course for another embarrassing defeat.
Where to Watch Live
Day 2 of the fifth Test at the Oval in London 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. Live stream the match in the UK HERE or HERE, with TV coverage on Sky Sports 2. Listen to the Test match via BBC Radio 5 Live HERE. The match will be telecast live on ESPN3 in the US, while the action can also be live streamed HERE.
After losing the toss and being put into bat by Alastair Cook, India's troubles began right from the off, troubles which only became worse as time wore on.
If not for a brilliant 82 from skipper MS Dhoni, India would have been staring at a first innings score of well below 100, rather than the 148 they finished on. However, even the 148 looks like being a rather low score after the England openers negotiated the second half of the final session to end the day on 62 for no loss.
"To bowl them out for 150, or just a little bit less, and the way the boys batted to the close was brilliant," England fast bowler Chris Woakes, who took three wickets in the first innings, told ECB's official website.
"Broady and Jimmy set the tone and it was up to myself and CJ to try and back them up. I thought we did it really well today. We put the balls in the right areas and got some rewards for it. We picked up some wickets."
Woakes finished with figures of 14-7-30-3 – his best figures in Test cricket – and the man from Warwickshire could not have been happier.
"It's nice to pick up a few wickets," he added. "I have been a bit dry in the wickets column the last couple of games, but you stick to your processes and keep doing what you're doing.
"I felt like they have been coming out pretty good. It was nice to get a few rewards today."
England will now look to put India under the mat by batting for as long as possible. Both Sam Robson and Cook had a couple of nervy moments in the final session, but if they can prolong the partnership on Day 2 morning, then the India bowlers will be in for a difficult time.
"Robbo has gone through a little bit of a tough patch, but he has been playing really well," Woakes said in support of his teammate. "You come through that if you keep doing the right things. Tonight he played fantastically.
"Hopefully he can continue that in the morning. If we can get through the first half an hour to an hour, with no wickets or one wicket down, then we will be in a great position. Hopefully we can kick on, go past their score and even further."
While the batting from India has been abject, at best, post the Lord's Test match, the bowlers have not exactly covered themselves in glory either, and on Day 2 the onus will be on the likes of Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Ashwin to bail their batsmen out and keep England's lead to a minimum.
Easier, said than done, of course.
