Day Four at Nottingham should see a good battle between bat and ball. India seem to more at home on the Trent Bridge wicket and with a lead of 105 runs, England will be doing all the defending, at least for the first session on Saturday. Catch all the live updates here (Scorecard):
Joe Root was England's Man Friday. His unbeaten 78 saved England from embarrassment after the hosts blew a solid second-wicket stand between Gary Ballance (71) and Sam Robson (59), suffered a batting collapse (from 154/3 to 202/7) and then had prayer on their lips. Root featured in two crucial stands with Stuart Broad (47) and an unbroken one with James Anderson (23 batting).
England's Joe Root leaves the field at the end of play after scoring 78 runs not out during the third day of the first cricket Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge
© AFP
Many see Root as England's next big all-rounder. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman has taken responsibility and understands the importance to put a price on his wicket. He could me the man to stand between India and victory in this entire series.
With three for 109, Ishant will have his tails up on Saturday morning. Sometimes ambitious as he is, the lanky pacer feels India can bag 20 wickets and score a win. On a dry and slowish track, the Indians are quite at home at Nottingham. English bowlers have been clearly left frustrated by the conditions. But did India misread the wicket by not including specialist off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin?
India's Ishant Sharma celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Gary Ballance during the third days play in the first cricket Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England on July 11, 2014.
© AFP
Reverse swing is expected to play a big role on Day 4 and 5. India have Mohammed Shami, who loves to exploit the old ball and with Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 4 for 61 - capable of moving the new ball both ways, India have enough firepower to put England under pressure in the fourth innings. But India have to watch out against James Anderson in their second innings.
Quick runs, quick wickets and good decisions by the umpires will be key as Trent Bridge gets ready for an exciting weekend of cricket.
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