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Live Commentary: India vs. England - Second Test, day one - as it happened

Follow live text commentary of the first day's play between India and England in Ahmedabad.
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England were put into the field on day one of the second Test in Mumbai knowing that they had to produce a much improved performance following the defeat in Ahmedabad.

England caused problems for the hosts in the morning and afternoon sessions, with Monty Panesar claiming figures of 4-60 on his return to the side.

However, an unbeaten century from Cheteshwar Pujara (114*) and an impressive innings from Ravichandran Ashwin (60*), guided India to 266-6 at the close of play.

Read how the drama unfolded below.


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Good morning everyone. We all knew the toss would be important in Mumbai and it's bad news for England. India will bat after winning the toss.

India have made one change to the side from the first test victory. The hosts have brought in a third spinner in the form of Harbajhan Singh, to replace the injured Umesh Yadav.

Reports in Mumbai had suggested that Stuart Broad may miss out with a heel problem but the vice-captain has proved his fitness to begin the game. Elsewhere, Jonny Bairstow comes in for Ian Bell, who has returned to England for the birth of his child. There's also a place for Monty Panesar, with Tim Bresnan missing out for the tourists.

The fact that India have chosen to bring a third spinner into their team shows you what this pitch will be like. It is certain to provide more bounce to the spin bowlers and as the match progresses, the role of the seamers will significantly reduce.

There is a hint of green on the pitch this morning but any movement is likely to subside later in the day. England must take early wickets if they are to avoid a repeat of India's first innings in Ahmedabad.

Here is confirmation of the teams: India: V Sehwag, G Gambhir, CA Pujara, SR Tendulkar, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Z Khan, PP Ojha

England: AN Cook, NRD Compton, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, JM Bairstow, SR Patel, MJ Prior†, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, MS Panesar, JM Anderson


Virender Sehwag is playing in his 100th Test match for India. Superb achievement by one of the game's most exciting players.

This pitch should turn by day three and India will be hoping to post a huge total to put England under even more pressure. It's amazing how important the toss is on the subcontinent.

Dhoni: "The first hour will be very crucial. This wicket will be fresh so it will do something for the fast bowlers. The surface looks good."

It shouldn't be all doom and gloom for England supporters. India may have won the toss but early wickets will put any side under pressure, whatever the conditions. So, as Dhoni stated, the first hour will be very important.

Cook is giving his players one final team talk before the match begins. Sehwag makes his way out for the 100th time in Test cricket and is joined by Gautam Gambhir. We're moments away from cricket in Mumbai.

Jimmy Anderson will bowl the first over. Here we go!

Great start from Gambhir, who flicks the first ball through mid wicket for four runs.

Wicket! Gambhir (4) lbw b Anderson

Early breakthrough for England! Gambhir once again attempts to work a full delivery on the leg-side but he misses and Tony Hill raises his finger to confirm the lbw decision. Superb from Anderson, England will be delighted with this start. Cheteshwar Pujara is the new batsman, certainly some swing in the air.

Anderson greets Pujara with a full swingind delivery before following that up with a fierce bouncer. The Indian number three survives and earns a single but it's a great start for England.

There is definitely some life to this pitch in Mumbai. How long the movement will last for is a different question. Stuart Broad gets the new ball from the other end.

Broad sticks to a pretty full length throughout the first over but oversteps the mark once to give away a no ball. Pujara looks organised in defence and hands the strike to Sehwag with a nudge onto the leg side. Prior appeals for caught behind down the leg-side but that just catches Sehwag's shirt. Beautiful shot through extra cover for four by Sehwag ends the over.

Anderson continues and it's more of the same for England's leading swing bowler. Once again, he delivers a sharp bouncer but it;s important England don't use that tactic too much. Sehwag is given the strike midway through the over but he's happy to defend. Just a single from Anderson's second over.

Broad starts his over with a beauty that just goes past Pujara's outside edge. The double centurion from Ahmedabad then does well to fend off a well directed short ball. Good over, just a single from it.

England must persist with this full length this morning. Pujara is off strike with a nudge to square leg but Sehwag hands it back to his partner with a push past point. One more single follows in the over.

Broad continues and his pace is high this morning. These two look very relaxed at the crease following their heroics in Ahmedabad. Pujara sneaks a single on the off-side and England cannot allow that to happen. Two from the over.

Clever change from Cook, who decides to throw the ball to Monty Panesar. Sehwag could well attack the Sussex spinner.

Panesar begins with a horrible full toss and Sehwag gives it the deserved treatment, heaving the ball over mid-wicket for four. Sehwag then gets off the strike with a push to square leg and Pujara has four runs with a crunching drive through the covers. Nine runs are scored in the over, not a great start from Panesar.

Broad continues and appeals for lbw against Sehwag but there looks to have been an inside edge first. Three singles come from the over and Broad needs to adjust his length. He's been too short in this over.

Sehwag dances down the track at the start of Panesar's over but it's a good delivery from the left-arm spinner. Superb reply from Panesar, it's a maiden.

Broad begins a new over with a short ball but Pujara manages to take a single to deep square leg before Sehwag collects a couple of runs with a nudge to mid-wicket. Stroke of luck for India's opener when he drags the ball just beyond his leg stump. Six runs from the over.

Panesar has fired the ball in since that disastrous first over. There's three runs on offer but there's encouragement for England when Panesar hits the top of Pujara's bat with one that turns and bounces.

Anderson replaces Broad and Sehwag rides his luck again when he nearly chops the ball onto his stumps but ends up earning four runs. There's hands on heads again when Anderson catches Sehwag's edge later in the over. It's too wide for Swann to get a hand on at second slip and the batsman survives.

Pujara is looking in ominous form as he easily takes a single behind square at the start of Panesar's over. Two more singles come and India reach 50. Time for Graeme Swann?

Broad should be looking to Anderson for advice on how to bowl on this pitch. The Lancashire seamer is full throughout the maiden over until he almost surprises Pujara with a well directed bouncer. Time for a drinks break.

England certainly need another wicket before lunch, when this pitch will begin to flatten out. Good over from Panesar after the break, two runs scored.

Compton does well at point to keep hold of a powerful Pujara cut. That was inches from carrying there. Good over from Anderson, maiden.

Wicket! Sehwag (30) b Panesar

Big wicket for England! Panesar deceives Sehwag with the flight of a delivery that pitches on leg before brushing the pad and crashing into the stumps. England look overjoyed with that wicket and rightly so. Sachin Tendulkar is next in for the hosts on his home ground.

Tendulkar is off the mark but superb fielding from Anderson prevents the little master from earning a boundary. One more single for Tendulkar follows. Three runs and a wicket from the over.

Tendulkar happy to leave outside off stump but he does manage to get off strike with a single later. Pujara has gone quietly about his business this morning and he's not interested on taking on a short ball from Anderson.

Panesar is too full midway through a new over and it's easy for Tendulkar to flick the ball through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Wicket! Tendulkar (8) b Panesar

What a delivery! Panesar gets one to spin past Tendulkar's outside edge and hit the top of off-stump. That's a classic off-spinner's dismissal. Big, big wicket. Virat Kohli in next and he survives the final ball of the over.

For fans of Mr Panesar and I know there's plenty of them. He went absolutely crazy following that wicket. Great celebration.

Good from Pujara as he drives a returning Broad straight down the ground for four runs. Five from the over, 25 minutes until lunch.

Panesar is looking more dangerous with every over he bowls. Pujara is slightly luck to push a spinning delivery away for a single before Kohli edges the ball just short of gully. One run from the over.

Clever from Pujara as he guides a Broad short ball over third man for four runs. Another boundary later in the over for the number three when he clips the ball through the vacant mid-wicket area. Broad has struggled this morning, 10 runs from the over.

Kohli is a very good player of spin and he gets off the mark with a push to cover thanks to some nice footwork. It's the only blemish to the over, superb from Panesar.

Swann replaces Broad for his first spell of the morning. Kohli plays two very strange shots across the line but Compton twice prevents any runs being scored. A wider ball allows Kohli to free his arms and drive through the covers for a boundary.

Pujara manages to get enough of an edge on a Panesar delivery to sneak a single to third man. Two singles scored in the over.

It's a better over from Swann and he manages to keep Kohli pinned to his crease. Maybe two overs before lunch.

Good running from this pair when they take a single to Pietersen at mid-off. Kohli looks content to make it to lunch, one from the over.

Lunch: Pujara's defence means it's an uneventful over to end the first session, with just three runs being scored.

England will be very happy with the start they've made to this Test match. Panesar justifies his selection with the key wickets of Sehwag and Tendulkar. Pujara looks as though he's carried his form with him from Ahmedabad. England edge the first session but more wickets will be needed after lunch. Pujara is certainly the key man for India.

We'll take a quick break during lunch but coverage of the second session will begin in around 30 minutes. See you then!

Welcome back. We're a few minutes away from the second session of the day. England will be happy with the current situation but you sense they probably could have bowled even better. This pitch does look a cracker and batting should become easier as the day progresses.

Both teams are back out following the lunch break. Pujara has look assured at the crease so England may target the relatively new batsman, Kohli. Panesar looks set to continue his spell.

This pair will look to rotate the strike and they have three singles between them at the beginning of the over. Panesar responds well but it's a good start for India.

Predictably, it's Swann who bowls from the other end. Kohli and Pujara trade singles but Swann adjusts his length well but Pujara opens the face later in the over to earn two to third man.

Panesar has got a good rhythm going now and his lengths are putting the batsmen in two minds about whether to come forward or stay back. Another wicket and England really will be on top. Maiden over.

Good over from Swann and his accuracy force Pujara, who is now on 43, to block out another maiden.

Kohli has a single at the beginning of the over. Pujara reminds us all why he has been compared to Rahul Dravid with five more textbook defensive shots.

Bit of bounce from Swann but Kohli does well to push the ball to safety. Good variations shown by the off-spinner, forcing Kohli to go back to defend a flat delivery. Maiden over.

Panesar finds some big bounce outside off stump but Pujara does well to get on top of the ball to earn two towards third man. Couple more runs for Pujara with a flick through mid-wicket and he finishes the over by reaching fifty with a powerful shot to the long-on boundary from a full toss.

These two are looking very good after lunch and India are desperate for a big partnership. Shot of the day when Kohli latches onto a full delivery to drive four wide of extra cover.

Panesar bowls a nice over but it's his turn to be on the end of a gorgeous Kohli cover drive. Four more runs to the number five and there's five runs from the over.

Good decision from Cook as he gives Anderson a new spell. Four or five over spells is all that's needed from the pace bowlers on this pitch.

Runs for Pujara when he cuts the ball through two fielders on the off-side for a couple. No reverse swing as yet for Anderson.

Single for Kohli with a nudge just behind point and there's one for his partner too, with a clip to mid-wicket.

Wicket! Kohli (19) c Compton b Panesar

England needed to break this partnership and they have! Panesar strikes again with a wider delivery that Kohli drives straight at Compton, who takes a good catch at cover. Yuvraj Singh in next, England on top.

Yuvraj chips his first ball in the air but there's no fielder at cover this time. Panesar now has 3-48.

Anderson only has one over and Swann returns due to Yuvraj's arrival. Pujara has a slightly fortunate single with an inside edge behind square on the leg-side.

Wicket! Yuvraj (0) b Swann

That's why Swann returned so quickly. Yuvraj is deceived by the smallest bit of turn as he fails to keep the ball from crashing into his off-stump. Good captaincy from Cook, Dhoni in next.

Panesar begins a new over by beating Pujara's outside edge with a beauty and he continues to get bounce throughout the over. It's a maiden.

Swann has Dhoni reaching for the ball at the start of the over and that's a good sign for England. The Indian skipper is off the mark with a push to long-on, not quite sure why that fielder is so far back though.

Smile from Panesar as he finds Pujara's edge with some big bounce. No fielder can take that catch on the off-side. If this pitch is doing this much on day one, what it's going to be like on day five? Maiden over once again from Panesar.

Dhoni doesn't look quite sure how to play Swann. A quicker, flat delivery has the Indian skipper struggling before he finds a single with an inside edge through the leg-side. Pujara remain stubborn as ever in defence, just a single from the over.

Panesar continues his spell and Dhoni is off strike with a push to point. Pujara plays the same shot two balls later before the Indian captain earns our runs with a superb drive through cover.

Good cricket from Pujara, who finds a single with a small push to the off-side. More runs for Dhoni with a back-foot cut to the boundary rope. The Indian skipper may enjoy this counter attacking role. Six runs from the over and it's time for a drinks break.

Panesar produces an absolutely superb delivery to catch Pujara's edge but Anderson fails to take a very difficult catch at second slip. Three runs from the over.

Dhoni doesn't seem to want to come forward to Swann and when he does drop to his knee to play the sweep, he almost drags the ball onto his stumps. Four runs are the result and that's all that come from the over.

Panesar is justifying his selection with every over that passes. Pujara the only one who has play him well so far but even he has troubles in the over. Maiden from Panesar.

Dhoni gets off strike with a hurried single to short mid-wicket. Pujara nudges the ball inches wide of Cook at short-leg but he deserves his luck.

Panesar catches Dhoni's inside edge but his pad stops a catching opportunity for the close fielders. A rare short ball from Panesar is smashed away for four to the point boundary by Dhoni. Five runs from the over.

Pujara manages to get the ball to squirm away for a single to fine-leg. Swann causes Dhoni some trouble when the Indian skipper charges down the track but Prior has no chance of a stumping there. England's wicketkeeper then does well to take a bouncing delivery down leg-side. Just a single from the over.

Brief delay from us there so apologies for that. Anderson returned for a new spell and only conceded three runs. India have brought up the 150 and take two more from Swann's over

Anderson continues and despite his typical accuracy, he hasn't found any reverse swing, yet. Just a single from the over.

Pujara is in the seventies now and he's happy to deal in singles at this point, pushing the ball to mid-on at the start of Swann's over. Dhoni pushes the ball past Cook at short-leg before Pujara edges the ball agonisingly over England's captain.

Anderson has a hopeful appeal of caught behind rejected by Tony Hill and rightly so, no bat involved from Dhoni. Maiden over.

Cook won't be happy with Swann as he takes a Pujara pull shot straight on the back. poor delivery but he gets away with it. Two easy singles in the over but England still look comfortable.

Compton makes a mistake at point to allow Dhoni to pick up a single from Anderson's first ball of a new over. Pujara does superbly to get on top of a wider delivery to smash four wide of point. Another wicket before tea would be big for England but India look as though the may survive.

Panesar finishes the session with another good over. Two runs are scored and this partnership is now worth 48. England will be happy though with the two wickets in that session.

Tea: England continue to make progress in Mumbai and India will know that they can't really afford to lose another wicket today. Big session coming up for both sides.

The players are beginning to make their way out onto the field of play. 300 is looking like a decent score on this pitch. India will be confident when they begin bowling with three spinners.

Pujara begins the session on 77 while Dhoni currently has 27.

It will be Broad who bowls the first over of the final session.

Good start from Broad as he begins the session with a much fuller length. Maiden over.

Panesar begins the session with a short ball and Dhoni easily collects two runs to deep point.

Wicket! Dhoni (29) c Swann b Panesar

Panesar has his fourth wicket when he finds the shoulder of Dhoni's bat. Swann takes a good catch at gully and Dhoni begins to walk before waiting for the umpires to confirm the decision. They do give it out and it's Ashwin who comes in next.

Good from Cook, who brings more fielders around the bat and it's a great over from Panesar.

Pujara picks up a couple of runs through mid-wicket at the start of Broad's new over. Signs of reverse swing later but Broad is too straight and Pujara beautifully flicks the ball through the leg-side for four.

Ashwin gets off the mark nicely with a clip into the massive space on the leg-side for four runs. Good reply from Panesar and there's five from the over.

Broad's pace will once again be the subject of much discussion during this match. He just doesn't look too much of a threat at the moment. Ashwin times the ball very well to collect four runs with a push down the ground and there's another boundary through cover for Ashwin from a slow half-volley outside off-stump. Poor from Broad, 10 runs from the over.

Very good over from Panesar as he forces Pujara to defend from deep in his crease. It's a maiden, should be time for Swann.

Swann does begin a new spell and he's immediately tucked away for a single by Ashwin. Pujara advances down the track later in the over but only earns a single to mid-on before moving to 88 later on with a sweep over mid-wicket for four.

Ashwin is happy to give the strike to Pujara at the start of Panesar's over. Not much room offered to the in-form batsman though, just a single scored.

Swann nearly dismisses Ashwin when the Indian spinner loops the ball just short of Compton at short mid-on. Maiden over from Swann.

Pujara goes against the spin to whip two runs onto the leg side, bringing up the 200 and moving into the nineties in the process.

Swann delivers a poor ball but gets away with it when Pujara picks out the man at mid-wicket. Two singles end the over, decent period for India.

Panesar pleads for an lbw decision at the start of the new over. It looks close and Ashwin could and maybe should, have been given out there. Two singles are shared before Ashwin takes a couple of steps to whip the ball through mid-wicket. Beautiful shot.

Samit Patel is going to get a bowl for the first time of the day. It's a good start for the Notts spinner, who looks happy to give the ball some flight. Two runs from the over.

Swann swaps ends to replace Panesar but struggles to get is length right. Ashwin gets off strike with a flick to fine leg. England think they have Pujara caught off Cook's foot at short leg but replays confirm that the ball hit the ground before the skipper's boot. Unlucky for Swann but Pujara survives.

It's time for a drinks break.

Patel continues after the break and Ashwin is keen to get off strike immediately. When he does, Patel does well against Pujara and just one run follows. Pujara on 95 now.

Swann strays down leg-side but Pujara can only get a single to Broad at deep square leg. Ashwin uses his feet well to keep out Swan just outside off stump. Just a single from the over.

Not quite sure how Pujara only gets a single when Patel delivers a hip-high full toss. Patel does respond well though and only concedes one more run. The new ball will be available in 3 overs.

Pietersen does very well at mid-on to restrict Ashwin to a single but that does bring Pujara on strike and he moves to 98 with a nudge to mid-wicket. Broad does superbly at fine leg to stop Ashwin from picking up four runs with a flick off his pads. Swann is around the wicket to Ashwin but that doesn't stop him collecting another single.

Patel delivers a very good maiden to keep Pujara off strike, for now. One more over until the new ball.

Pujara finds a single to reach 99 but Swann does well to restrict Ashwin until the fifth ball and there's still no century for India's number three. Will cook take the new ball?

England have taken the new ball and it will be Anderson who gets the first go with it.

Century for Pujara: Ashwin brings Pujara on strike with a push to third man and India's in-form batsman goes to three figures in style with a pull to the square leg boundary. What an innings from Pujara! He's rarely been troubled on a day where wickets have regularly fell around him. England have still not got him out in this series. Eight runs scored in the over.

Panesar gets the new ball from the other but he starts a little short and the Indian pair help themselves to a single each. Good response though and there's just two runs from the over.

Great shot from Ashwin, who plays a late cut to collect four behind point.There's another boundary for Anderson when he strays way down leg to give Ashwin the room to nudge the ball to the fine leg boundary. The number eight then moves to 48 with a third boundary to deep square leg.

Improved over from Panesar and he has a hopeful lbw rightly turned down by Aleem Dar. It's a maiden.

Fifty for Ashwin when he top edges Broad over Prior's head for four runs. These runs could prove to be vital by the end of this match. Two more singles follow and it's six runs from Broad's return to the attack.

Pujara rocks back to send Panesar to the boundary rope at the start of a new over. Superb shot but he picks out the fielder with a repeat from the next ball. Six more from the over and England need to stem the flow of runs before the end of the day.

Wow, for a number eight, Ashwin can really bat. His balance is perfect as he creams a cover drive for four runs at the start of Broad's new over. Could be only a couple overs remaining in the day.

Swann replaces Panesar but these two have the close of play in their sights and Ashwin takes just one run from the over.

Panesar begins a new over and produces a beauty to beat Ashwin's outside edge. Plenty of effort from the returning spinner but he won't get his five-wicket haul today. Well played Monty.

Swann bowls the final over of the day and in typical fashion, it's Pujara who shows us his defensive shots to play out a maiden.

Close of play: What a superb day of Test cricket in Mumbai. England looked on top for most of proceedings but that partnership between Ashwin and the magnificent Pujara means India probably hold the edge heading into Saturday.

Once again, thanks for joining me today and be sure to return tomorrow as England look to wrap up India's innings.

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Alastair Cook
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