Gus Atkinson, back after injury, shares the new ball. His pace is good, around 88mph, and he doesn’t take long to find a challenging line. Jaiswal leaves the last ball on length, prompting a couple of oohs and aaahs from the England fielders.
It is not quite like the old days when a good Oval Test would earn a player a winter tour but for Overton, Tongue and Woakes there is a lot to play for this week. Woakes has been well below par and I don’t think he should go to Australia, Tongue huffed and puffed and blew the tail away but offered little else and in Overton’s only other Test he made more of an impression with the bat. Also Jacob Bethell could cause England another headache this week if he does well but it is great to see him. He should have played all summer.
Chris Woakes, who must feel he deserves conditions like this after flogging dead pitches all summer, takes the new ball. Three slips and a gully are waiting for an outside edge. It almost comes when Jaiswal plays and misses at the last ball of a solid first over. There will be plenty of playing and missing today.
Ollie Pope has inherited the luck of great generals. This was far and away the most significant toss of this series. Almost win toss, bowl first, win match.
