Join us for updates, analysis and color from day one of the fourth Test
Welcome to the first day of our live report of the fourth India-England Test from Ahmedabad. Join us for updates, analysis and color. You can find the traditional ball-by-ball statement here
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9.55m: WTC
The state of play: India only have to avoid the issue to reach their place in the final of the World Test Championship. At the same time, England can only play the part of the parties, but Australia – the team that would benefit from India – will do more for them. Beyond the WTC context further, England are aiming to become the fourth team since 1984 to win two trials in a row in India.
9.35am: England win toss and bat
G’day and welcome to our ongoing report of the fourth Test. It’s a time of tension in the race for the Test World Cup qualification, and the final stop on England’s six-game sub-divisional odyssey … and Joe Root has won the third throw of the series. What that means for the next thing five four a few days? The tourists have made a couple of changes, changing the balance of their side by introducing batsman Dan Lawrence and spinner Dom Bess, with sailors Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad letting go. -mach. India, having already released Jasprit Bumrah, has replaced Mohammed Siraj. In fact, if this was a report from the red carpet at an awards ceremony, everyone would die for a word with the park. “Are you listening to the critics? How are you holding together? Can you achieve last week’s performance?” It won’t be long now until we find out how many booby traps submitted for the second installment from Ahmedabad.
Alan Gardner is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick