Cook bats on as England build healthy lead on day three

The hosts will clock in for work on Monday morning with a swelling lead and in the knowledge that India have burned their two reviews

Kia Oval (third day of five): England 332 & 114-2; India 292

Alastair Cook is still here. Still going. Still batting. As he will be tomorrow.

The retiring opener will return on the morning of day four 46 not out, having marshalled his side to an overnight lead of 154.

Cook’s final walk to the middle was greeted with an extended chorus of appreciation from The Oval crowd. They were rewarded with the former captain getting off the mark with a trademark clip off his hip for four.

The cuts and nurdles are ever-present, but in his final Test innings the odd peculiarity seeped through. On 30, Cook looked to attack the tricky Ravindra Jadeja with the ball ricocheting off the inside-edge. Perhaps the stroke of a man with the weight lifted. Why not?

Ultimately Cook’s upward turn in form is neither here nor there as far as the future of English Test cricket is concerned. His opening partner’s, however, is creating a major headache.

^{Jadeja brings up his ninth Test fifty}

It appears as though, unless England are going to scrub the decks and start from scratch, that Keaton Jennings has been pencilled in for Sri Lanka, but dismissals like today’s set alarm bells blaring.

India’s bowlers have undeniably been very impressive this summer. Opening is a tough gig, granted. But that’s the job.

Mohammed Shami bowled with supreme skill on day one without any reward and on Sunday afternoon he finally got the scalp his efforts deserved. For all the jaffas he has sent down in south London, and there have been many, the ball that did the trick should not have been a wicket-taking delivery.

The Dukes seamed towards off stump and Jennings simply opted for the leave with his stumps exposed. It was a poor misjudgement and questions will surely be asked.

After England shifted themselves into pole position on the evening of day two, India, through Jadeja, produced a rear-guard fightback of their own to whittle England’s lead down to 40.

^{Root added 52 with Cook}

Making his first appearance of the series, Jadeja drove India’s resistance and brought up his ninth Test fifty, bringing out the sword-swinging celebration to mark it.

Hanuma Vihari, on debut, made England pay for throwing away the chance to review an lbw which would have sent the batsman packing for a duck. He and Jadeja added 77 before the debutant was eventually dismissed, caught behind off Moeen Ali.

Ishant Sharma, Shami (to a lesser extent, falling to a big heave), and Jasprit Bumrah stuck around to keep the spinner company for a combined 44 deliveries before Bumrah was run out with Jadeja unbeaten on 86.

In England's reply, Moeen was dropped by the usually safe hands of KL Rahul on 14 but the No.3 would only add six to his total before Jadeja’s fine day continued, bowling the allrounder through the gate.

Alongside Cook, Joe Root got England through with no further damage. Back-to-back cuts for four off different length deliveries from Jadeja may point to a return in form for England’s captain. A mis-timed cut off the same bowler in the day’s penultimate over could say otherwise.

The hosts will clock in for work on Monday morning with a healthy lead and in the knowledge that India have burned their two reviews.