Stokes ton leaves India a big task

Questions will be asked of India's bowlers and Kohli's captaincy - Mishra, underbowled on the first day, was persisted for eight overs ahead of Jadeja - but this was also the time to enjoy the uncomplicated aggression of Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. The England wicketkeeper, the highest run-getter this year, landed demoralising blows on the psyche of Mishra: first, he lofted him over mid-off, and then, the moment Mishra bowled the wrong'un, he sent a message by not just picking it but also biffing it over long-on for another six. That took him to 24 off 32, and his side to 393 for 5 at more than 3.5 an over.

Stokes had by now begun to toy around with spin: slogging Ashwin, punching him the moment he would land short, welcoming Jadeja with a loft over mid-off first ball. Shami returned to get Bairstow for 46 minutes before lunch, and Jadeja got the wickets of Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid. Stokes continued to enjoy good fortune: mis-hits kept falling between fielders; when he offered a catch that long-on could have taken, Kohli ruined it by charging back from close-in and putting the fielder off; when Stokes was finally caught, the fielder stepped on the boundary rope.