Images from Day 3 of the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Friday.
Joe Root produced a batting masterclass on way to a milestone 38th hundred as England exploited a jaded Indian bowling attack to stamp their dominance on the fourth Test in Manchester on Friday.
At stumps on Day 3, England were in complete control on 544/7 in 135 overs -- stretching their first innings lead to 186 runs.
Root made a sublime 150 off 248 balls while the other contributions came from Ben Stokes (77 not out) and Ollie Pope (71), a day after the openers put a pedestrian looking Indian attack to sword.
It has been a long tour with another Test to go in a week's time but considering the body language of Indian pacers in the field on Friday, lasting the whole series would be a challenge.
The visitors have already been hit by a series of injuries with the latest one being vice-captain Rishabh Pant's toe fracture during Day 2 of the Manchester Test.
Both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj seemed to be bowling with a niggle, while debutant Anshul Kamboj hit underwhelming speeds in the range 125-130 kmph. Even Bumrah, who usually bowls in the range of 140 kmph, clocked speeds in the lower 130s.
Having bowled just one over in the afternoon session, Bumrah was seen holding his ankle and even had to leave the field briefly. In his 24th over, he managed to pick the wicket of Jamie Smith (9) as he finished the day with figures of 1/95 in 28 overs.
Siraj too seemed to be in discomfort like Bumrah, but he bowled with more intensity in the final session and was rewarded the wicket of Chris Woakes. He was unable to keep the runs down as he took 1/113 in 26 overs.
The sun was out for the majority of the day, making conditions better for batting. Root made full use of that and in the process surpassed the great Ricky Ponting to become the second highest run-getter in Tests, only behind Sachin Tendulkar, who tallied 15921 runs.
The lone positive for India was the performance of Washington Sundar who struck twice in the afternoon session after being questionably brought in as late as the 69th over.
Shardul Thakur was used for 11 overs, raising questions on the presence of three all-rounders in the team.
It would take a special effort from the Indians to bounce back and keep the series alive.
In the afternoon session, Root reached his 12th hundred against India as England extended their dominance over India, reaching 433 for four at tea.
Washington got the ball to drift and got rid of Pope (71 off 128) and Harry Brook (3 off 12) after lunch, providing a much needed relief for India following a wicketless morning session.
Root, however, continued to pile on the runs and reached thee figures with a four down the leg side off Kamboj.
India employed spinners Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja from both ends despite taking the new ball. The move worked as Sundar had Pope caught at first slip before having Brook stumped as he could not connect on the charge.
Root chose to play on the backfoot when the spinners were in operation and used the reverse sweep effectively.
Towards the end of the session, Root took a single off Kamboj to get past the great Ponting and rise to second in the all-time leading run getters list in Test cricket.
In the morning session, the Indian bowlers did not pose enough threat for the seasoned Root and Ollie Pope who steered England to 332/2 at lunch.
After a forgettable evening session on day two, the Indian bowling attack once again failed to make inroads into the England batting.
Besides an odd ball keeping low from the James Anderson end and another jumping from the opposite side, Jasprit Bumrah and Co did not trouble Root and Pope.
Guilty of offering too many freebies on the leg side on the second day on Thursday, the Indian pacers continued to offer loose balls to release pressure on the opposition.
What was worrying for India was the sight of Bumrah bowling just one over with the new ball before leaving the field. When he finally returned to bowl, the umpires reminded him that he was only allowed to bowl post tea.
Bumrah bowled a full ball into Root's pads to start his day and the England veteran duly flicked it for a four. Later in his spell, Pope and Root were quick to pull the Indian spearhead for a boundary each when he tried the short balls.
Resuming the day on 225/2, England's batting duo were in complete control as the hosts eased to 266/2 in the first hour of play.
Anshul Kamboj, who had an underwhelming start to his Test career on day two, created a chance in his opening spell but stumper Dhruv Jurel could not hold on to a tough chance. Pope was on 48 at the time.
Root took a single off Mohammed Siraj in the 58th over to take his Test tally to 13290 runs and become the third highest leading run scorer in Tests.
Off-spinner Sundar was introduced as late as the 69th over and Root put him under pressure straightaway by reverse sweeping him for a boundary.
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