The collapse

Batting in the middle never looked easier, even under overcast conditions, and the English bowling was looking increasingly ragged. But just as the spectators started getting impatient for the big shots, Gambhir holed out to Cook at point for 179 to give off-spinner Graeme Swann his first wicket in the match.

The off-spinner then had Dravid caught at mid-off by Monty Panesar, the batsman mistiming an attempted over-the-top hit. His return to form fetched him 136 in a dignified 471-minute stay at the pitch.

Sachin Tendulkar didn’t last long, neither did VVS Laxman — who fell for a 24-ball duck — as India lost four wickets for 19 runs in 12 overs. To make matters worse, both MS Dhoni and Yuvraj batted uncharacteristically slow as the hosts garnered just 50 runs in an entire session.

Flintoff should have had Yuvraj early on but Cook dropped a sitter at gully before Panesar redeemed himself after a poor bowling effort. Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra added crucial runs at the bottom, but it will be their performance with the ball that will count.