India vs England Second Test Day 3: 5 talking points

England brought out the fight in them with a resilient show early in the day, before crumbling to Ashwin to end their first innings of the second test of the series at 255. Anderson and Broad then reduced India to 40/3 before Kohli took over to help India retain their hold on the Vizag Test.

India ended the day at 98/3, having a healthy lead of 298, which may well be out of reach of England already on a crumbling wicket.

Earlier, Ben Stokes and Johnny Bairstow showed the England top order how to bat on this wicket as they negotiated spin and pace with ease to put England back in the game, at least during their 110 run association.

Let us take a glance through the five talking points of the game on Day 3 of the Second Test.

---

#5 The Stokes-Bairstow partnership

If India thought they had England on the mat on Day 2, Stokes and Bairstow put all those thoughts to rest with a resilient partnership in the first session of Day 3. The 110 run partnership made India panic slightly as their spinners failed to get through the defences of Stokes and Bairstow.

It wasn't until Umesh Yadav delivered a peach of a delivery to dismiss Bairstow that the pair were separated. England have had a great year forming sixth wicket partnerships having notched up 1759 runs at 79.95 for the sixth wicket in 2016.

Stokes and Bairstow have also had a golden period when batting with each other compiling 772 runs in 2016 alone, the highest by any pair in the year.

#4 Ashwin equals Walsh and Waqar

He took his wicket tally to 52 in the year, closing in on Herath, who is currently the highest wicket taker of the year at 54 scalps

Ashwin, after a dull 1st Test, was back to his best, bamboozling the England batsmen with turn, dip and flight. After capturing two wickets yesterday, Ashwin captured the sensational Stokes in front of the wicket before dismissing Broad and Anderson in consecutive balls to record his 22nd five-wicket haul.

The feat made him on par with two legends of the game, Courtney Walsh and Waqar Younis. Ashwin continues a stellar year, which has seen him record six five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls.

He took his wicket tally to 52 in the year, closing in on Herath, who is currently the highest wicket taker of the year at 54 scalps. His form does not auger well for England, who are in a hole in this Test and need to bat last on a cracking pitch against Ashwin and co.

#3 Anderson and Broad put India in trouble

The veteran seamers were right on the money and ensured India did not run away with the game, reducing them to 40/3

After bowling out England for 255, India started the innings with a 200 run lead, but soon found themselves in a spot of bother as Broad dismissed both Vijay and Rahul with two screamers. He managed to find the edge of both batsmen, and despite the onfield call being not-out, England reviewed successfully to overturn the call.

If Broad's opening burst put India in early trouble, his opening partner, Anderson, taking a cue from Broad, worked over Pujara. After bowling a series of outswingers to India's no.3, Anderson brought one back into him to find the gap between bat and pad and knock over the middle stump.

The veteran seamers were right on the money and ensured India did not run away with the game, reducing them to 40/3.

#2 Kohli's sensational run continues

Kohli's sensational half-century has tightened the noose on England

Virat Kohli continued to torment England, overcoming his blues against the same opposition two years back. Following up a 167 in the first innings, Kohli came out to bat with his side at 17/2, with his openers back in the hut.

Kohli continued his terrific form, counter-attacking the seamers and spinners on his way to an unbeaten 56 from 70 balls. He lost an able ally in Pujara soon after he reached the middle but rallied up Rahane for company, who is in the midst of a poor run of form.

With India leading by 298 already, Kohli's sensational half-century has tightened the noose on England. Kohli has 872 Test runs this year at an average of 72.66 and looks set to add significantly to that come Day 4.

#1 How much is enough?

Kohli will want to pile up some more runs tomorrow in the first session before deciding to declare

With India leading by 298 runs on a crumbling pitch, England have a huge task on hand when they get to bat. But how much do India think is enough? Their spinners extracted enough purchase out of the wicket in the first innings and the seamers too revelled on reverse swing.

Given that the pitch is likely to crack more, Ashwin, Jadeja and Yadav will be licking their lips to have a go at England again. With two days left in the Test, Kohli will want to pile up some more runs tomorrow in the first session before deciding to declare.

They cannot underestimate England though, given the way Stokes and Bairstow played in the first session of Day 3. They have some very capable batsmen in their ranks and the rule in cricket is 'Never say Never', so Kohli might want to give his bowlers some time to bowl out England.