In all readiness for the action on Day 4 to commence at Edgbaston. Moody skies overhead welcome the umpires and players. Ben Stokes marshals his men out to the field. Out walk India's overnight batters, KL Rahul 28 (38) and Karun Nair 7 (18). Chris Woakes, with two slips in place, will get the proceedings underway. KL Rahul to face the first ball. Here we go...

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta is near the deck. Informs that it is a little overcast at the moment, and that’s expected to be the general weather pattern through the day, though there’s not much chance of rain. Mentions that there isn’t much difference between how the pitch looked on Day 3 and how it looks today. Adds that the cracks that had started to appear as early as Day 2 have not widened, and Deep doesn’t expect them to open up on Day 4 either. States that it is still a very good surface to bat on. He also mentions having a chat with the ground staff, who said that if the wind picks up and the sun comes out, it could start drawing moisture out of the surface, which might then cause some of the cracks to open up.

It’s a gloomy, overcast morning in Birmingham, but crucially, the skies are holding firm. No rain in sight, and the outfield remains dry. The floodlights are already on. The forecast suggests we could see the odd passing drizzle through the day, but nothing too disruptive. That said, the persistent cloud cover and elevated humidity might aid seam bowling, and it is going to be a very, very crucial first hour from both teams' perspective. How will the pitch behave on Day 4? Let's find out...

India’s second dig saw KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal bat with intent until Josh Tongue conjured up an absolute peach to dismiss Jaiswal in the day’s final act. Still, they’ve stretched their lead to 244 runs. As Day 4 looms, India will be haunted by the ghosts of Headingley, where even 371 wasn’t bulletproof. Their mission will be to bat England into complete submission, as this English batting unit will come motivated and with purpose. Whereas, with the track showing glimpses of some wear and tear, their bowlers will be circling to hunt in a pack. There still hasn’t been much for the spinners to feast on, though. It’s all about who passes the first hour of truth. Stay tuned as the first ball is around the corner.

Even after England’s sterling response with the bat, the visitors still held a commanding 180-run lead. That’s precisely the dividend you earn when you pile on a colossal first-innings total. But what made this Indian bowling display truly exceptional? Even with Jasprit Bumrah absent from the attack, the Indian pace battery rolled up their sleeves and showed tremendous heart and character to step up after a long toil. And in the centre of it were pacers Mohammed Siraj with a sensational six-for and Akash Deep, the man who triggered that collapse by removing Brook, with the second new ball.

The surfaces so far in this series have been flatter than a pancake, to put it mildly, yet we have still been treated to some quite spectacular batting collapses. In the first Test, India suffered damaging collapses in both their innings that ultimately cost them victory, while here the hosts endured their own dramatic nosedive, losing 4 wickets for a mere 20 runs after Harry Brook’s departure. It’s been the classic tale of ducks and daddy hundreds at the crease, with no fewer than six English batters departing without troubling the scorers.

The first two days saw India absolutely dominate proceedings with the bat, making it their own show entirely. However, the third day brought a quite extraordinary English revival despite them being dead and buried, shell-shocked at a catastrophic 84 for 5. But then Harry Brook and Jamie Smith orchestrated one of the greatest rescues with a record-breaking sixth-wicket partnership that completely swept the momentum away from the visitors. The duo batted with sublime confidence, each shattering record books, batting for nearly two and a half sessions, and amassing a sensational 303-run stand as the Bazball cult came alive.

Hello, everyone! The weekend is here, and there’s no better way to spend it than under English summer with a Test match fizzing along at pace and just the right pinch of tension. Picture a perfectly blended mocktail, bright, bubbly, and full of flavour. Day 4 often holds the keys to a Test match, and with six sessions still to come, we have plenty of time for twists, turns, and entertainment aplenty.

... DAY 4, FIRST SESSION ...

Well then, this brings another highly immersive day of Test cricket to a close. England may have dominated large parts of the day, but it’s India who’ll walk away the more satisfied side, holding a healthy lead and momentum heading into Day 4. With two days still left in this Test, there’s plenty of time for the tide to turn. But for England, Saturday brings a huge challenge with the ball as they look to claw their way back into the contest. They will need nothing short of early breakthroughs to keep India’s lead in check and stay in the game. For India, it's all about consolidation from here and piling on as many runs as they can. The action on Day 4 is scheduled to begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) on Saturday, July 5th. But for now, you can follow other cricketing action as England Women and India Women clash in the 3rd T20I in London. Also, far away in St. George's, Grenada, West Indies and Australia battle it out on the second day of the second Test. You can simply switch tabs and follow all the live action from those matches. Cheers!

Mohammed Siraj is in for a quick chat with Deep Dasgupta. He says it is an unbelievable feeling to take six wickets in England and shares that it is a special moment. Mentions that he had come close to a five-wicket haul on earlier occasions in England, so to finally achieve it, especially in these conditions, feels incredibly rewarding. With bowling partners who are still new to Test cricket, Siraj shares that it was important for him to keep things tight from his end and not leak runs. Stresses the need to be consistent and bowl in partnerships to build pressure. States that he loves taking responsibility and embracing challenges, something he has done throughout his life. Shares that the pitch is getting slower with each passing day, and once batters get set, it becomes difficult to stop them. Adds that in such conditions, patience is the key.

With about an hour left in the day, India walked out under moody skies and a fresh new ball. But KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked up for the challenge, playing each ball on merit and countering with some crisp, confident strokes. Jaiswal quietly crossed 2000 Test runs, while Rahul unfurled a few trademark drives that oozed class. The pitch showed a few tired signs, with the odd ball keeping low, and out of nowhere, the bowling change worked wonders as Josh Tongue removed Jaiswal in the final few minutes. KL Rahul and Karun Nair then together safely coasted India with a lead of 244 runs.

Siraj was the star, finishing with a fiery 6 for 70, his personal best bowling figures in England. The scorecard, though, looked oddly lopsided. Apart from Brook and Smith, who went past 150s respectively, no other batter crossed 30, and six English players fell for ducks. What had been a day of dominance ended with India clawing back hard, with still a lead of 180 runs at the helm. 

Cut to the final session, and England were still riding high. Brook reached a well-earned 150, and his stand with Jamie Smith crossed the 300-run mark, England’s second-best for the sixth wicket in Tests. Smith, calm and clinical, went on to remain unbeaten on 184, breaking Alec Stewart’s long-standing record for the highest score by an English wicketkeeper. But just as England looked set to bat deep into the evening, the second new ball flipped the script. India’s pacers made it sing to their tunes. Akash Deep struck with the big wicket of Brook, who was visibly struggling with cramps, and from there, the collapse was swift. England went from 387 for 5 to 407 all out, adding just 20 runs.

The second session was all about control and quiet accumulation. Brook and Smith, having blazed away before lunch, shifted to a more measured approach. With India tightening their lines and setting in-out fields, the pair calmly worked the singles and avoided any loose strokes. The only real chance came when Smith edged one on 121, but Pant couldn’t cling on. India did well to pull things back, conceding 106 runs in 28 overs. The scoring rate dipped noticeably from the morning’s 6.37 to 3.79, a sign of the bowlers regaining some control. England stayed on top as India couldn't pick a single wicket in the afternoon session. 

Brook and Smith kept the scoreboard ticking with smart rotation and clean hitting, forcing India into a defensive mindset. Slips were removed, Gill was chasing the ball, and the spinners lost their rhythm. It was BazBall in full flow, with England scoring at over six an over and putting the pressure right back on India. Smith smashed his century on the cusp of Lunch, whereas Brook too went past that figure in the second session. 

India started Day 3 with fire in their veins, riding the momentum from Day 2. Siraj struck early with a double blow, removing Root and Stokes in back-to-back deliveries to jolt England to 84/5. But just when it looked like the visitors might fold, Brook and Smith launched a spirited counterattack. They batted with intent and took on the bowlers bravely. As the sun baked the pitch and the ball softened, batting became easier and India’s early intensity began to fade.

SESSION SUMMARY - 27.3 Overs, 116 Runs and 6 Wickets. What a remarkable day of Test cricket it’s been. Day 2 was packed with records falling left and right, and this ‘Moving Day’ has shifted the game into high gear, pushing the match forward at a rapid pace. It's been a run fest with 394 runs being scored across 82.3 overs bowled in the day. England owned the morning and afternoon sessions, with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith putting on a batting masterclass, barely offering a chance. But the evening session swung India’s way, as they turned the tide with the ball, picking up 5 wickets and painting the final stretch of the day blue.