Foot predicament for Pant trips up India's serene start

After the row about time-wasting at Lord's came an unscheduled 10-minute delay on the opening day in Manchester but this time no one was grumbling.

- Ali Martin

It ended with Rishabh Pant being driven off on a golf buggy nursing a suspected broken foot, the agony on his face as clear as the egg that had swollen up within seconds.

This was a very Pant way to get injured, India's maverick wicket-keeper attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes only to bottom-edge the ball straight onto his boot. England burned a review for the lbw, but it still proved as good as a wicket, Pant retiring on 37 and his further role in this pivotal fourth Test left very much in doubt.

It changed the complexion of a hard-fought opening day or at least eased it from an English perspective. Ben Stokes won his fourth toss in succession, watched India chisel their way to 212 for three, only for the tourists to close on 264 for four (potentially five) from 82 overs when bad light ended proceedings 10 minutes early.

As has become an encouraging feature of this summer, his fitness seemingly fully restored, Stokes was very much in the thick of it with the ball. Having wiped out Shubman Gill for 12 during the afternoon session, England's captain then followed it up with the removal of Sai Sudharsan for a well-crafted 61. Coming moments after Pant's eye-watering exit, it was a precious strike.