Joe near ton as hosts dig in for early runs

JOE Root was left unbeaten on 99 as England showed their backbone on a hard fought first day of the third Rothesay Test against India.

- By RORY DOLLARD

Root has scored seven centuries at the home of cricket, more than any other batter to have played the game, and was one short of racking up an eighth as England knuckled down to 251 for four - a rare example of Baz-ball with brakes.

He would surely have got there before the close had it not been for a bizarre break in play late on, a swarm of bugs interrupting proceedings and costing Root an extra over.

While England's ability to produce thrill-a-minute batting displays is not in doubt, their readiness for the less glamourous side of the game has come into question.

They were unable to produce the resilience required to salvage a draw at Edgbaston last week but did churn through some hard yards to build their position on an attritional day.

Root personified the shift in approach, scoring his runs from 191 deliveries as England settled for an unusually stately rate of 3.02 an over.

The worst news for the hosts was another injury scare for captain Ben Stokes, who finished unbeaten on 39 but hobbled through the closing stages with a groin complaint.