BEN'S GILL TO CLIMB

Shub no pushover for fellow skipper Stokes

- by MIKE WALTERS

AFTER the heatwave, Shubman Gill was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

And as England struggled to shift the Indian captain from their Edgbaston fortress, Ben Stokes’ addiction to the thrill of the chase will be tested again.

Under blue skies, Gill’s chanceless, unbeaten 114 was the bedrock of India’s 310-5 on the opening day at the second Test.

England have never lost a Test against India in Birmingham, but after Stokes followed the template of last month's run feast at Headingley, they are playing catch-up again on a flat pitch.

On Big Ben’s watch, they have won 12 out of 14 home Tests after batting second.

And Gill bore a despairing look when Stokes won the toss and potentially set up another fourth-innings pursuit.