Cook helps England build lead

Alastair Cook could dream of a 33rd Test century in the final innings of his record-breaking career after steering England to stumps against India at The Oval last night.

Cook was still battling away unbeaten, on 46, as he so often has throughout his 161 Tests, in a total of 114 for two as England extended their overall lead to 154 after bowling India out for 292.

Home advantage on day three of this fifth Specsavers Test would have been still more substantial without the revival engineered by India’s charismatic all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (86no) and Hanuma Vihari (56).

The tourists resumed on 174 for six and appeared sure to trail significantly until the seventh-wicket pair took their stand to 77, and 132 were added in all for the last four to fall.

As Cook then set out to consolidate, he was cheered and clapped to the middle by his fourth standing ovation of the week here - before a handshake from India captain Virat Kohli as he prepared to take guard.

He soon lost his opening partner Keaton Jennings - in worrying circumstances as the man still expected to try to form the backbone of England innings into this winter and perhaps beyond shouldered arms to Mohammed Shami and lost his off-bail.

It was an unedifying end to former Durham man Jennings’ largely fallow Test summer with the bat, especially after he had earlier dropped the catch at short-leg which reprieved India number 11 Jasprit Bumrah and cost England 32 runs.

Cook spent 26 balls stuck on 13 either side of tea.

But he uncovered occasional fluency, in an unbroken 50 stand with his captain Joe Root after Jadeja had spun one through the gate to bowl Moeen Ali - and there were no major alarms to the close.