An evening’s rest didn’t change much. Most of India’s morning was of the hands-on-hips variety, an homage to a crestfallen Dwight Schrute listening to Everybody Hurts, 135 overs in the field to blame. Jasprit Bumrah found space to detonate the top of Liam Dawson’s off-stump but Brydon Carse – half-centurion at Lord’s, beefing up England’s tail at 10 – remained at ease.
This was a welcome situation to end the drought. Ben Stokes had a mixed Friday, sliding into Joe Root’s passenger seat, taking his customary blow to the box on 13, then retiring hurt with leg cramp on 66. He returned before the close, finishing unbeaten on 77 to guarantee Old Trafford’s attention when play resumed on Saturday. It had been nearly two years since his last century in any game.
