England somehow took six India wickets on a bizarre opening day of the decisive Test that was marred by a shoulder injury to Chris Woakes.
Woakes was hurt chasing the ball to the boundary late in the day at The Oval and went from the field with his left arm in a makeshift sling, a further injury to a depleted England pace-bowling attack.
It is an injury that could have serious ramifications to the outcome of the series. England, needing to avoid defeat to secure a 2-1 win, could be left with three seamers and the spin of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root.
In the 64 overs that were possible either side of two chunky rain delays, England reduced the tourists to 204-6.
The scoreline does not tell the full story of England’s bowling, which veered from sublime to ridiculous after they won the toss for the fifth time in the series.
The home side’s effort was typified by Josh Tongue, who at times struggled to keep the ball on the cut strip and also bowled two near-unplayable deliveries to have both Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja caught behind.
The curious cricket did not end there. India captain Shubman Gill, in such prolific form this series, ran himself out trying to take a ludicrous single. Bowler Gus Atkinson picked up the ball in his follow-through and his direct hit left the turning Gill short of his ground.
That was part of a good day for Atkinson, comfortably England’s best bowler in his first senior game in more than two months after a hamstring injury.
From 153-6, India hung in through the determination of Karun Nair, who ended the day 52 not out.
It left honours just about even, though England will surely now have to find a way to get through without Woakes.
