India vs England 3rd Test Day 1: Ballance hits century, England 247-2 at close

Under-fire captain Alastair Cook at last found his form but fell for 95 as he and century-maker Gary Ballance put England in control at the end of the first day of the third Test against India on Sunday. Ballance was unbeaten on 104, which included 15 fours, and beleaguered captain Cook silenced his critics for now with a battling innings as England reached an imposing 247-2 at the close. Ian Bell (16) and Ballance safely negotiated the new ball to ensure both will resume on Monday. Cook, in dreadful recent form which has led to calls from former England captains Michael Vaughan, Geoffrey Boycott, Mike Atherton and Kevin Pietersen for him to resign the captaincy, had a huge slice of luck on 15 when he was dropped by Ravindra Jadeja at slip. He survived to add 158 with Ballance, who joined an elite group of players with his third century in five tests for England. Cook batted with few alarms and was looking good for his 26th test century, when he feathered a faint edge down the leg side off Jadeja and was caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps. He did however reach a personal landmark as he overtook David Gower and moved into third place in the list of England's all-time leading Test run scorers, on 8,257. Graham Gooch leads the list with 8,900 from Alec Stewart on 8,463. Cook made the brave call to bat after winning the toss and despite a hint of movement for the seamers, they lost only Sam Robson for 26 to Mohammed Shami before lunch. The afternoon session belonged to England, although India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar and debutant Pankaj Singh began to find their length with much greater consistency. Ballance survived a close caught behind call and several deliveries whistled just past the outside edge, before he and Cook reached tea with an unbroken partnership of 131. Ballance had upped the scoring rate and he reached his century with a perfectly-timed boundary. He was well backed by Bell, who himself was fortunate to still be there at the close following a close leg before shout off Singh. India, who lead the five-match series 1-0, made two changes from their victory at Lord's as Singh replaced the injured Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma came in for Stuart Binny. England themselves opted for three changes as Jos Buttler took the place of Matt Prior, Chris Jordan replaced Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes was preferred to Liam Plunkett. CLOSE England are 247-2 in 90 overs at close with Ballance unbeaten on 104 while Cook fell five runs short of a century. Ballance steers Shami to third man for a boundary to reach his third Test century. Eng 238-2 in 84 overs. Bell flicks Pankaj to fine leg for his first boundary. Eng 232-2. Bell survives a couple of confident leg before shouts off Pankaj. Eng 223-2. India have taken the second new ball immediately as it was due with England 220-2. Cook falls short of a century as he nicks one the leg side off Jadeja. Eng 213-2 in 76 overs. Alastair Cook c Dhoni b Jadeja 95 (231b 9x4 0x6) India have packed the leg side but Ballance manages to find the gap by threading it for a boundary. Ballance square drives Pankaj over the point fielder for a boundary. Cook pulls a short ball from Shami for a boundary to move into the 90s. Ballance hits the first boundary after tea glancing Shami to fine leg. Eng 193-1. Under-fire captain Alastair Cook battled to an unbeaten 82 as England reached 186 for one at tea on the first day of the third Test against India on Sunday. Cook, dropped on 15 after winning the toss, shared a steady unbroken second-wicket partnership of 131 with Gary Ballance who was 72 not out at the interval. The only wicket fell before lunch when Mohammed Shami tempted Sam Robson into an awkward prod outside off stump which was taken at third slip by Ravindra Jadeja, who had earlier dropped an equally simple chance offered by Cook. Robson's departure for 26 ended an opening stand of 55 and England took lunch on 78 for one. The Indian fast bowlers looked more dangerous at the beginning of the afternoon session as debutant Pakaj Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar found their length with greater consistency. Ballance survived a few scares, including a close caught behind call, and several deliveries whistled past the outside edge, but gradually he settled in to provide Cook with sensible support. Cook, who hit eight fours, started to show the class and temperament that have been missing from his recent performances as he edged towards a first Test century in 28 innings. TEA England are 186-1 in 63 overs at tea with Cook unbeaten on 82 and Ballance on 72. Dhawan bowls the last over before tea but India go wicketless in the afternoon session. Eng 186-1 in 63 overs. Cook clips Jadeja to the fine leg fence. Eng 183-1. Ballance flicks Pankaj down the leg side for another boundary. Eng 178-1. Ballance gets a couple of boundaries off Pankaj through the covers and to third man. Eng 171-1. Ballance rocks back and cracks a short ball from Rohit over the cordon to the third man fence. Eng 1