INDIA vs ENGLAND 3rd Test LIVE SCORE: Crawley departs after fifty, England in huge trouble — FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES The Day 1 historic pink-ball Test between India and England is underway at the revamped Motera Stadium (now Narendra Modi Stadium) in Ahmedabad. Joe Root-led England won the toss and opted to bat. The visitors had a terrible start to the game, losing Root (17) and Dom Sibley, Jonny Bairstow for ducks early in the innings. Zack Crawley too departed after scoring his half-century. Ishant Sharma who is playing his 100th Test, picked up the first wicket.
India has made two changes, Jasprit Bumrah comes in for Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar comes in for Kuldeep Yadav. On the other hand, Joe Root-led England have made four changes. Anderson, Archer, Bairstow, Crawley back in. Burns, Lawrence, Stone, Moeen Ali out.
Both Virat and Co and Joe Root-led sides are eyeing a victory in the crucial fixture. The result will decide the fate of these two teams in ICC World Test Championship Final qualification. The four-match Test series is currently level 1-1. While the hosts outclassed the opposition to win the second Test by 317 runs, England had registered victory in the opening Test in Chennai.
India, who are hosting their second pink-ball Test, would like to keep their 100% win record in the D/N Test at home. On the other hand, England is yet to register an away pink-ball Test victory. They have lost to Australia and New Zealand on previous occasions.
India vs England 3rd Test LIVE Score: https://www.insidesport.co/sport-matches?field=entity_cricket&id=46852&widget=match_center
INDIA vs ENGLAND 3rd Test LIVE SCORE and COMMENTARY
16:36 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Zak Crawley vs left-arm finger spin in Asia
Five inngs
73 balls 29 runs
Five dismissals
16:30 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Tea Break
16:26 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Axar to Zak Crawley, out Lbw!! Axar Patel, take a bow sir! He was toying with Crawley getting one to slide and the other to turn and bounce. Confused him so nicely for the last few deliveries. Crawley wasn’t sure when to come forward and when to stay back. Got beaten doing both multiple times. And now Axar bowls a slider that goes on with the angle from the round wicket, Crawley expected turn and played the forward defence. The ball sneaked past the inside edge and impact was in line with middle Zak Crawley lbw b Axar 53(84)
16:14 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Joe Rot is OUT! lbw b Ashwin 17(37)
Root pays the price for hanging back to a fairly full ball. As soon as the ball hit the pad, he was shaking his head in disappointment for misjudging the length on that delivery. Could have easily negotiated that off the front foot. But he plays oustide the line of the ball that gripped the surface and turned. Umpire Anil Kumar Chaudhary had to figure out if it was turning too much to miss leg stump. He didn’t think it would and raised the finger. Ball-tracker agrees with him, hitting the top of leg by a fair share it says and the England captain is off.
16:00 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Zak Crawley brings up his fourth half-century, applauded by England skipper in the middle.
15:45 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Zak Crawley, Joe Root take England past 50 runs.
15:32 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
While Sibley and Bairstow failed in their innings, Zak Crawley is ensuring he is protecting wicket from the other end.
15:22 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
First wicket for Indian spinner with the Pink Ball in Tests in India! It is the local boy Axar Patel
15:08 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Jonny Bairstow dismissed for duck to Axar Patel.
Axar to Bairstow, out Lbw!! Aired through the arm ball, Bairstow prodded forward and missed the line. He thought he was forward enough and didn’t hesitate to take review. The ball was arrowed in straight and three reds is what the ball tracker suggested. Bairstow is gone for a blob. Not a happy welcome back! The umpire was sure though and hence England have ended up losing a review.
14.58 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Stats: Even in his 100th Test Kapil Dev picked up the first wicket of the match. Dismissed opener Aamer Malik for a duck. Ishant Sharma too picked up first wicket of the match in his 100th Test. Dismissed opener Dom Sibley for a duck
14.50 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Zak Crawley scores the first boundary for England.
14.46 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Ishant Sharma strikes early in his 100th Test; Sibley departs for duck
14.33 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
England openers Zak Crawley and Dominic Sibley start England innings.
14.28 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Ishant Sharma has been presented with a special cap and a memento by the President of India. And now the formal introduction of players by the respective skippers and match referee.
14.09 PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
India Playing XI for 3rd Test: R Sharma, S Gill, C Pujara, V Kohli, A Rahane, R Pant, W Sundar, R Ashwin, A Patel, J Bumrah, I Sharma
3rd Test. India XI: R Sharma, S Gill, C Pujara, V Kohli, A Rahane, R Pant, W Sundar, R Ashwin, A Patel, J Bumrah, I Sharma https://t.co/9HjQB6CoHp #INDvENG @Paytm
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
England Playing XI for 3rd Test: D Sibley, Z Crawley, J Bairstow, J Root, B Stokes, O Pope, B Foakes, J Archer, J Leach, S Broad, J Anderson
3rd Test. England XI: D Sibley, Z Crawley, J Bairstow, J Root, B Stokes, O Pope, B Foakes, J Archer, J Leach, S Broad, J Anderson https://t.co/9HjQB6CoHp #INDvENG @Paytm
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
14.04PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
The final pep talk from Coach Ravi Shastri ahead of the historic Pink Ball Test. Check out
Ready for the hustle 👌#TeamIndia get into the huddle ahead of the third @Paytm #INDvENG Test! 👍 pic.twitter.com/NMwY2l1KSn
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
14.00PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
TOSS RESULT: Joe Root wins toss and opts to bat first. Virat Kohli and Co will take the field and seek to wrap up the England batting as fast as possible.
Toss Update!
England have won the toss & elected to bat against #TeamIndia in the third @Paytm #INDvENG Test.
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/mdTZmt9WOu pic.twitter.com/dfXBK8XPCn
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
13:56PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
PITCH REPORT: The pitch looks dry and there are some cracks. The soil has come from Mumbai and is red in colour. The pace will be a little quicker compared to Chennai. The second session will see twilight coming in and might be a tricky session. The spinners might not come into play as much in the final session where there might be some dew.
13:31PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Team India all set for their second day-night Test at home.
Ready for the hustle 👌#TeamIndia get into the huddle ahead of the third @Paytm #INDvENG Test! 👍 pic.twitter.com/NMwY2l1KSn
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
12:55PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Some inside glimpse into Motera Stadium. Team India warming up in the gymnasium.
Absolutly thrilld to b bck whr it all bgan.Wht a mastrpiece the lrgest 🏟 in the wrld hs trned out to b.Right frm plying cnditions to an high prformnce training setup.This plce is secnd to none@BCCI @GCAMotera @JayShah @mpparimal @imVkohli @hardikpandya7 @ImIshant @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/cfMx9W4OLd
— Akshar Patel (@akshar2026) February 19, 2021
12.43PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Ashwin and Axar Patel will once again be at the centre of attraction for India. The duo will play a crucial role, if India still wants to keep itself in the WTC race.
12.26PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Ishant Sharma all set to play his 100th Test.
Off to Motera. Congrats @ImIshant bhai for your 100th Test match. Phenomenal achievement and a well deserved one. #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Y6IjLEjJcz
— Akshar Patel (@akshar2026) February 24, 2021
12.12PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
The Motera stadium is all set to host tonight’s historic Pink-Ball Test. Check out the majestic Motera and its state of the art features.
Motera in all readiness 😍
Just a few hours left for the #PinkBallTest #INDvENG @Paytm
ARE YOU READY 😎👌🏻 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/EdyGsLlQws
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
12PM: IND VS ENG 3RD TEST LIVE UPDATES
Virat Kohli spotted throwing his arm in the nets. Will we see the skipper throw a couple of overs in the middle in the historic Pink-Ball test starting today?
Are #TeamIndia keeping their swing and seam options varied for the #DayNightTest? 😏#Pandya #KingKohli #PinkBall #INDvENG #IndiaTaiyarHai #AmdavadTaiyarChe pic.twitter.com/oN2NsJQPoj
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 24, 2021
11.50PM: Team India’s conundrum to pick Playing XI- Check why?
Virat Kohli and Indian team management will be in a conundrum picking the playing XI. With the 22-yards expected to dry out in the heat, India would be tempted to go for Kuldeep Yadav, who has a boasting record with the pink ball in first-class cricket.
But Umesh Yadav, who is returning to the squad, comes in with his unique skills on skiddy Indian pitches. Jasprit Bumrah was rested from the second Test but it will take a last-minute injury to keep him out of this one.
As for England, Joe Root during the pre-match conference kept his cards close to his chest but five changes can be expected. Dan Lawrence could be benched, with Jonny Bairstow likely to come in at number three. Zak Crawley’s return to fitness could put Rory Burns’ position at risk. There could be a raft of changes in the bowling attack too. James Anderson and Jofra Archer are set to return while Chris Woakes or Dom Bess could play as well, depending on whether England opt to play two spinners.