Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse struck for England on the first morning of the second Rothesay Test as India reached 98 for two at Edgbaston.
Buoyed by his side’s triumphant fourth-innings chase at Headingley, Ben Stokes won the toss and doubled down on his preference for bowling first.
Yashasvi Jaiswal cashed in with a day-one century in Leeds and stood in England’s way once more, making a lively 62 not out from 69 balls, but the hosts chipped away two of his partners.
Chris Woakes has looked threatening this morning and now has our first! 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 2, 2025
KL Rahul goes for 2️⃣
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Woakes bowled KL Rahul via an inside edge to cap an outstanding new-ball spell and Carse had Karun Nair caught at second slip just before the lunch break to prevent India running away with the session.
India had earlier confirmed their decision to rest star bowler Japsrit Bumrah, keeping him fresh for next week’s Lord’s Test.
After a slow start in the series opener, Woakes was back on song at his home ground as he did his best to get the new ball talking.
He produced an immaculate seven-over spell, including four maidens, and deserved more than the single wicket of Rahul.
The breakthrough came almost 40 minutes into Woakes’ examination, the opener chopping the ball back into his stumps as he looked to give himself room.
Regularly nipping the ball off the seam, Woakes came close to seeing off Jaiswal on 12 and Nair offering no shot on five. Twice England went up for big lbw shouts, twice they failed to win the decision and twice Stokes signalled for DRS.
To the bowler’s visible frustration, ball-tracking suggested he would have hit the bails on both occasions but fell within the margin of umpire’s call.
At the other end, Carse touched 92mph but was unable to match Woakes’ menace.
India took the change of bowling as an invitation to cut loose after a watchful start, with Josh Tongue on the receiving end.
His six-over burst shipped 42 runs and eight boundaries, Jaiswal and Nair both pouncing on drives as the Nottinghamshire man overpitched repeatedly.
Pace + Bounce 👌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 2, 2025
Brydon Carse removes Karun Nair on the stroke of lunch
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Having paid the price for going too full, Tongue reverted to the short ball, only for Jaiswal to hook and cut him for the three fours in a row as he rushed to his half-century.
Carse replaced him just before the interval and struck almost immediately, forcing Nair back with a touch of extra bounce as an edge sprayed to second slip.
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