IND vs ENG 5th Test Highlights: Siraj removes Crawley in final ball of Day 3, England reach 50/1; Target - 374

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: First signs of play on Day 3, with fresh visuals emerging from the Oval capturing the Indian team undergoing their usual drills. At one corner, Jaiswal is taking throwdowns, whereas Akash Deep does a bit of shadow practicing too. Don't forget. Akash Deep is more than a handy batter. He has one half-century in First-Class cricket, and just last year, helped India save the follow-on against Australia at the Gabba. A few England journalists have tweeted in jest, saying that they expect Akash Deep's maiden Test century, given the wonderful batting conditions, and while that may be pushing the envelope a bit too far, Akash Deep can surely hold one end up.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: What a fine sight this is. After two days of rain interruptions and overcast conditions, the sun is out in all its glory today in London. If Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair and the rest can’t make it count today, when will they? India has got to remember that today could well define whether they go back empty-handed or after being declared the joint-winners of the first-ever Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. If they can bat anything like they did on the 4th and 5th days of the Manchester Test, it's surely 2-2. And there's no iota of doubt about it.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: Akash Deep’s send-off to Ben Duckett has not gone down well with quite a few former cricketers. Ajay Jadeja was shocked to see this side of the Indian pacer, while Ricky Ponting's reaction was well… synonymous with Punter in his prime. When asked whether he would have given Akash Deep a quick right-arm jab had the Indian quick done that to him, Ponting did not hold back, saying he probably would have. After dismissing the England opener, Akash stopped him, put his arms around Duckett's shoulders and mouthed a few words, actions that left Atherton and Karthik unimpressed as well.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: There are certain versions of players that need no introduction. Virat Kohli, while chasing, VVS Laxman, while batting in the fourth innings, sixes guaranteed with Chris Gayle in his pomp, and the incredible performances of Mohammed Siraj in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Every time India is without Bumrah, Siraj steps up, and like he did in Edgbaston, with a six-wicket haul, the India pacer produced, quite arguably, the spell of his Test career yesterday. He finished with 4 wickets, but his spell after lunch was a story in itself. Want to know more about it? Read on.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: India pacer Prasidh Krishna and England batter Joe Root had an argument, and judging by their looks and expressions, those weren’t pleasantries by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, Root gave Prasidh a piece of his mind, telling him not to act over-smart. This unexpected outburst took Prasidh by surprise, who, by the way, was the first to sledge the England great. Things are surely boiling out there, and it would be safe to say that we haven’t seen the last of it.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: Several times throughout this series, India have found themselves going into a fresh morning in a solid position with the bat, only to lose wickets early in the day and give England a way back in. With the heart of their batting coming up now, this is a risk they cannot take. Yashasvi Jaiswal, in particular, will need to settle in quickly, while whatever bonus runs Akash Deep can provide will be a plus.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: Gautam Gambhir and Gill made the bold decision ahead of this fifth match to drop a fourth seamer in Shardul Thakur, instead option for the batting upgrade of Karun Nair. Karun delivered on the bonus chance with a half-century, but with this being a bold choice in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, a similar performance will be needed from the man who has finally gotten a fresh chance in the Test team. Can he back up the faith shown in him?

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: Shubman Gill’s date with destiny comes down to his last innings of the series. For decades, the most runs in a single series by an Indian batter has been Sunil Gavaskar’s 774 vs the West Indies. 54 years later, Gill sits on 743. In his first series as captain, he has the chance to do something truly spectacular. Of course, it is only a subplot, but one to keep an eye on.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: After Ben Stokes sat out of the final Test match after sustaining a shoulder injury in Manchester, more bad fortune for England struck as Chris Woakes had to be removed from the field due to a freak fielding injury. Suddenly, England are down to a pace attack of Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton. They were successful in the first portion of the match with helpful conditions, but if the pitch flattens out, do they have the extra oomph and ability to create from nothing which will be essential?

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: The first two days at the Oval saw plenty of spice in the pitch for the bowlers, as a green top and grey skies offered plenty of seam and swing. But on a Day 3 pitch that will hopefully start flattening out, there is also expected to be a touch of sun. India have a boost with the weather clearing up, but it is in their hands whether they wish to capitalise.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: As the series has progressed gradually, both teams have found themselves on edge as the competitiveness translated to verbal barbs thrown back and forth. After a pair of episodes during England’s innings, there was one last little ick left behind by Ben Duckett, as he found himself taking part in some sort of discourse with Sai Sudharsan upon his wicket. There is certainly a tension in the air, but who performs better with all that flying around will be key to success.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: With England’s opening partnership having scored 92 runs in under 13 overs, it looked as if the match might quickly spiral out of India’s control. But from that point on, India took regular wickets, before a burst of three wickets right before tea — including the crucial scalps of Joe Root and Jamie Smith — ensured England wouldn’t go too far. What’s more, India also quickly wrapped up the tail, which has often been such a bugbear for Indian fans.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: Yashasvi Jaiswal brought up his half-century right before stumps were called due to poor light, and went at more than a run-a-ball in an innings which included seven boundaries and a pair of sixes. Jaiswal wasn’t risk-free by any means, and was also dropped early in his innings — but he has a good habit of converting these starts to big scores. He will need to be careful early on Day 3, whereas England will be aware of the threat he possesses.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: In a short period towards the end of play on Day 2, India managed to reach 75 in pretty quick time, but lost KL Rahul, who finally looked shaky after being rock-solid all series, and Sai Sudharsan, who remains a work in progress at the Test level. They still have Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease, however, and with Akash Deep as the nightwatchman, have plenty of batting left.

IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 3: For the first time in the series, the possibility of a Test match ending inside 5 days looks likely. After 16 wickets fell on a riveting Day 2, which has changed the entire complexion of the match and put it at an even keel, the definitive third day – also called the moving day – will determine who walks out of the Oval the winner and with the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. If India bats well, England will find themselves cornered. If the hosts can pull off something similar to the first innings, the same goes for Shubman Gill's India. Rest assured, we will have a winner, most likely by tomorrow.