Mohammed Siraj produced a scintillating burst on Friday at Edgbaston, striking twice in as many deliveries, including the prized scalp of England skipper Ben Stokes for a golden duck, to tighten India’s stranglehold on the second Test. Resuming the third day on a precarious 77 for 3, England still trailed India’s imposing first-innings total of 567 by a daunting 510 runs, a score underpinned by captain Shubman Gill’s majestic 269.

England’s hopes of reducing the vast deficit rested squarely on the shoulders of their premier batsmen, Joe Root and Harry Brook, ranked first and second in the world Test standings. Root resumed on 18, with Brook unbeaten on 30, and the pair carried England’s slender ambitions into the morning session. However, those aspirations suffered a grievous blow in just the second over of the day. Root, having moved cautiously to 22, flicked a delivery from Siraj down the leg side, only to feather an edge through to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who completed a sharp catch to his left.

Worse was to come for England off the very next ball. Siraj, operating with superb rhythm and hostility, delivered a searing rising delivery that squared up Stokes, drawing an edge that Pant safely pouched. Stokes trudged off for a first-ball duck, leaving England tottering at 84 for 5 and Siraj on a hat-trick.