Joe Root tells England to get back in driving seat against India

India's Ajinkya Rahane tumbles backwards after catching James Anderson in the slips. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty

The England captain agreed that the hosts effectively lost the third Test, ultimately by 203 runs, in one session on day two when their “very poor” first-innings batting saw all  10 wickets fall between lunch and tea.

But he believes the way to turn the 2-1 lead they still have into series victory in Southampton next week lies not just in reflecting on where it all went wrong here but also Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes’ exemplary batting in second-innings adversity.

Only one team in Test history, Don Bradman’s 1936/37 Ashes winners, have recovered from 2-0 down to prevail in any five-match series but India have given themselves a chance of becoming the second.

Root, understandably, would prefer not to contemplate that eventuality just yet.

That does not mean he is shying away from reality, however, after England were bowled out for 317, with only 17 deliveries needed for India to take the remaining wicket on the final morning – James Anderson caught in the slips by Ajinkya Rahane off Ravichandran Ashwin.

“You can nit-pick around other areas within the game, but ultimately that first innings for us was very poor,” said Root, before turning to the flipside – Buttler and Stokes’ defiant stand of 169.

“One thing that’s come from this game is that partnership between Jos and Ben, and it’s a great example and lesson of how to go about things in Test cricket. It’s still a great ‘learner’ for us, to see two guys who are generally very attack-minded adapt to a situation – still probably in bowler-friendly conditions – and find a way to build a very strong partnership and put India’s bowlers under  pressure.”

Further consolation for England lies, of course, in the series score after their wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s.

“We’re definitely in the driving seat, we have to keep remembering that,” added Root.

“We have got a little bit of time now to go away and reflect on what has been a  difficult week.

“But in England we are a very good side at bouncing back from a tough couple of days. I’m fully expecting the guys to come back to Southampton refreshed, ready to go and, we hope, take an opportunity to wrap the series up.”

Root wasted no time confirming his displeasure to his team-mates after that first-innings collapse to 161 all out.

“We sat down and spoke quite honestly about how we’re going to get this right,” he said. “It’s obviously not good enough.

“In this format, and for the group of players we’ve got, it’s well below par.

“It’s always at the forefront of our minds, making big first-innings scores. In Test match cricket, that’s crucial.

“We have to get that right very quickly.”

England are hoping Jonny Bairstow may yet recover from his broken finger to play at the Ageas Bowl, even if it is as a specialist batsman only with Buttler continuing as wicketkeeper.

Root, meanwhile, gave his full backing to out-of-form national record runscorer Alastair Cook.

Asked if he wanted Cook in his team for the rest of the series, he said: “Yes, 100 per cent.

“He’s a world-class performer – he’s proven that time and time again.

“Actually, I’d like you to write him off – because every time he’s written off, he comes back and scores a double-hundred,” added Root.

His opposite number Virat Kohli has no such conundrums to worry about, after his man-of-the-match innings of 97 and 103. He said: “The players are really proud of what they have done (here). All in all, the complete Test match for us. Some people may have lost hope when we were 2-0 down, but we never lost belief in the changing room.”