A tip top day for England. Especially considering where they started, on 198-7 and limping. But Jos Buttler did it again, as he has throughout the summer when the hosts have been in strife, stroking them smashing his way to 89 before he was the last wicket to fall with the score on a perfectly acceptable 332. After the early Broad breakthrough, the visitors took it to the England attack but Curran then Anderson (who was superb) broke open the middle order in the final session before Stokes penetrated the lower order by the close. The big moment came when he located Kohli’s edge with 20 minutes left on the clock, one short of his half-century. With that went any realistic chance of a first innings lead for the tourists. And with that, I’ll bid you farewell. I hope you all have a lovely Saturday evening watching Swanny on Strictly. Tanya Aldred will be with you tomorrow morning and I’ll take the baton in the afternoon. Until then, g’night!

50th over: India 169-6 (Vihari 24, Jadeja 4) It is spin to replace Curran but from Moeen rather than Rash. Vihari nearly gifts him his wicket, too! He loaded up to hit the cover off the ball from a delivery that pitched and turned and nearly hit his stumps. He’s a lucky man - that would have been a disaster. There are Four leg byes off Jadeja’s pads to finish, which means Vihari will be facing the final over of the day from Stokes.

49th over: India 164-6 (Vihari 23, Jadeja 4) Stokes also finds the edge of the new man Jadeja but it doesn’t go to hand, instead running away for four to get him off the mark.

“If the film thing is still going, has anyone suggested Life of Brian Withington?” asks Kim Thonger. “I am informed however that he’s not the Messiah, but simply a very naughty boy.” That he is.

48th over: India 154-5 (Vihari 23, Pant 1) Curran gets another, Vihari gets off strike first ball, Pant gets off the mark from the second then the man on debut defends the rest. Nothing much going on here. Suuuuurely some spin at this time of the day?

47th over: India 154-5 (Vihari 22, Pant 0) A tricky period for the new man Pant, a dasher by nature. Kohli will be gutted with that, not for falling one short of a milestone but for getting so close to stumps at the very moment the run of play had turned back in their favour after a torrid time in the middle of this final session. If Kohli was there in the morning, India are eyeing off a first innings lead. Now, they are scrapping to stay within touching distance - especially if the hosts can pluck another off this evening. Pant does the right thing and keeps his bat dead and straight to the rest of Stokes’ over.

At least we know what Boris was doing on his phone instead of watching the cricket.

46th over: India 154-4 (Kohli 49, Vihari 22) The first ball of the new Curran over is short and misdirected, tucked away with ease by Vihari who is growing in confidence. After exchanging singles, it is the man on debut later in the set beaten by a ball well outside the off-stump. There is an appeal for caught behind that the cordon like but not enough to review. Much better to finish, Vihari driving beautifully down the ground for his most convincing shot so far. After all that drama on zero, he’s now into the 20s with 20 minutes remaining this evening. Can England find something?

45th over: India 144-4 (Kohli 48, Vihari 13) SIX RUNS, VIHARI! Didn’t see that coming, did you? Stokes banged it in and the young man took him on, top-edging over fine leg. He goes again, and it hangs in the air for a long time... but Rashid can’t drag in the catch despite making a full-stretch dive. In turn, the ball spills into the rope for four more. 25 runs in the last two overs. He has First Class form, that’s for sure.

44th over: India 133-4 (Kohli 48, Vihari 2) Well, Broad is off but it isn’t Rashid coming on - it’s Curran. Kohli, after struggling against the young man earlier, is in a different frame of mind 90 minutes later, taking ten runs from his first three balls, punctuated by a superb flick from off-stump that finishes at the midwicket boundary. Hips don’t lie, Shakira taught us. Virat is issuing a reminder that wrists don’t, either. He does it again to finish the over, albeit to the sweeper who is now out there. That makes 14 off the over.

43rd over: India 119-4 (Kohli 34, Vihari 2) Kohli is pulling for the second time in two overs, albeit just for a single this time around. Stokes is getting the ball moving around but can’t draw a false stroke out of Vihari, who has now faced 29 balls. Rashid now? Surely. It’s becoming a bit of a farce how little he gets given a go.

“The splendidly named Rob Wolf Petersen poses a philosophical question for the ages regarding the quantum state of the hypothetical Broad/Watson lbw conundrum,” says Brian “Howling Dog” Withington “In the posited scenario I suspect that the delicious indeterminacy might be preserved even after observation (by DRS). Quark, strangeness and charm indeed. Well played, sir.”

42nd over: India 118-4 (Kohli 33, Vihari 2) Broad continues and immediately gives Kohli a shorter ball, which he happily climbs into, pulling to the rope. He’s into the 30s, and after some rough early moments, he’s all set now. A leg bye from the second ball gets Vihari back on strike, who looks better this time around in his defensive posture.

41st over: India 113-4 (Kohli 29, Vihari 2) We have light rain at The Oval as Stokes comes on to replace Anderson at the conclusion of his superb spell, a stint that included winning the scalps of Pujara and Rahane in the space of two overs. Just the Kohli single here, from the first ball, with Vihari battling his way through the remainder of the set. Umbrellas are now up in some parts of the ground but that’s a bit much if you ask me.

40th over: India 112-4 (Kohli 28, Vihari 2) Geez, we still have 17 overs to go. In reality, that will be about 13 as play must conclude at 6:30pm. After finishing inside the extra half an hour yesterday we’re back to normal programming - losing overs - today. Broad to Kohli to begin here and he takes a single around the corner first ball. Not a bad result as it gives him another pop at Vihari, who he’s working over well. Sure enough, he has him struggling again, hitting his inside edge, but that’s enough to get him off strike. We are 40 overs into the innings and still no sign of Adil Rashid. Poor bloke.

39th over: India 109-4 (Kohli 26, Vihari 1) Anderson does go again and he does find Kohli’s edge - but of the leading variety and it doesn’t find the cover fielder. He gets off strike from the next ball, clipping a straighter ball to midwicket. I’m now in the camp of those who believe that Jimmy will never dismiss Virat again. What a stoush it has been.

“Afternoon @collinsadam,” tweets Rob Wolf Petersen, “Idly wondering what would happen if Stuart Broad hit Shane Watson on the pad and it was reviewed. Would we enter a quantum realm in which the batsman was simultaneously out and not out?”

I’m picturing the final scene in the Black Mirror ep ‘Hang the DJ’. (Bloody great ep)

38th over: India 108-4 (Kohli 25, Vihari 1) Whoa, that’s some sort of interrogation before getting off the mark in Test cricket! Vihari is given out by Umpire Wilson on the field but immediately sends it upstairs. He was right to do so: the ball is clearing the stumps by half a foot. To what extent was the ump’s failure to give him out on the field in Broad’s previous over responsible for the second error? Anyway, the number six then nearly runs himself out scampering to the danger end taking a quick single. A direct hit and he was gone! Well, at least he’s got a run to his name.

37th over: India 106-4 (Kohli 24, Vihari 0) Anderson to Kohli: this remains the main game. But the Indian master is in better shape now, defending well then adding two to his score through midwicket. That might be Jimmy’s last over for the time being.

36th over: India 104-4 (Kohli 23, Vihari 0) A cloud of smoke moves across The Oval from the western side of the ground at the start of the over but it is gone in a hurry. Back in the middle, Vihari is extremely lucky to survive a Broad lbw shout after he was hit on the back pad and the appeal was turned down. Despite having both reviews up their sleeve, Root elects not to go upstairs. Had he? Three reds: it would have been overturned. The next ball, the man on debut - still yet to get off the mark - nearly lost his off-stump when leaving a ball that was seaming back aggressively. Whoa.

“Experienced a bitter/sweet frisson as Alastair nonchalantly snaffled another catch at first slip off an exultant Jimmy,” emails Brian Withington. “Can’t believe their partnership is almost over - how many times have we read caught Cook, bowled Anderson? Let’s hope for one or two more before the match is done. Sniff. Still more unbelievably, how on earth was Broad persuaded not to take that LBW upstairs?!”

Might it be that Broad’s enthusiasm has counted against him? Notoriously, he is the least reliable narrator going around when it comes to using the DRS. Root would know that.

35th over: India 103-4 (Kohli 22, Vihari 0) The young man on debut, Hanuma Vihari, has one ball to deal with from Anderson after the drinks break and he defends off his pads.

Some nearing-the-end-of-day stats from the guns at CricViz.

Wagging Tails
England’s last four batsmen have batted for just over 22 hours this series. India’s last four have batted for 12 hours and 41 minutes.
Alternatively...
England’s last four batsmen have faced 850 balls this series - India’s have faced 413.

Unlucky Shami
Mohammed Shami found 42 false shots, but remains wicketless. Only eight times in the CricViz database has a bowler drawn more false shots without any of them taking a wicket.

Curran Pitching It Up
The ball from Sam Curran which dismissed KL Rahul was the fullest the English left-armer had bowled to the Indian opener. It was also the only one which was hitting the stumps.

Edge of Glory
Sam Curran has found the edge with 8.4% of his deliveries this series, with Stuart Broad the only England bowler to do so more often.

Mo on Go Slow
The 2015 Ashes is the only series that Moeen has bowled at a slower average speed than this one. His average speed here and at Southampton is 84.03kph.

Lured into a Loose Shot
The ball from Anderson which dismissed Pujara was 0.9m fuller than the previous ball, and seamed more than twice as much.

34th over: India 102-3 (Kohli 21, Rahane 0) I wouldn’t be surprised if they get Stokes on soon with Rahane out there given how often he’s picked him up this summer. Isn’t this a joyous part of a five-Test series, that these storylines - Anderson v Kohli, Stokes v Rahane - have a chance to fully mature? More! More! It’s nearly a moot point as far as the all-rounder is concerned when Broad gets a ball to jag back at Rahane, beating him on the inside edge and going within an inch of collecting the off-stump! Phew.

“Greetings Adam.” Hi, Gregor Salsa. “Since it’s the last test of the series, I have to write this. Especially since Mac Millings (over 113) did the album title I’ve been thinking of all series (Yo! Bumrah’s The Show). Sam Curran reminds me of Henery the Chicken Hawk from Looney Tunes Foghorn Leghorn. He’s young, he’s not the biggest, but he’s determined.”

I’ll shoulder arms at the reference (not my bag) but your character assessment is spot on.

32nd over: India 101-2 (Pujara 37, Kohli 20) Pujara is the other man with a plan out there right now: not to take any risks while this game is hot. He looks at his happiest in this watchful mode. But after five dots - one ball away from a third maiden on the spin - he turns a ball from middle stump almost all the way to the boundary for three. Lovely.

31st over: India 98-2 (Pujara 34, Kohli 20) Anderson v Kohli - this is proper box-office stuff; one champion to another. Jimmy starts wide, Virat leaving then leaving again. He moves onto the stumps, or near enough to have him use his bat to defend. The pattern then repeats. Kohli will know that this is part of Anderson’s grand plan, to be executed over several overs if necessary. This is captivating cricket. Back to back maidens.

“Even as you readers start responding to Mr Collins with witty responses,” begins, err, Boris? “I would like to defend myself. I know I have been the face of the campaign that has led Britain to one of its worst political crisis, and I do not help my image by sleeping and texting at the site of an utterly compelling Test match. Even as you laugh your arses off at the hilarious suggestions which will now greet you, I present to you the real reason for my actions -- I have fallen asleep after working on my hair throughout the night (it’s worth the effort, yes, because it looks amazing; also, to those asking, I did indeed sleep on my chair to conserve my well-done hairstyle). I was using the phone merely to inform my hair stylist that I would go over to the clinic at once to work on my hair once more, because the windy and overcast conditions have helped neither England nor me -- my hair is a mess once more. If this continues any more, I will stop attending cricket matches (including the local ones, I’ll get votes in other ways), and will need to shave off my very real hair so that I can put on the wig President Trump informed me he uses during a late night conversation. Thanks and Regards, Boris Johnson (nah really just Abhijato Sensarma).”

You’ll make a diligent method actor yet.

30th over: India 98-2 (Pujara 34, Kohli 20) Broad is also back for another spell from the pavilion end, replacing Moeen, which makes a lot of sense for mine. But he’s sending them down at Pujara rather than Kohli, who defends throughout. Maiden.

“Thinking over the series it’s heartening to note how many different England players have made a game-shaping contribution,” emails Tom Bowtell. “Cook here, Jennings in 2nd innings at Rose Bowl, Moeen at Rose Bowl, Root at Edgbaston, Bairstow at Edgbaston, Stokes with ball at Edgbaston, Woakes at Lord’s, Buttler, Woakes, Broad, Jimmy in several places. Just need a 5-fer from Rashid this afternoon...”

29th over: India 98-2 (Pujara 34, Kohli 20) KOHLI SURVIVES A REVIEW! Anderson, replacing Curran, is convinced he has the captain leg before and goes upstairs immediately when his appeal is turned down by Umpire Dharmasena. The inswinger was hitting the stumps but it was umpires’ call on impact. So England retain their review, but that’s cold comfort given how close they were. Amazingly, the England superstar is yet to dismiss Kohli in this series. Of course, the champion batsman hits back, fllicking a misdirected delivery to the midwicket boundary. That’ll hurt. Oh here we go: at the end of the over it is all action, the umpires bringing the captains together. Aggers on TMS is speculating, based on the body language of the chat, that Jimmy may have said something unpleasant. All kicking off!

28th over: India 94-2 (Pujara 34, Kohli 16) Moeen does get another go and it doesn’t work, conceding nine runs with both batsmen finding the boundary, which bookends the set. The captain put away the long hop then to begn then number three drove beautifully down the ground to finish.

27th over: India 85-2 (Pujara 30, Kohli 11) Curran beats Kohli! That’s twice in two overs. But the Indian star responds as you would expect, picking up two runs through cover then claying a perfect drive through that same region to the rope. Once again he keeps the strike, helping the left-armer’s yorker to fine leg for one.

26th over: India 78-2 (Pujara 30, Kohli 4) Pujara has brought his first-dig form from Southampton with him to London, looking very good against Moeen, from whom he collects a couple to fine leg then another past short leg - all along the carpet. Kohli keeps the strike with one to midwicket to finish. Time for Adil Rashid before the captain is set?

25th over: India 74-2 (Pujara 27, Kohli 3) Beaten! Curran draws a false stroke from Kohli with the first ball of his new over, coming within centimetres of removing the Indian numero uno. He collects a couple through midwicket later in the over before seeing off the rest defensively. It’s already a nice little contest between these two.

24th over: India 72-2 (Pujara 27, Kohli 1) Close call! After Pujara takes a single, Moeen gets a crack at Kohli and sneaks an off-break past the inside edge. The appeal is turned down but Moeen likes it enough to talk DRS with Root before deciding to play it safe. Kohli then turns the final ball around the corner to get off the mark.

“The cricketing brotherhood/sisterhood is an unsually inclusive one in that it’s just niche enough that everyone can feel a part of it,” continues Robert Wilson. “So some OBO bod comes up with a great zinger or quip, we feel partial authorship. Gideon Haigh writes something sparkling and unforgettable, most of us feel like taking a bow. That’s cricket people. This is us. And never more than today. After a tricky and stressful week, the richly human cricket-ground reaction to BoJo really made my day. That’s a Venn Diagram which I will always want to a part of.” Very well said, mate.

23rd over: India 70-2 (Pujara 26, Kohli 0) We know it is Virat Kohli is walking out from the roar that goes around The Oval from Indian fans. The brilliant Bharat Army, sitting to my right, are immediately into song as well. The touring skipper is keeps it simple to begin, defending the dangerous Curran with a nice, straight blade.

22nd over: India 70-1 (Rahul 37, Pujara 26) Three singles, all off the legs, as the Indian pair get to work against Moeen. Nothing silly this time around.

21st over: India 67-1 (Rahul 35, Pujara 25) Curran to Pujara, who is looking better by the over. In the middle of the over the game is stopped to ask one of my colleagues sitting outside on the other side of the sightscreen to get out of the way. I’m looking forward to finding out who that was. Pujara then picks up a couple off his legs then two more down the ground. Nice.

20th over: India 63-1 (Rahul 35, Pujara 21) Moeen continues his spell, which was handy before tea. Pujara is defending then attempting to drive straight for runs but the spinner does well, fielding in his follow through. A boundary does come at the end of the over but could easily have been the end of Rahul, who got down low to sweep before the delivery left Moeen’s hand. Missing with the shot with this bat, the ball also just avoided leg stump and then the gloves of YJB. Four byes.

19th over: India 58-1 (Rahul 35, Pujara 20) Shot! Pujara gets visitors heading in the right direction for this final session with a punishing crunch past point. You get four for that. The Indian number three keeps the strike with one to midwicket.

“If we can safely assume that he was not contacting the OBO (?),” concedes Brian Withington, “I am forced to conclude that BJ was sharing sweet nothings in Latin (suavis nullis) with the Right Hon. Jacob Rees-Mogg, (biggus dickus), Member of Parliament for the 18th Century.”

Pollies. I know I’ve talked on here before about my days working for the Australian PM (we’ve had about 16 since) but with BoJo in the stands, we’re on-theme. Remember the dodgy dagwood dog? Ah, weren’t they the days. It is fair to say he didn’t like getting booed by the crowd. For your amusement, though, this is footage that will surface again over the next few weeks during AFL finals when they write stories about pollies pretending to care about footy - it always does. I’m that young idiot clapping along.

“BoJo was watching a meme of Adolf Hitler in his bunker, ranting at the prospect of Johnson ever becoming leader of a Conservative Party which has just lost a general election,” says John Starbuck. And we’re away! On the field too, where the players are back. Sam Curran to continue his spell from the city end. PLAY!

17th over: India 49-1 (Rahul 32, Pujara 14) Curran zips through a relatively pedestrian set, Pujara taking no risks in response with tea around the corner.

“Regarding the 10th over sighting of the [disgraced buffoon] former Foreign Secretary on his mobile phone at the game, can you now reveal what pearls of wisdom he was attempting to share with the OBO community, and using which moniker?” asks Brian Withington. “Invasion of privacy be damned I say in this context. Blame any excessive candour on your part on an overdose of paracetamol.”

I have a better idea: why don’t you tell me what you reckon he was reading/watching? If he was writing into the OBO, I expect that he’d be asking for the overseas TMS link.

16th over: India 48-1 (Rahul 31, Pujara 14) Spin it is, via Moeen Ali, and he immediately creates a chance: Pujara dropped at short leg! The replay is kind to Cook, the man under the lid, showing that he didn’t do much wrong when the ball jumped off the inside edge - it was in then out of his left hand. But Moeen drops short with his next ball and the Indian number three makes no mistake, carting it to the midwicket boundary.

15th over: India 43-1 (Rahul 30, Pujara 10) Slammin’ Sammy Curran on for his first twist on his home ground. He’ll be keen to redeem himself after a fairly ordinary dismissal late yesterday, but to be fair, the young man has plenty of credits in the bank. He takes a few balls to find his preferred length, Rahul moving into the 30s with an ODI-style glide to third man. We’re about ten minutes away from the tea break. Spin?

14th over: India 42-1 (Rahul 29, Pujara 10) Jimmy is right on it to Rahul and Pujara, a single from the former past point the only chance to score. He’s sending them down at a decent clip, too. Would it be right to say that Anderson is bowling faster now than at pretty much any stage since his first stint for England in 2003?

Boris watch: he’s nodded off. Go home, champ.

13th over: India 41-1 (Rahul 28, Pujara 10) Better from Stokes, keeping Pujara quiet with a combination of full/straight deliveries and well-directed bumpers.

12th over: India 40-1 (Rahul 27, Pujara 10) All action in this Anderson over, beating Rahul on the outside then the inside edge to begin, getting the crowd excited in the process. He gets off strike, leaving Pujara one ball to negotiate and he is in strife too, hit on the pad just above the knee. Root took his time to consider the DRS option but thought better of it. On reflection, it was probably going over the top.

11th over: India 39-1 (Rahul 26, Pujara 10) Stokes is giving away a boundary an over here, again via Rahul here who strikes another lavish drive on the up through cover. He then keeps the strike with one out to point. On the available evidence, the opener is trying to smash his way back into form.

10th over: India 34-1 (Rahul 21, Pujara 10) Jimmy is back, swung around to replace Broad from what must be the favoured Pavilion End. He’s straight back into his groove, Pujara only able to defend and watch. Maiden.

9th over: India 34-1 (Rahul 21, Pujara 10) Stokes drops short and Rahul goes whack, pulling behind square for four. It was in the air for a while but well clear of any potential catchers. He moves to 21 from just 23 balls. “It is indeed possible to overdose on paracetamol,” Bob adds. “It just takes ages and is NOT recommended. You wouldn’t like renal failure.” We are all learning today. Any other quick fixes? Asking for a friend.

8th over: India 30-1 (Rahul 17, Pujara 10) Rahul is more watchful of Broad this time around, taking only a casual single to point when it was on offer. Pujara finishes with the stroke of the innings so far, creaming a drive on the up through cover to the rope. Shot. Oh, and nowBoris Johnson appears on the big screen at the end of the over with th crowd booing in response - rather loudly. Remind me at the tea break to tell you a story from my former life about politicians and booing at sporting events.

Abhijato Sensarma has emailed me a rhyme about Jos Buttler, which I’ll also share at tea as it’ll require some formatting at my end to get it in. As for Phil Withall, he’s doing it right. “It’s near midnight,” he writes. “My wife goes to bed saying “your not watching football all night are you?” She didn’t mention cricket. I did not lie. I’m happy.” And Bob Wilson wants you to see me batting at HQ the other day. I’ll allow it.

7th over: India 25-1 (Rahul 16 Pujara 6) For the third over on the trot Rahul scores from the first delivery, using the pace of the Stokes to deflect a single behind point. The all-rounder finds his range against Pujara, the Indian number three playing out the remainder of the set respectfully.

6th over: India 24-1 (Rahul 15 Pujara 6) It is difficult to know why Rahul attempted to loft Broad’s first delivery over mid-off; he’s lucky to survive with the top edge clearing extra cover. It reminds me of how he got himself out in Pune against Australia last year, triggering an epic collapse. More convincing from Pujara when he gets his turn, clipping a boundary past square leg.

“Slightly tender?” asks John Starbuck. “Why does Rob say this? Is he referring to your maturity as an adult man (difficult for Aussies, perhaps) or is it just a euphemism for being hungover (complimentary for Aussies, perhaps).”

I don’t want to dwell on this (I’m in better shape now) but I did asked Siri earlier if it was possible to overdose on paracetamol. It has been a long summer.

5th over: India 19-1 (Rahul 14 Pujara 2) Thank you, Rob. Afternoon everyone. I’m coming to you from what must be the best seat in the press box: outside tribunes, front row, looking straight down at the pavilion. It’s a delightful spot to OBO for the rest of the afternoon for you. From our end it is Ben Stokes is into the attack replacing Jimmy after just two overs. That’s a fraction odd but we’ll roll with it. Rahul likes the change, nailing the first delivery of the new spell through point for a splendid boundary. He takes one to midwicket from the next ball and his shoe comes off, the bowler picking it up and giving it back. How kind of him. Two further singles are exchanged through the legside later in the fairly ropey over.

It’s time for me to hand over to a slightly tender Adam Collins. You can email him on adam.collins.casual@theguardian.com or tweet @collinsadam. Thanks as always for your company and emails. Bye!

4th over: India 12-1 (Rahul 8, Pujara 1) Pujara defends a big inswinger from Broad and is beaten by the next delivery, playing away from his body. Broad is getting some sharp movement back into the right-handers.

3rd over: India 10-1 (Rahul 7, Pujara 0) That wicket moves Broad above Sir Richard Hadlee and up to eighth on the list of Test wickettakers. He should be seventh by the end of the game. Meanwhile, Rahul flashes a back cut for four off Anderson.

2nd over: India 6-1 (Rahul 3, Pujara 0) Dhawan would have been out even if he had been able to review, as the point of contact with the pad was umpire’s call. Broad starts with a wicket maiden. After a difficult 2017, he is quietly having an excellent year.

1st over: India 6-0 (Rahul 3, Dhawan 3) KL Rahul drives Jimmy Anderson’s first ball confidently for three, and then Dhawan gets off the mark with a nice cut stroke for two. A quiet first over from Anderson. The ball didn’t swing for India until it was 20-30 overs old yesterday, so England may have to be patient.

“Has Jimmy been not out more often than any other batsman in Test history?” asks Peter Hulme. “If so, it would be a batting award to set alongside his many bowling ones, and maybe we could call him an all-rounder?”

He certainly has. It’s interesting to note the proper batsmen who are high on that list.

121st over: England 330-9 (Buttler 87, Anderson 0) Breaking news: Jos Buttler is batting. No no no, Jos Buttler is batting. He has just smashed Bumrah for two sixes in three balls, with a mighty swipe to cow corner followed by a top-edged hook that was pure Botham ’81.

120th over: England 317-9 (Buttler 74, Anderson 0) This time Buttler takes a single off the fifth ball of Jadeja’s over, and Anderson survives the last delivery This could get very repetitive.

119th over: England 316-9 (Buttler 73, Anderson 0) Buttler doesn’t seem too fussed about farming the strike. He takes a single off Bumrah’s third ball, and Anderson survives the rest of the over.

Incidentally, that catch by KL Rahul was his 13th of the series, equalling the Indian record for an outfielder in a Test series.

118th over: England 313-9 (Buttler 70, Anderson 0) Earlier in the over Buttler scored his 1000th run in international cricket this year, which is more than anyone else in the world.

117th over: England 311-8 (Buttler 68, Broad 38) Broad edges Bumrah just short of second slip.

“Jagged Ultra Edge,” says Dan Woodward, continuing the theme of cricket film titles. “Allan Donald travels back in time to Trent Bridge 1998 and calls for a review.”

116th over: England 308-8 (Buttler 66, Broad 37) Ravindra Jadeja returns to the attack after lunch. Buttler adds three to his score, which takes him to within 34 of an unlikely hundred.

“Valid point made previously about Bairstow’s contribution to reviews,” says Ian T. “Under Cook we were excellent with using them (if I’m being harsh it was probably his best captaincy trait) - Root and Bairstow seem intent on wasting them by over 10. We need to review the reviewers.”

It’s become an important skill, hasn’t it? Matt Prior was extremely good. Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler seem much calmer in the limited-overs teams. That’s right, I said limited-overs teams. I’m waging war on contemporary white-ball phrases.

114th over: England 300-8 (Buttler 62, Broad 33) Broad scoots back for a second run to bring up England’s 300. I’m not quite sure how this has happened, given they were 181 for seven at one stage.

113th over: England 298-8 (Buttler 62, Broad 32) Broad plays and misses at Shami. So does Buttler. I reckon Shami has beaten the outside edge 30 or 40 times in this innings without finding the edge. It’s remarkable, and that’s why I’ve just remarked upon it.

“Robbiest,” says Mac Millings. “I dont have any cricket-themed films for you, but I do know that Public Enemy’s debut album, ‘Yo! Bumrah the Show’, after an awkward opening, suddenly clicks, and blows the opposition away. Their follow-up, ‘It Takes a Nation of Kane Williamsons to Hold Us Back’, is a still-underrated gem, but my personal favourite has to be ‘Fear of an Inzamam-ul-Haq Planet’ - although superstitious fans of English cricket should avoid Track Three, ‘111 Is No Joke’.”

112th over: England 296-8 (Buttler 61, Broad 31) Buttler survives a desperate LBW appeal after being pinned by a big inswinger from Sharma. I think it swung too much, not that India have any reviews remaining. Hawkeye confirms it was missing leg stump. Broad compounds India’s frustration by slicing a filthy yahoo over the slips for four.

“Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Aggrieved as I am that the OBO has still not picked up the option on my epic Citizen Cook film, I must confess that Kim Thonger’s Eternal Sunshine pitch had me chuckling appreciatively. Looking at screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s other credits prompts the idea of ‘Being John Edrich’, a surreal investigation into the inner workings of a gritty 1960s opening batsman. However, I refuse to give up on Citizen Cook even if I am forced to tout it elsewhere.”

Oh go on then.

“Film pitch for Citizen Cook - a sweeping epic that retraces the life story of England’s greatest hoarder in a forlorn attempt to interpret his parting word at the crease, via a series of flashbacks tracing his fabled career. No-one can fathom the mystery until the final scene in the Lord’s Long Room during the end of season clear out of lost property and discarded kit. The astute viewer realises that his parting word is in fact the name scratched on the back of his first schoolboy cricket bat, just as the final credits roll over the flaming embers of the precious childhood willow being consumed in the Long Room fireplace ... ‘Bugger’.”

111th over: England 289-8 (Buttler 60, Broad 26) “I think the management need to do a lot of work with Bairstow before the winter,” says Adrian Armstrong. “Too many of his recent decisions seem to be motivated by adolescent FOMO and do the team no favours at all. Declining a nightwatchman at the SCG, treating the keeper’s role in a way that makes Neymar look like a model of mature humility, insisting he’s fit to play despite finger-knack ... does anyone in the Test setup ever contest what anyone else thinks? I’d also be interested to know about his input as keeper into the reviews that England request when fielding, with mostly dismal consequences.”

It’s all very odd, this Bairstow business. I do have some sympathy for him, and I wonder how much of this is a figment of the media’s imagination. Dropping him would have been unthinkable a month ago, but now I wouldn’t be surprised if he was left out at some stage during the winter.

110th over: England 286-8 (Buttler 57, Broad 26) Buttler thumps Sharma through extra cover for four, a cracking stroke. He might even be thinking of another Test hundred, which is absurd given he was 11 not out overnight with only Nos 9-11 remaining. India, for reasons I can’t quite fathom, have let the tortoise get away from them.

This is a good spot from Tim de Lisle. “Buttler scratched his way to 15 off 48 balls – one of the joys of watching him this summer has been the way he can suddenly change the tempo.”

109th over: England 278-8 (Buttler 52, Broad 23) Buttler, on the drive, snicks a Shami outswinger through the vacant third slip area for four. Virat Kohli is about to misplace his rag. A force through extra cover for two takes Buttler to an excellent half-century from 84 balls. Happy birthday.

“Please say very bad things about both these batsmen in the interests of assuring their longevity,” says Ian Copestake. “Options include ‘walking wicket,’ ‘very uncomfortable’ and ‘a lanky streak of ...’”

108th over: England 270-8 (Buttler 45, Broad 22) Ishant Sharma returns to the attack after a shoddy little spell from Jadeja. Buttler flicks him behind square for four to bring up a breezy - and surprisingly easy - fifty partnership from only 61 balls.

“The Eternal Sunshine Of the HotSpotless Mind,” says Kim Thonger. “In a world where umpiring technology has been abolished, a team of zombified casual touring cricketers called The Snickers, go on the rampage, leaving a trail of destruction and broken cricket bats all over St. John’s Wood. Starring Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley.”

107th over: England 263-8 (Buttler 39, Broad 21) The luckless Shami beats Broad with consecutive deliveries; Broad responds with a stylish clip through mid-on for four. Shot!

“Racking my brains but I can’t think of apartments, sumptuous or otherwise, which overlook Galle cricket ground, which anyway is in the middle of a roundabout,” writes our old friend Mike Selvey. “Are you sure your correspondent hasn’t been sold a pup?”

All they needed were his bank details…

106th over: England 258-8 (Buttler 38, Broad 17) India have been strangely passive in the last 20 minutes, and even Broad doesn’t look in danger of getting out.

“Ben Parker is absolutely right,” says Matt Dony. “I’ve just sat down Master Dony and had a word. ‘I know you’re only 6, but it’s only one whole kilometre(!). Get over yourself and give up the Iron nonsense.’ I mean, the tears will pass. He’ll thank me in the long run...”

Hardship begets hardness. I’d make the little git walk home.

105th over: England 253-8 (Buttler 34, Broad 16) “Interested in your take on Buttler’s series Rob,” says Phil Harrison. “I’m biased because I’m a fool for the lad. But to me, he’s starting to look a seasoned and mature Test batsman, capable of assessing the conditions and match situation and playing accordingly. He might be a better bet at five than either Bairstow or Stokes.”

Yes, his selection has been an unmitigated triumph. He’s a very smart batsman and reads the game superbly, as you say. I would have him no higher than No6 and ideally at No7, mainly because he can be so devastating with the tail. I have no problem with a specialist batsman at No7, but there is certainly a case for having him above Bairstow.

104th over: England 251-8 (Buttler 33, Broad 15) Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack and is slapped for four by Buttler. He now averages over 50 in Tests this summer; none of the other regular top-order batsmen are averaging even 30.

103rd over: England 243-8 (Buttler 28, Broad 12) After the obligatory play and miss at Shami, Buttler works the ball through midwicket for two. That’s drinks.

“Harold & Kumar Get the Ronchis,” offers Harry McNeill Adams. “A buddy/time-travel movie in which Harold Larwood and Kumar Sangakkara try to persuade Luke Ronchi to sign for a newly formed IPL franchise.”

102nd over: England 24o-8 (Buttler 25, Broad 12) A Bumrah bouncer gets big on Pant, - never mind the batsman Broad - and he strains every sinew to save four byes. England are inching towards their ‘it’ll do’ target of 250.

“Rob, what were you thinking?” says Anna Halford. “You know better than to make comments about who’s playing ‘particularly’ well! Sigh.”

If OBO jinxing really did count, I’d have almost as many Test wickets than Jimmy Anderson.

101st over: England 237-8 (Buttler 23, Broad 11) Mohammed Shami comes into the attack and beats both Buttler and Broad outside off stump. Shami is on course for one of Test cricket’s great nought-fors. Any other contenders? I thought Flintoff bowled beautifully at Chandigarh in 2001, the first real sign of the magnificent bowler he would become.

“Don’t know if anyone’s mentioned it previously but I found out yesterday that Alan Oakman passed away this week,” says Mike Daniels. “I believe he was the last surviving cricketer who played in Laker’s Test in 1956. A legend at Warwickshire, many will mourn him and remember him for his sage advice and wicked humour as coach to the club and more recently to the over-50s side. Countless cricketers will remember him fondly.”

That passed me by. Very sad news. Didn’t he take five or six catches in Laker’s match?

100th over: England 234-8 (Buttler 21, Broad 10) An errant full toss from Bumrah flies for four byes. The next delivery is a beauty, a short ball that rams into Broad’s armpit as he turns his head away.

“I had to look up the Ironkids event,” says Ben Parker. “Here it is. They are only doing a short run of less than a mile. Hardly warrants the grandiose title ‘Ironkids’.”

I’d love to hear Royal Tenenbaum’s take on Ironkids.

99th over: England 228-8 (Buttler 21, Broad 8) Broad laces Sharma over extra cover for four. We know all about his decline as a batsman but he’s still a pesky tailend slogger. Since eating that bouncer from Varun Aaron in 2014, Broad averages 13.67 - not great but not entirely without use.

“If you could look out of the windows of a sumptuous apartment and watch any player past or present, who would it be?” says James Debens. “I’d love to observe the nagging waddle of Fast Eddie Hemmings in the round.”

98th over: England 221-8 (Buttler 20, Broad 2) Buttler snicks Bumrah for four, with the ball landing just short of Kohli at second slip.

“Feel free to roundly mock me from the safety of your laptop but is there a good reason not to try Ben Stokes opening?” says George Humphreys. “Old Stokes would obviously be ridiculous but post-Bristol Brouhaha Stokes seems far more watchful and happy to leave the ball. He’s got the courage for it and is surely better suited than Bairstow who was loudly trumpeted earlier in the summer. Would necessitate his bowling workload being managed but that could also be an advantage as he could be purely a strike bowler. How about it, eh?!”

I don’t think any of those allrounders should bat higher than No5 – they are all too attacking and/or hard-handed to regularly face the new ball. I agree with Michael Vaughan: England should forget fancy solutions and concentrate on finding a top four who do nothing other than bat. The allrounders can then squabble over the remaining positions (and give England serious batting depth). England have too many bowlers at the moment.

97th over: England 214-7 (Buttler 15, Rashid 15) The ball is swinging prodigiously but Buttler and particularly Rashid are playing well.

Here’s Gary Naylor. “If Leo (93rd over) is expecting sympathy for having to watch a Test match in Galle without seeing Alastair Cook - well I’m giving precisely zero tuk-tuks.”

96th over: England 212-7 (Buttler 15, Rashid 14) Rashid plays a gorgeous stroke, flipping Bumrah wristily through midwicket for four. He’s a very good Test No9 and should probably be averaging a bit more than 19.

“Dude, Where’s McGrath?’ says Luke Devereux, returning to cricket film titles. “Two young Australian cricket fans turn up to the second Ashes test in 2005 only to find that their favourite player has been ruled out by a freak injury.”

95th over: England 207-7 (Buttler 14, Rashid 10) Buttler goes into one-day mode for the first time, walking down the track to Sharma before mistiming a slap across the line. He flicks an inswinger to fine leg for two and then survives a big LBW appeal from a similar delivery. It was going past leg stump. Lovely bowling again from Sharma though, who is swinging it both ways to order.

“There are few places on earth with an atmosphere comparable to Tenby on Ironman weekend,” says Matt Dony. “As much as I’d love to spend a lazy weekend at home with cricket and other assorted sports, I will be watching my 6 yr old kick proverbials at Ironkids today, then cheer on the (idiotically fit) dedicated athletes doing the whole shebang tomorrow. Obviously, I’ll be keeping abreast of events with your trusty work, but can I say ‘All the best’ to all competitors in Tenby over the weekend?”

You can. You have. One question: IRONKIDS?

94th over: England 204-7 (Buttler 12, Rashid 9) Rashid is beaten, chasing an inswinger from Bumrah. That’s all, you can go now.

“Perhaps Leo (93rd over) could rent a sumptuous apartment overlooking Chelmsford ground next summer,” says Josh Cockburn. “I’m sure that would be a similar experience.”

93rd over: England 203-7 (Buttler 11, Rashid 9) Rashid survives a huge appeal for LBW from Sharma. India have no reviews remaining, having used them gratuitously yesterday. Not that it would have mattered: Ultra-Edge suggests there was an inside-edge onto pad. Kumar Dharmasena is a fantastic umpire.

“Last week I booked a sumptuous apartment overlooking the beautiful cricket ground at Galle in Sri Lanka,” says Leo. “I’ve never seen Alastair Cook bat live and I wanted to remedy that situation before he retired...”

That’s such an OBO email. I suspect a few of you have similar stories. Somebody out there must have saved up for years for the trip of a lifetime to the Guyana Test of 1990.

92nd over: England 203-7 (Buttler 11, Rashid 9) Jasprit Bumrah first ball is the loosest of looseners that Rashid drives sweetly for four. That takes England past 200. They have only reached 400 once all summer, you know - and that was in a one-day international. There’s a lot of swing for Sharma and Bumrah, which is encouaraging for England’s bowlers.

“Somehow, an England collapse has become such a common occurrence, I’m not a stranger to it anymore,” says Saad Sheikh. “As much as I can criticise England for their irresponsible way of playing their cricket, I’d be equally unfair not to say that India haven’t really taken advantage of their low scores either. If Buttler and Rashid can add about 40 runs and Moeen and Anderson get going with the ball, I wouldn’t be that bothered. You wouldn’t be either, would you?”

As always when I’m in the OBO chair, I just want cricket to be the winner.

91st over: England 198-7 (Buttler 11, Rashid 4) It’s cloudy in south London, which is good news for the swing bowlers on both sides. Jos Buttler, 28 today, starts is beaten twice in an excellent opening over from Ishant Sharma. This has been a brilliant tour for Sharma, who has 18 wickets at 21.66. Only once has he taken more in a series, when he rampaged all over West Indies in 2011.

“The Silence of the Lambs,” says Martin Lloyd, continuing yesterday’s theme of cricket film titles. “Just a man, a farm, and no more international cricket.”

“Morning Rob,” says Guy Hornsby. “Taking stock of yesterday, I was lucky enough to spend 90 minutes in the company of Bumble on Wednesday night, talking a bit about his new book, but a lot about this team. Interestingly, he was insistent that Jennings will come good, and that the England set up thought so too, hence he’ll get the next tour at least. I guess Cook going helps this, but his feet are stone so I fear for him in Sri Lanka. But then what do I know, I’m outside cricket.”

He’s a good player of spin, and England will face plenty of that this winter. I think he’ll get the Sri Lanka series at least.

There’s a lovely feature on Sky at the moment, with Graham Gooch and Nasser Hussain talking about Alastair Cook’s career. It’s well worth watching on catch-up. There’s a lovely paternal pride in everything Gooch says about Cook. He also says he has only ever taken one photo while on tour: this.

Bits and bobs