India face daunting task

A cautious England spared India the ignominy of a follow-on but set them a daunting 420-run victory target in the opening test at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday.

England, who had posted a mammoth 578 in the first innings, bowled India out for 337 but opted against enforcing the follow-on at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.

The tourists walked out to bat instead and were bowled out for 178 an hour before stumps, baffling many by their refusal to declare which would have given them more time to bowl out India. When England came out for their second innings, Ashwin dismissed Rory Burns with the very first ball and went on to claim 6-61 as England batted on with a safety-first approach.

The hosts finished the penultimate day on 39-1, still 381 behind the target.