HYDERABAD (Reuters) – England got off to a rollicking start in the first test against India but a mini-collapse left them 108-3 at lunch on the opening day at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday.
There was no inkling of any meltdown as Ben Duckett (35) and Zak Crawley (20) batted with the kind of aggression that has become the hallmark of the Ben Stokes-led side during their opening stand of 55.
However, India's spinners then claimed three wickets for five runs to turn the heat back on the visitors on a dry pitch, which is likely to assist them more as the game progresses.
The onus is now on Johnny Bairstow (32), playing as a specialist batter, and Joe Root (18) to rebuild the innings.
Touring captains are wary of batting fourth on India's turning tracks and Stokes's decision to bat after winning the toss was something of a no-brainer.
England reached the 50-mark in the 11th over with Duckett and Crawley looking comfortable against seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Home captain Rohit Sharma introduced spin from both ends after the first eight overs and the move turned the match on its head.
Ashwin trapped Duckett lbw with a ball that did not turn and Ravindra Jadeja had Ollie Pope (one) caught by Rohit at first slip.
Crawley fell in the next over when he charged out against Ashwin only to drill the ball to Siraj at mid-off, where the fielder took a low, tumbling catch.
Bairstow and Root have added 48 runs for the fourth wicket to calm the nerves in the English dressing room but there is a lot of work left to do.
England went into the match with Mark Wood as the lone fast bowler in a spin-heavy attack that includes debutant Tom Hartley.