That England’s barnstorming brand of Test cricket will face its toughest evaluation across days to follow was no exaggeration. Perhaps, their sub-par performance in a cold and blustery Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on the opening day of the first Test against India may have evidenced a guilty conscience too soon, who knows!

India appeared to be able to get the best of both worlds when it comes to England’s flamboyantly energetic style of play. Did I hear ‘bazball’? India can adore its ambitions, while the English do much of the combative talking, knowing the match has begun to tilt in the host’s favour, heading to the second day and promising themselves there is much better to come from them than was shown on Thursday.