For once it was not the sword-wielding celebration from Ravindra Jadeja as he reached his half century that took centrestage. It was what he did either side of it that conveyed an appropriate message. At first, he brushed his willow as if to suggest that his batting was still potent. Then, he pointed to the India crest and the number of his shirt to imply that he belongs to Test cricket.

Jadeja proved his credentials with the bat by scoring an unbeaten 86 and in the process kept India afloat in the fifth Test match here at the Oval. At stumps on Day Three, though, England progressed to 114 for two with retiring opener Alistair Cook on 46. At the other end, skipper Joe Root was unbeaten on 29 for England to lead by 154 runs. If Cook scores a hundred, he will become the first man under an England cap to slam a century in his first and last Test match.