At close of play on Day Two, Ajinkya Rahane was asked to explain the decision of picking two spinners on a pitch that seamed prodigiously and resulted in India being bowled out for 107. The answer was, "Hopefully, Kuldeep gets five wickets tomorrow." Rahane might have been optimistic, but after two sessions into Day Three on Saturday, much of his hope would have turned into despair.

The Indian seamers bowled splendidly in Saturday's first session to knock over four England batsmen and thus reduce the home side to 89 for four. While the movement on offer was substantially less than Friday, the new ball still zipped around and moved through the air.