India bowled out at 148 during Day 1 of fifth Test at The Oval

After two losses on the trot, the second more dispiriting than the first, India would have been hoping to start afresh on the opening day of the fifth and final Test at the Oval on Friday. What unfolded was an all-too-familiar sight.

India were bowled out for 149, looking more bruised than Stuart Broad’s nose, with MS Dhoni scoring a battling 82 to keep the score respectable.

A wet outfield delayed the start of play and the overcast conditions were bound to test India’s creaky batting line-up, after England won the toss and gleefully inserted the visitors.

It started with the wicket of Gautam Gambhir. Looking in two minds whether to play or leave the ball from James Anderson, the opener chose the latter option but the ball grazed the open face of the bat and was pouched

by Jos Buttler, the wicketkeeper. Then, Cheteshwar Pujara (4) lasted 19 balls before Broad got the ball to ricochet off the batsman’s pad and arm and onto the stumps. Virat Kohli nearly gave Broad another wicket when he decided to shoulder arms to a delivery that angled back in a bit.

The umpire wasn’t interested then but when Kohli (6) did it a second time, to Chris Jordan, his luck had run out. For Ajinkya Rahane (0), it was déjà vu, offering a sharp catch back to the bowler just as he done in the second innings at Old Trafford.

Of the entire top order, Murali Vijay left the ball with some measure of comfort, but eventually succumbed to the pressure and exited stage left. He was caught at gully by Joe Root off Chris Woakes. His was the most composed innings then, damning evidence of how bad the team was playing.