Although the deficit for England currently looks enormous, they have won all three matches that they have conceded 500 or more runs in an innings during the Stokes/McCullum regime. Speaking after the second day’s play, England’s spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel has said the group are not fussed about any external noise.

Ben Stokes played a straight bat. “Their choice,” he said bluntly, when asked about India’s selection for the second Test at Edgbaston. But behind the steely stare, the England captain must have been jumping for joy,