England seek third Test response

Alastair Cook

All eyes will be on under-pressure captain Cook when the third Test commences in Southampton on Sunday after England's demise continued with a 95-run defeat at Lord's on Monday.

Cook's miserable form with the bat continued and questions were again raised over whether he is the right man for the job after India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, but the opening batsman defiantly vowed to continue in the role.

It had all looked so promising for England when India were reduced to 145-7 on day one after Cook won the toss, but once again they were unable to press home their advantage as Ajinkya Rahane made a century and India's lower-order showed yet more resistance.

Despite taking a first-innings lead, the hosts suffered yet another demoralising Test defeat on the back of their Ashes whitewash and a series reverse to Sri Lanka, so Cook and his side face a major test of character at a ground that has only hosted one Test  previously.

Cook must do without the experience of wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who has opted to take a break from cricket due to injury problems - a decision that could spell the end of his international career.

Lancashire's Jos Buttler will make his Test debut on Sunday, and the 23-year-old is determined to prove he is capable of performing in the longest format of the game, having made a name for himself as a dangerous wicketkeeper-batsman in limited-overs cricket.

Buttler previously raised doubts as to whether he was ready for the Test format, but he is now ready to embrace the challenge of replacing Prior.

He told the England and Wales Cricket Board's official website: "I think maybe mentally I've got over the fact that I'm closer to playing Test cricket than I thought I was at that stage.

"I'm probably far from the finished article, I know that, and I don't think anyone would be at this stage of their career.

"I'm really happy with where my cricket is and I’m just delighted that I’ve got this chance and I'm determined to enjoy it."

England's premier seamer James Anderson has been cleared to play in the third Test, as his International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing into a level three charge following an altercation with Ravindra Jadeja during the first Test at Trent Bridge has been set for next Friday.

All-rounder Jadeja was fined 50 per cent of his match fee on Friday for his part in the fracas during the lunch interval on day two.

Chris Jordan is waiting in the wings for a recall to the England side, with Ben Stokes under pressure having failed to score a run in his last three innings, while Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes is also hoping for a place.

India's victory at Lord's ended a run of 15 Tests without winning away from home and skipper MS Dhoni will no doubt fancy their chances of capitalising on England's vulnerability by taking a firm grip on the series.

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