The weakened bowling attack showed on the first day of the match, when Somerset scored 329 for the loss of two wickets from a rain-reduced 75 overs.

Andrew McGlashan, summarising the day for ESPNcricinfo, described his innings as "commanding", and his shots "in good working order".

[15] On the third morning, Suresh Raina controlled the strike well to bat his way to a century and stake his claim for a place in first Test, dominating a final wicket partnership of 84.

Somerset once more look assured with the bat during their second innings, in which Strauss reached a century, eventually finishing 109 not out, and Peter Trego scored a rapid 85 runs from 57 balls.

India responded well initially, but were eventually bowled out for 286 with Rahul Dravid's slow defiant century being the saving grace.

Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann had a partnership of 73 runs and salvaged the innings for England who were eventually dismissed for 221.

In reply, India reached 267/4 with Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh sharing a partnership of 128 runs before England bowler Stuart Broad took a hat-trick, dismissing MS Dhoni (caught Anderson), Harbhajan Singh (lbw) and Praveen Kumar (bowled) and finished with his best Test figures to date, with 6 for 46.

[21] Alastair Cook made a mammoth 294 batting for two whole days, the sixth highest score by an English batsman, as England finished on 710 for 7.

[22] Indian batsman Virender Sehwag was dismissed for golden duck in both innings of the match – a king pair.