India put themselves in a commanding position against England at Edgbaston

It says everything for England’s new-found belief and all-out attacking intent that they will still back themselves to chase whatever India set them in this rearranged final Test.

Yes, they conceded a first-innings lead of 132 on the third day at Edgbaston when they were dismissed for 284 by a mightily impressive India despite another wonderful display of stroke-play from a batter in Jonny Bairstow now touching true greatness.

And, yes, that lead was stretched to 257 for the loss of three second-innings wickets when India turned back the clock and played good old-fashioned Test cricket in their quest for the win or draw that will give them this series almost a year after they took a 2-1 lead.

There was frustration for England as India finished day three in a strong position

England were given a glimmer of hope after Ben Stokes managed to dismiss Virat Kohli

Cheteshwar Pujara (pictured) and Rishabh Pant saw India through to the close, with the visitors 125-3, 257 runs ahead

But England were as positive with the ball and in the field as they again were with the bat as they sought to keep India within reach and again royally entertain the Edgbaston crowd on another compelling day of Test cricket. Albeit one that ended a staggering 15 overs short of what should have been the day’s allocation, a new over-rate low.

First Shubman Gill edged Jimmy Anderson’s second ball of the India second innings to Zak Crawley at slip, then Stuart Broad, touching 90 miles per hour, had Hanuma Vihari driving loosely to Jonny Bairstow in the cordon.

England’s Joe Root shows his frustration during the third day of the Fifth Test against India

Stokes is congratulated by his team-mates following the dismissal of India’s Kohli

Stuart Broad celebrates after he managed to take the wicket of Hanuma Vihari

Rishabh Pant of India in action during his side’s clash against England at Edgbaston

Then, most dramatically, the key wicket of Virat Kohli was claimed by a brute of a delivery from Ben Stokes that bounced sharply, took the splice, was spilled by Sam Billings but then grabbed one handed as it fell by Joe Root.

We know England need a win to square this series. We know Stokes ‘isn’t interested’ in draws in this brave new world and we know England have already chased 277, 296 and 299 to win three Tests against world champions New Zealand in the last month.

So it is clear there will be no attempt to bat out time when India are bowled out or declare today, Stokes electing to bowl in this Test in the first place simply because he wants England to chase.

Bairstow took India’s bowling attack apart during a brilliant batting display on Sunday morning

He was aggressive from the outset, clearing the ropes on multiple occasions

Bairstow completed his century just after lunch, the 11th hundred of his Test career

It will be win or bust, even though India are providing a much tougher test than New Zealand and there are signs of uneven bounce in this pitch, and no regrets if it goes the wrong way for England.

Either way it will be eventful, which it was from the beginning of this third day. What a start and what a hundred from Bairstow, arguably a greater one than those at Trent Bridge and Headingley against New Zealand because of the quality of the bowling.

Shardul Thakur dropped a simple catch which would have dismissed Ben Stokes

Thakur could not believe that he had given the England captain a life early on in his innings

However, Thakur got his revenge when he had Stokes caught by Jasprit Bumrah

The first hour in particular was as good as Test cricket gets, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami providing a fierce examination of Bairstow and Stokes and the whole philosophy of this ultra-positive England side.

It was an examination the pair were struggling to get through until Kohli appeared to forget he was not the provocative captain of his country anymore. Bairstow was on 13 and had just missed a big drive when Kohli decided to engage him verbally, a pair of cricketers who had left the ground together bathed in smiles at the end of day two now seemingly exchanging angry words.

Umpire Richard Kettleborough had to move in to calm things down but England were happy because Bairstow is never better than when he gets, as Stokes said after Headingley, that look in his eyes and that fire in his belly.

What followed was a sublime display of controlled hitting from Bairstow against one of the best attacks in world cricket, swatting Mohammed Siraj for six and smashing Shardul Thakur over the longest boundary in Edgbaston and into the Hollies Stand.

Bairstow chipped Thakur just short of Che Pujara at mid-wicket on 78 and was given out lbw by Aleem Dar to Thakur on 89 but immediately reviewing knowing he had got the thinnest of inside edges on to his pad.

Otherwise Bairstow was in control, going to his first hundred against India and his first at this most patriotic of English grounds when a backfoot push off Thakur went to the boundary where Ravindra Jadeja slipped and mis-fielded. Cue another emotional celebration from Bairstow and the acclaim of a packed crowd.

He had taken 63 balls over those first 13 runs before Kohli’s intervention but the last 84 runs of his hundred came off 54 balls as he reached dizzy heights achieved by few English batters in making his fifth ton in his last eight Tests. And all of them began with England in big trouble after top order collapses. 

While Bairstow was controlled aggression personified Stokes again trod the wrong side of the fine line between positivity and recklessness. He slogged Shami high towards cover on 18 but was dropped by Thakur, the weak link of this India side.

Matthew Potts was the last man out for England after edging to slip

James Anderson took a wicket in the opening over of India’s second innings

Then the England captain was dropped at mid-off by Bumrah but, far from learning, attempted the same shot to Thakur off the next ball only to see the India captain claim an outstanding diving catch. 

Stokes, still seeking to set the tone for his team with his selflessness, could only smile at his misfortune before trudging off.

England’s chances of getting close to India disappeared when Bairstow attempted a big drive at the first ball delivered by Shami on his return to the attack after an opening spell that, in between the rain breaks on Saturday, lasted 18 overs. Kohli blew kisses as the centurion left the field.

India ended the day in control, with Pujara, warned for running down the pitch, unbeaten on 50 alongside Rishabh Pant. But there are two days to go, which England will consider plenty of time for them to pull off their best chase yet.