Root eager to keep the fight on

While Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled superbly to put the visitors in the driver's seat at the end of Day 3 of the opening Test at Trent Bridge, the hosts still managed to keep the fight on.

Joe Root, who was 78 not-out, added 54 runs with James Anderson, who was unbeaten on 23. Before this, Root and Stuart Broad (47) had checked India's progress with a rapid eighth-wicket partnership of 78 in 85 balls, helping England recover from a dicey position at 208/7.

Speaking after the day's play, Root said Broad's quick-fire 47 off 42 and the defiant last-wicket stand helped England fight back. "Broady's innings put all the pressure back on them and a lot of credit has to go to Jimmy at the end, they have given us a great chance to get back into the match."

"Our top nine batsmen have Test hundreds. So they are not out and out specialist bowlers. They pride themselves in the way they can bat and it was great to see shift the pressure back on to India. They also took pressure off me and responded very well to the challenge," he said.

"The tea-break meant that India couldn't carry their momentum forward on this pitch and then Broad came out and played attacking cricket and put the bowlers under pressure. Anderson and Liam Plunkett played bravely in the final session and we were able to frustrate India," Root added.

There were a couple of decisions that went against the hosts. Robson was given out leg-before to Ishant Sharma on 59, although replays suggested a thin inside edge. With the Decision Review System not being used in this series because of India's objections, it was the end of a second-wicket partnership worth 125. Later, Matt Prior too was wrongly given out, adjudged caught behind, although replays suggested that it was bat hitting pad.

When asked about those decisions, Root said: "When you don't have DRS, it is a little frustrating. But you cannot moan about it. Until the ICC makes it mandatory for everyone to use, you cannot do anything about it, so you move on."

While Root and Anderson have batted well to defy the Indians, the visitors are still in control of the game. Root said he and Anderson will try to bat as long as possible and put the pressure on the Indians.

"We are not in an ideal situation, but we haven't lost yet. Tomorrow Anderson and I have to keep chipping away at this lead, and the more we do that the more pressure we will put on India and the more we will frustrate them," Root said.

"When we do bowl after that, we need to come out firing and put them under pressure straight away, anything can happen after that," Root signed off.