Pandya’s career-best has India in cruise control at Trent Bridge

On day two in Nottingham it was Hardik Pandya stirring up a cyclone as England lost 10 wickets for 107 runs in 26.3 overs between lunch and tea

You have to hand it to them, when they go they go.

The undeniable fact is, that for all their talent, England’s batting line-up has the shining ability to collapse like a house of cards in a category five storm.

On day two in Nottingham it was Hardik Pandya stirring up a cyclone as England lost 10 wickets for 107 runs in 26.3 overs between lunch and tea.

With diamond studs flashing in the ears, the allrounder claimed a career-best 5 for 28 in a sparkling spell to rip away England’s morning-session momentum.

Brought into the attack by his captain in the 25th over, Pandya struck with his first delivery to remove the England captain. Joe Root edged through to KL Rahul at second slip which looked as though it may not have carried. The on-field soft signal was out and replays ruled that the decision could not be conclusively overturned. 

Root looked incensed. India jubilant.

^{India celebrate the wicket of Joe Root}

It was the same combination as Pandya picked up his second. Jonny Bairstow was squared up with a full jaffa that found the edge and then Rahul’s palms.

His next delivery drew Chris Woakes in like a hypnotised cat with the outside edge thoroughly beaten. Woakes replied with back-to-back fours but he was back in the pavilion before the over was done. A short delivery tempted the attempted pull and feathered through to Pant behind the sticks.

Adil Rashid was victim No.4 as Pandya sought out another edge and Pant received his fifth catch of the innings.

Stuart Broad looked to work a full and straight nut from the allrounder through the leg side which sailed into his pads. Utterly plumb. Pandya held the Dukes aloft.

Pandya has always been an allrounder with potential coursing through his veins. That potential, however, hasn’t always poured itself onto the pitch at the highest level.

Prior to this match he had taken 10 wickets in nine Tests at 39.30 with his best figures - 3 for 66 - coming at Lord’s last week. 

At times he has looked ropey at best. Today he had England in knots.

^{Jos Buttler top scored for England with 39}

Pandya's breakout performance was coloured with the story-writing of Hans Christian Andersen and the control of Jimmy Anderson.

India will just hope that inspired spell is not an anomaly.

When Jos Buttler - whose counter-attacking 39 pushed England beyond the follow-on target - picked out a sub fielder in the deep, the collapse was complete with England 161 all out.

England had arrived at lunch in a healthy-looking position of 46 without loss but when Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings fell in consecutive balls to Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, things unravelled at pace.

Both Cook and Jennings’ first balls were edged through the slips for four. Bumrah - who, aesthetically, is more mechanism than bowler - would have had a gift-wrapped wicket on his return to the side if there had not been a large gap in the slips. Kohli had a ruefully-wry grin smeared across his face.

Ollie Pope feathered Sharma to Pant down leg and Mohammed Shami had Ben Stokes caught at second slip before Pandya’s procession really gathered momentum.

With Trent Bridge enveloped in grey and spattered with drizzle this morning you could sense Anderson and Broad licking their respective chops with England needing four more Indian wickets.

^{Pandya claimed a career-best 5 for 28}

The pair took two apiece as they completed the task in 14.5 overs. Broad bowled both Rishabh Pant and Ravi Ashwin. Anderson had a slogging Shami caught at mid-on before turning Bumrah inside out with his next delivery to knock back middle stump.

It was the start of a promising morning for England but one that would give way to a shattering afternoon.

After finding their feet with the bat on Saturday, India have backed it up by making the ball talk and crafting themselves a match-winning position here on day two.

Stokes bowled Rahul off his pads after the opening pair had raced to 50 at six an over.

Shikhar Dhawan was squared up by Woakes but dropped on 34 by Cook - whose catching, despite taking a fine snaffle yesterday, is becoming a constant worry.

It would only cost 10 as the opener needlessly came down the track to Rashid  and found his bails being removed by Bairstow.

As the series threatened to fizzle out, Trent Bridge could be the turning point. India will return tomorrow with a lead of 292 and eight wickets in hand.