India negotiated an awkward first morning of the final test against England at the Oval relatively smoothly on Thursday, reaching 72-2 at lunch as the hosts, leading the series 2-1, failed to take full advantage of overcast conditions ideal for their all-seam attack.

England and India shared the honours after the first morning of the fifth and final cricket test at The Oval on Thursday. After stand-in England captain Ollie Pope had won the toss and put India into bat,

England will be without skipper Ben Stokes at The Oval as the home team looks to seal a series win. England's fiery series against India comes to a close at the Oval with the fifth Test and the result on a knife edge.