'What a disgrace': Virat Kohli savaged over 'horrible' India drama

Virat Kohli failed to put his money where his mouth is as England routed India for just 76 on the opening day of the third Test at Headingley.

Kohli continued a war of words with England on the eve of the match at Leeds, saying the hosts 'provoked' a match-winning reaction from India in the second Test.

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But his words backfired badly on Wednesday as a fired-up England side led by Jimmy Anderson skittled India for one of their lowest totals in Test cricket history.

England then responded with 120 for no loss to completely dominate the opening three sessions of the third Test.

Anderson wrecked India's top order with a three-wicket burst before Craig Overton and Sam Curran mowed down the tail to bundle out the tourists inside two sessions.

Haseeb Hameed (60) put on the team's highest opening stand of the summer, an unbroken century partnership with Rory Burns (52), as England had a day they could hardly have dreamed of.

"It doesn't get much better than that," the ageless Anderson enthused.

"You just have to make the most of it while it lasts. These days don't come around very often. Be happy when they do."

It was just the fifth time in Test history that England's openers had overtaken their opposition's total in the first innings as they built up a 42-run lead at stumps.

It was also just the third time that any side had taken all 10 wickets and taken a first innings lead on the first day of a Test without losing a wicket in reply.

The cricket world was left in disbelief over the crazy scenes.

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Coming after a demoralising loss in the second Test at Lord's which prompted serious questions about all departments of the team, this was just the riposte Joe Root's side needed as they look to get back into the series from 1-0 down.

Kohli had won the toss for the first time in the last nine Tests against England and elected to bat, only to be part of an astonishing 40.4 overs collapse triggered by some high-class seam and swing bowling led by Anderson, who took 3-6.

He gave England a perfect start, dismissing in-form opener KL Rahul in the first over after he attempted a drive even before getting his eye in.

Next man in Cheteshwar Pujara scored one before edging Anderson behind, the batsman looking in two minds about which way the ball would swing.

Anderson followed with the prize wicket of Kohli, who fell in a similar manner, and let out a roar celebrating the dismissal.

The 39-year-old seamer produced a swing masterclass in his opening spell of 8-5-6-3, while his new-ball colleague Ollie Robinson struck either side of the lunch break, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane for 18 and removing the dangerous Rishabh Pant with Jos Buttler taking his fifth catch of a busy morning.

India went on to lose four wickets in six balls without adding a run in a spectacular batting collapse, Overton taking 3-14 and Curran 2-27, with both bowlers at one point earning a crack at a hat-trick.

Things couldn't have gone much worse for India, who lost Ravindra Jadeja to an apparent knee injury before the close.

The team's fielding was also poor, summed up by Rohit Sharma letting an edge slip though his grasp at slip for four as Haseeb, promoted to opener from No.3, brought up his third fifty in five matches.

Burns brought up his half-century in the penultimate over.

"When you bowl someone out for less than 100, you're never quite sure whether you have bowled well or the wicket isn't quite as good as you think it might be," Anderson said.

"To see both sides bat on it and the way they (England's openers) went about their business today, we just feel so calm."

with AAP

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