Chris Woakes handed England the early momentum at Trent Bridge as the hosts restricted India to 82 for three at lunch on the third Test’s opening day.

Woakes bagged three for 18 from 6.4 overs in a fine opening session, with England seeking victory to wrap up a series win with two matches to spare.

Ben Stokes endured a frustrating and low-key return to action following his acquittal on charges of affray, the all-rounder seeing his seven wicketless overs go for 29 runs .

And so it turned to Woakes to make the breakthrough, the 29-year-old the early pick of England’s bowlers after captain Joe Root won the toss and put the tourists into bat.

England v India – Specsavers Third Test – Day One – Trent Bridge
Chris Woakes set England off and running in the third Test against India (Tim Goode/PA)

Woakes scooped the man of the match award as England thrashed India by an innings and 159 runs in the second Test at Lord’s, and was immediately back in the thick of it in Nottingham.

India appeared comfortable from the off despite the overcast conditions and coped manfully with a pitch lacking the pace of the first two Tests.

The tourists would have been delighted to reach 60 without loss, only then for Woakes to strike.

The Warwickshire seamer drew Shikhar Dhawan into edging to Jos Buttler for 35, and two overs later he dismissed Lokesh Rahul leg before for 23.

Cheteshwar Pujara then holed out to Adil Rashid in the deep, again off Woakes’ bowling, off the final ball of the session to leave captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to return to the crease after the interval.