India vs England: Tourists kept in check despite Keaton Jennings' early heroics at the crease

England 288-5, India yet to bat: After the visitors reached tea on 196 for two, Virat Kohli's men hit back to ensure the contest remains balanced heading into the second day of the fourth Test

Jennings celebrates after hitting his first Test century in Mumbai (Reuters)

Keaton Jennings produced a dream start to his international career to become the first England batsman to score Test hundred on debut for seven years. However, the hopes of Alastair Cook’s side in this contest remain in the balance after an evening fightback from India’s bowlers.

Cook’s side reached stumps on the first day of this fourth Test on 288 for five. It’s hardly a bad position but it is probably worse than they expected it to be after they had reached tea on 196 for two.

By then Jennings, the Durham opener only playing as an injury replacement for Haseeb Hameed, had reached three figures, bringing up his hundred with an impudent reverse sweep off Jayant Yadav.

Yet three wickets in the final session from India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin – including Jennings for 112 – checked the progress England had made after winning the toss in the morning.

At 2-0 down in the series with just two Tests to play, Jennings’ timing was perfect in every sense.

The 24-year-old, who had only flown into Mumbai on Monday from an England Lions tour of the UAE, did have a nervy start, dropped on nought off the bowling of Umesh Yadav and escaping an Indian lbw review on 10 thanks to the Umpire’s Call element of DRS on impact.

Yet the 24-year-old Johannesburg-born batsman recovered superbly to follow another South African-raised player in Jonathan Trott to post a century on debut.

Trott was the last England batsman to achieve the feat in 2009, memorably plundering 119 against Australia at The Oval in the final Ashes Test of that summer.

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow (Reuters)

Only 19 England players have ever made a century in their first Test – among them Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Graham Thorpe and WG Grace.

Whether Jennings’ career trajectory will be as spectacular as any of those players remains to be seen.

But he has made a good start.

Jennings only qualified for England in April of this year. Despite the fact his mother was born in Sunderland, he had to serve out a four-year residency period.

But after scoring 1548 County Championship runs at an average of 64.50 for Durham last summer, he was the man England turned to fill void left by Hameed’s broken finger.

The teenage opener was actually in attendance at the Wankhede Stadium after returning to India following surgery on his left hand last Friday.

Keaton Jennings in action at the crease during the first day of the fourth Test (AP)

It was a nice touch that he led the applause when Jennings reached three figures.

It was also reminiscent of Cook’s own debut against India at Nagpur 10 years ago, when he flew in from an England A tour of the Caribbean as an injury replacement to score a century in his first Test.

Jennings, Cook’s 11th opening partner since the retirement of Strauss four years ago, may eventually end up batting at No3 – he looks as though he could be Trott’s long-term replacement in that position if Hameed comes back to open.

Joe Root would have to move back to No4 for that to happen but England surely have to get both Jennings and Hameed into their side next summer.

As for the here and now, England will be frustrated they are not in a better position after this first day.

Cook was stumped, on 46 advancing down the pitch to Jadeja in the morning and Root, in the afternoon, was the victim of a superb catch at slip by India captain Virat Kohli off Ashwin.

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with team mates after Joe Root was caught by India's captain Virat Kohli (Reuters)

Jennings eventually fell for 112, edging to gully, early in the final session.

It came two balls after Moeen Ali, who had just posted his ninth Test half-century, top-edged a sweep as England slipped from 230 for two to 230 for four in one over from Ashwin.

The further loss of Jonny Bairstow, caught at deep backward square off Ashwin, reduced England to 249 for five.

Yet at least Ben Stokes, who on 23 became the second visiting batsman to survive an India review following a Jadeja lbw appeal, was still there at the end alongside Jos Buttler.

The pair will have work to do in the morning.

Someone else who thankfully also has work to do tomorrow is umpire Paul Reiffel, who was struck on the head by a throw from fielder Bhuvneshwar Kumar midway through the afternoon session.

The Australian, replaced on the field by third umpire Marais Erasmus, went to hospital for scans after lengthy treatment on the field but has since been given the all-clear to stand again on the second day of this match.