Intro:

England players take part in net session at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Friday (25th July), ahead of the third Test against India, which begins on Sunday.

Script:

There was little sign of dissent in the ranks of England's cricketers on Friday, as they went through a light training session ahead of the third Test against India at Hampshire's Rose Bowl.

Under-fire captain Alastair Cook led the players in a game of 'touch rugby' before taking part in a net session.

After the winter's disastrous tour of Australia, England were beaten 1-0 in a home series against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer - now they find themselves 1-0 down in the five Test series against India and critics are openly calling on Cook to resign.

Cook refused to step down as skipper after a 95-run defeat at Lord's on Monday, on a second-test pitch made to to suit England's bowling attack.

Having scored more Test centuries than any other player in England's history, Cook's form has plummeted over the last year-and-a-half.

He is currently averaging 23.6 in 27 innings since his last century 14 months ago, and his position has been further undermined by the lack of support on the pitch from some of his senior players.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior has withdrawn from the squad to address injury issues - and will be replaced by one-day 'keeper Jos Buttler in the only chance to the side which sibsided at Lord's.