BIRMINGHAM: England declared their first innings on 710 for seven against India on the third day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday to leave India needing 486 runs just to avoid an innings defeat.

Alastair Cook was last man out for a career-best 294, with Tim Bresnan unbeaten on 53.

England's total was their best in a Test innings for 73 years and third highest of all-time behind the 903 for seven declared they made against Australia at The Oval in 1938 and the 849 they posted against the West Indies at Kingston in 1930.—AFP