Joe Root gave out a clear message after England put up 263-3 on day one against India at Chennai.

“We’ve got to look to try and get as many as we can – 600, 700 if we can, really try and make the most of the first innings while it’s good,” he said.

Since Chris Silverwood took up the reins as head coach in 2019, England have focused on carving out big runs in the first innings, and that mantra is particularly pertinent in India.

In 2016, England crossed 400 on three occasions – one of those went past 500 – but still succumbed to a 4-0 series defeat in a five-match series away to their current opposition. India’s strength was to not only match England’s totals, but take themselves forward to colossal scores.

The hosts passed 400 in each of their first innings, and upped the ante in the final two Tests of the series: a score of 631 was followed by 759-7 declared in back-to-back innings wins. Crucially, that 700-plus score came at Chennai, where the ongoing Test is taking place. England began that match with a first-innings total of 477 but still felt 75 runs short of making India bat twice.

Big first-innings runs have been a key part of the formula India have put together in forming an enviable record at home in recent years – since the start of 2013, they’ve lost just one Test on home soil.

Since the start of 2016, India have crossed 400 in 16 of their 24 Tests at home (not including the ongoing match with England). That is more than any other side in the world on home soil, with Australia having done so on 12 occasions, from 27 Tests. In 10 of those Indian Tests, the hosts’ first-innings totals have crossed 500. On seven of those occasions, they’ve crossed 600, too. These mammoth scores have not stopped India from taking wickets on such run-laden surfaces: they have managed to win eight of the 10 matches in which they have crossed 500.

With that context in mind, Root’s message after day one can be understood more clearly – in hitting such a mammoth score they stole from India’s own playbook. Their current total of 555-8, where they finished on day two, is the highest by a visiting side in India in the last five years, trumping the 537 England put up at Rajkot in 2016. On that occasion, however, they were still only able to muster a draw.

The next 45 runs could be crucial. Losing having posted 550 is rare, but not unheard of. It has happened six times in Test history, including to England at Adelaide in 2006, a defeat which has scarred English fans. But no team has ever made 600 in a Test defeat.

England have put plenty of miles into the legs of the India bowlers too, having now batted for 180 overs – the longest any side has batted in the first innings by any side since West Indies in November 2011. No team has ever scored as many as England have and batted as long as they have and lost.

Dom Bess remains at the crease unbeaten on 28 from 84 balls, and with Root having set a target for his team, there is little doubt that squeezing out at least another 45 runs will be England’s first goal on day three. Will it be enough to set up a first loss for India at home since 2017?