SOMERSET'S Jack Leach retained his place in the England XI for the first Test against India, but had a watching brief on the first day as skipper Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat first.

Leach and his ex-Somerset team-mate Dom Bess were favoured over Moeen Ali as England's spin bowling options, while James Anderson got the nod in place of Stuart Broad.

Taunton-born Jos Buttler also kept his spot, as Jofra Archer, Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes returned to the XI after being rested for the 2-0 series win in Sri Lanka last month.

The tourists made a steady start in Chennai, as openers Burns and Dom Sibley batted patiently and frustrated the India attack.

The breakthrough came when Burns allowed his patience to snap, attempting a reverse sweep and ballooning the ball up for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to make the catch.

Lunch arrived with England 67-2, after Dan Lawrence - promoted up the order due to Zak Crawley's wrist injury - departed for a five-ball duck, having been pinned plumb lbw by Jasprit Bumrah.

Root and Sibley successfully rebuilt, with Root reaching his 50th Test half-century as England moved past 200 in the 74th over.

The captain was racing along with sweeps, switch hits and drives, and he became just the 10th player (and third Englishman) to make a century in their 100th Test.

He leapt into the air and punched his fist, earning a standing ovation from the away dressing room in an otherwise deserted stadium.

India finally parted England's third-wicket pair in the final over of the day, Bumrah trapping Sibley lbw - the opener having made 87.

Root 128* is set to be joined by Stokes as England start the second day's play on 263-3.