Graeme Swann enjoyed a dream start to his Test career to spark England's fightback against India's strong batting line-up to claim the upper hand in the opening Test.

Just four days after landing again on Indian soil following a week of discussions about safety and security, England delivered a stunning display with bat and ball to dominate their illustrious opponents.

Their superb display was typified by debutant Swann, who became only the second bowler in Test history - following Richard Johnson's feat against Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street in 2003 - to claim two wickets in his maiden over.

Swann's achievement in claiming lbw appeals against Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid reduced India to 37 for three in reply to England's 316 and by the close of the third day they had slumped to 155 for six and trailed by 161 runs, a significant deficit on a pitch showing signs of wear.

Nottinghamshire off-spinner Swann had been handed the ball by captain Kevin Pietersen for the final over before tea and did not start promisingly, his first delivery cut powerfully for four by opener Gambhir.

He then had an appeal for bat-pad dismissed with his next delivery before striking with his next, winning an lbw appeal when Gambhir offered no stroke.

Confidence lifted by that breakthrough, Swann struck again three balls later to win another lbw appeal against Rahul Dravid, who continued a dismal run of only one half-century in his last 18 Test innings.

Facing a major first innings deficit, India were partly revived by a 61-run stand between Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman which threatened to turn the momentum in India's favour.

But two wickets in a spell of six deliveries put England in control.

Laxman drove Monty Panesar back down the wicket and England's left-arm spinner clung on to a sharp return catch.

That brought Yuvraj Singh to the crease and England immediately recalled Andrew Flintoff to try to test his weakness against the short ball.

Before he had the chance to face Yuvraj, however, Flintoff struck to remove Tendulkar with his first ball when the master batsman for once mis-timed his forward lunge and also gave a return catch.

Flintoff did finally get his man by clinging on to a Yuvraj drive at second slip after he attempted to play aggressively against Steve Harmison just overs before the close.

England had earlier frustrated India for 38.4 overs after resuming on 229 for five before they finally brought a halt to the innings despite dismissing all-rounder Flintoff in the third over of the day.

Matt Prior, playing his first Test in a year, guided the lower order resistance with an unbeaten 53 during an innings spanning over two hours and was given determined assistance by nightwatchman Jimmy Anderson.

Lancashire seamer Anderson resisted India's efforts for nearly two hours for his 19, exploiting a reprieve after he was dropped by Dravid at slip in the 10th over of the day off seamer Ishant Sharma.

He finally perished attempting a slog sweep against leg-spinner Amit Mishra, which picked out Yuvraj in the deep, and was quickly followed by Swann fending a sharply lifting delivery from Harbhajan Singh to slip.

Prior, who hit only one boundary in his patient innings, was left stranded by Harmison and Panesar falling in quick succession, but had still played a key role in turning around England's fortunes.