Tourists India hit 18 deliveries to the boundary in an impressive opening session of the first Test against England.

On a flat Trent Bridge pitch, MS Dhoni won the toss for India and elected to bat - a decision that England skipper Alastair Cook said that he would have also made.

India began sharply, scoring 12 off the first over before James Anderson made an early breakthrough, removing Shikhar Dhawan for 12.

It would be the only wicket before lunch as Anderson's round-the-wicket delivery seamed away and nicked Dhawan's edge, with Matt Prior taking an acrobatic catch behind the stumps.

From then on, England's bowlers were frustrated, especially by Murali Vijay, who ended the session on 55 after sending 11 balls to the boundary.

He is joined at the crease by Chesteshwar Pujara (38), with India on 106-1.