Image Source : The Guardian
England’s third Test against India at Lord’s opened with a refreshing throwback to classical cricket, as Joe Root’s unbeaten 99 anchored the hosts to a resilient 251/4 by stumps on Day 1.
Key Highlights from Day 1:
-
England won the toss and chose to bat, a rare move under Ben Stokes’ leadership.
-
Nitish Kumar Reddy stunned early with a double strike in his first over, removing Duckett and Crawley.
-
Joe Root steadied the innings with a masterful 99* off 191 balls, showcasing patience and precision.
-
Ollie Pope contributed 44 in a 109run stand with Root before falling to Jadeja posttea.
-
Jasprit Bumrah returned with menace, dismissing Harry Brook with a sharp inswinger.
-
Ben Stokes added 39* in an unbroken 79run partnership with Root, though he appeared to tweak his groin late in the day.
-
Play was briefly interrupted by a swarm of ladybirds, adding a surreal twist to an otherwise gritty day.
Session Breakdown:
-
Morning: England stumbled to 44/2, with Reddy’s surprise burst unsettling the top order.
-
Afternoon: Root and Pope dug in, slowing the tempo and absorbing pressure.
-
Evening: Pope fell early, Brook followed, but Root and Stokes held firm to close the day.
Stat Watch:
-
Root became the first batter to score 3,000 Test runs against India.
-
England’s runrate of 2.91 was their secondslowest at home in the Bazball era.
Sources: The Independent, Cricbuzz, Sky Sports, The Economic Times, Devdiscourse, DNA India, Indian Express, MSN, The Standard.
Advertisement
Advertisement