IND vs ENG, 4th Test Day 1: With Dawson Back, Pace to Rule at Old Trafford, India Faces Bowling Dilemma

Here are some of the memes on X regarding the 4th Test match between India and England

England have named their XI for the upcoming Test, bringing in Liam Dawson to replace the injured Shoaib Bashir. This marks Dawson’s return to Test cricket after nearly seven years, adding spin variety and batting depth. India, on the other hand, must decide on a third seamer. While Jasprit Bumrah is a confirmed starter, the spot vacated by the injured Akash Deep will be contested between Prasidh Krishna and Anshul Kamboj. The final call could influence the balance of India’s bowling attack.

Given the predicted overcast weather, Old Trafford’s conditions and past performance indicate that pace bowlers will benefit more from it than spinners. While spinners average close to 40, pacers have claimed 477 wickets at an average below 30 since 2000. There have only been four successful fourth-inning run chases, with the greatest being 294 runs, indicating that chasing is still difficult. Teams that win the toss are therefore anticipated to choose to bat first.

The final day began in dramatic fashion as England snatched three quick wickets, leaving India reeling before fans had even settled in. But Ravindra Jadeja once again showed his grit, supported by an aging ball and a determined lower order. From 112/8, India’s last two wickets added a fighting 58 runs, forcing England to work hard for every inch. In the end, it proved too much for Bumrah and Siraj to carry through, as England’s persistence sealed a tense victory.

Shoaib Bashir delivered the final blow in the 61st over, bowling Mohammed Siraj with a sharply turning delivery to hand England a thrilling win. Tossed up outside off, the ball gripped, turned back in, and despite Siraj getting the middle of the bat in defence, the overspin caused it to roll back onto the leg stump. The bail was dislodged, and Bashir sprinted in celebration as England clinched the match. Siraj stood in disbelief, while England erupted in joy, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

Chris Woakes struck in the 46th over to break a crucial partnership, dismissing Nitish Reddy for 13 just before lunch. Bowling from wide of the crease, Woakes delivered a slightly short ball that straightened sharply. Reddy, back in the crease and looking in control, only managed a faint edge that flew to Jamie Smith at slip. England are now just two wickets away from taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

India’s collapse continued in the 52nd over as Jofra Archer dismissed Washington Sundar for a duck with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort. Bowling at 140 kph, Archer delivered a full ball angled into middle and leg. Sundar closed the face too early, and the ball popped off the outside half of the bat. Archer reacted swiftly, diving to his right and taking a clean catch just inches above the ground. India now in deep trouble as Archer keeps the pressure on.

Ben Stokes produced a game-changing delivery in the 50th over, trapping KL Rahul LBW for 39 with a sharp nip-backer. The ball cut in sharply and stayed a bit low, striking Rahul right in front of middle stump. With his bat stuck behind the pad, he couldn’t get it in line. Stokes was confident, and a quick review—backed by Joe Root—confirmed the dismissal. A massive moment for England as they inch closer to turning the tide.

Jofra Archer delivered a crucial blow early on the final day, cleaning up Rishabh Pant for 9 in the 35th over. Coming in for Carse, Archer angled one in from wide of the crease, and the ball nipped away just enough to beat Pant’s tentative defence. With no footwork and little conviction, Pant was caught in the crease as the ball smashed into the top of off stump. A vital opening for England as India’s chase takes a hit.

India’s chase of a modest 193 is hanging by a thread after a dramatic final session saw eight wickets tumble, including Akash Deep bowled by Ben Stokes for just 1. At stumps, India are reeling at 58/4, still needing 135 runs on Day 5. The pressure now squarely rests on KL Rahul and the middle order to pull off what should have been a straightforward chase however, this Test is far from over.

Brydon Carse continued his fiery spell in the 14th over, dismissing Shubman Gill for 6 with another sharp nip-backer. Gill, who looked uncomfortable from the start, was caught flat-footed as the ball jagged in and struck him on the knee roll. Ball-tracking confirmed it was crashing into middle stump. With India slipping from 41/1 to 53/3, Carse has turned the momentum firmly in England’s favour.

Brydon Carse provided England a key breakthrough in the 12th over by trapping Karun Nair LBW for 14. It was a classic nip-backer that came in sharply as Nair decided to leave it, misjudging the line completely. Struck on the knee roll, Nair looked defeated even before the umpire raised his finger. A costly error in judgment as India lose their second.

Jofra Archer continued his dominance over Yashasvi Jaiswal, dismissing him for a duck in the 4th over for the second innings running. Bowling a short, fast delivery at 141 kph outside off, Archer forced Jaiswal into a risky pull shot. The ball got too big, resulting in a thick top-edge that flew straight to keeper Jamie Smith for an easy catch. Archer’s spell remains a major challenge for the young Indian batsman.

Washington Sundar finished off the England innings with a superb four-wicket haul, claiming Bashir in the 78th over. A slightly shorter delivery that drifted away beat Bashir’s defensive shot outside the edge and crashed into off stump. All of Sundar’s wickets in the innings have been bowled, highlighting his precision. India now have a target of 193 to chase.

Jasprit Bumrah struck again in the 69th over, removing Chris Woakes for 10 with a sharp delivery that jagged back in. From a back-of-length spot, the ball nipped down the slope and stayed low, cutting Woakes in half as he dragged it off the inside edge onto the top of leg stump. Moments after a slight concern about his leg, Bumrah had England nine down, continuing his relentless spell at Lord’s.

Jasprit Bumrah finally opened his account in the second innings with a trademark yorker in the 67th over, sending Brydon Carse back for just 1. Delivered at high pace, the ball tailed in and beat Carse’s bat, crashing into the base of leg stump. Bumrah had been drawing the most false shots in the innings, and this dismissal was a long time coming. England’s collapse at Lord’s continues.

Washington Sundar delivered yet another crucial blow in the 66th over, dismissing England captain Ben Stokes for 33 with a superb in-drifter. Coming from around the wicket, Sundar got the ball to sneak under the bat as Stokes attempted a sweep. The fuller length did the trick, crashing into middle stump. With his third wicket around the tea break, Sundar has firmly tilted the momentum in India’s favour.

Washington Sundar continued his fiery spell in the 64th over, bowling Jamie Smith for 8 with a deceptive drifting delivery. Smith, hanging back to a flatter ball, misjudged the line and was beaten by the ball’s late movement outside off stump. The ball kept low before crashing into the stumps, halting Smith’s momentum and giving India a vital breakthrough.

India got a crucial breakthrough in the 61st over as Washington Sundar bowled Joe Root for 40 with a clever delivery. Much like Brook’s dismissal earlier, Root attempted a sweep but exposed his leg stump. The ball drifted in, beat the bat, and crashed into leg stump. The partnership was beginning to tilt the game toward England, but Sundar’s timely strike brought India right back into the contest.

Akash Deep got his revenge in the 22nd over by dismissing Harry Brook for 23 with a well-executed delivery. After being attacked in the previous over, he anticipated Brook’s unorthodox sweep and fired in a full ball angled at the stumps. Brook premeditated the shot and missed, allowing the ball to sneak behind his legs and rattle middle stump. Akash Deep erupted in celebration as India claimed another big wicket.

India continued their dominance in the morning session as Nitish Reddy dismissed Zak Crawley in the 19th over. Reddy tempted him with a full, swinging delivery outside off, and Crawley went for the drive—only to edge it to gully. Jaiswal, positioned squarer, reacted quickly to take a clean two-handed catch. After a few missed chances earlier in the series, he held on this time, dropping to his knees in relief. Reddy gave Crawley a send-off as India tightened their grip on the game.

Mohammed Siraj continued his brilliant spell, removing Ollie Pope for 4 in the 11th over with a sharp nip-backer. The ball jagged in and struck Pope on the back pad as he got caught in the crease with indecisive footwork. Siraj was convinced immediately, and after a quick chat, India went for the review — and it proved spot on. The Lord’s crowd erupted as India claimed their second wicket.

India got the early breakthrough they were looking for as Mohammed Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett in the 5th over. Duckett, showing early intent, tried to take Siraj on by going down the ground but ended up offering a simple catch to Bumrah. Siraj was fired up in celebration, even giving a little shoulder tap as Duckett walked off for 12.

At the end of Day 3, the Lord’s Test remains finely poised after India matched England’s first-innings total of 387. Interestingly, spinners extracted more average turn today than on the first two days, with Joe Root—who bowled nine of his 10.1 overs this session from the pavilion end—getting the most turn among the four spinners used so far. As the sun set over London (18:35 local time), the game remained perfectly balanced heading into the final two days, promising a tense finish where neither side has yet managed to seize full control.

In the opening over of England’s innings, Jasprit Bumrah tested Zak Crawley with a superb mix of outswing and seam movement under fading light. Crawley managed a couple of runs off his pads (0.2) but was later struck painfully on the glove by a ball that kicked up sharply (0.5), prompting a visit from the physio. Tensions flared as India’s players, led by Gill, exchanged words with Crawley over perceived time-wasting, while Duckett stepped in to calm things down. Bumrah finished the over with a beauty that beat Crawley outside off (0.6), wrapping up an intense and eventful day’s play. 

In the 120th over, Jofra Archer struck the final blow by dismissing Washington Sundar for 23. After Sundar missed an attempted pull off the previous short ball (119.1), Archer adjusted his plan and bowled another short delivery that induced a mistimed shot, leading to a catch by Harry Brook. Sundar’s patient knock, which included a four and a six, came to an end as India’s innings closed. Archer’s sharp tactics sealed the innings, ensuring England head into their second innings with a narrow psychological edge. 

In the 119th over, Chris Woakes delivered a perfectly angled good length ball around off stump that proved too good for Jasprit Bumrah, who edged it through to keeper Jamie Smith and departed without scoring (0 off 8). Just a ball earlier (118.3), Washington Sundar had calmly flicked a single to midwicket to level the scores, bringing India right alongside England’s total. As Bumrah trudged back, Sundar stayed composed in the middle, while Gill and Pant watched on from the dressing room, sharing a word with Siraj, who now looks set to walk in next.

In the 117th over, Brydon Carse brought Akash Deep’s brief but entertaining stay to an end. After hitting a spirited six earlier, Akash Deep couldn’t resist another attacking shot and ended up offering a catch to Harry Brook. The tailender departed for 7 off 10 balls, leaving England just a wicket away from wrapping up the innings. It was a short but lively cameo that gave India a few extra runs, while Carse’s breakthrough edged England closer to closing out the innings.

In the 116th over, Akash Deep stunned the crowd and England alike by launching the very first delivery from Jofra Archer over the ropes for a six. Showing unexpected confidence and clean timing, the tailender stepped up to a challenging bowler and connected sweetly. The shot offered a flash of entertainment and a reminder that even lower-order batters can contribute valuable, morale-boosting runs late in the innings.

In the eventful 114th over, Akash Deep faced a searching examination from Chris Woakes, who twice had him given out lbw by umpire Sharfuddoula—only for both decisions to be overturned on review. On the first appeal (113.3), the ball nipped back sharply but was shown to miss leg stump and go over the top. Just two balls later (113.5), another nip-backer struck Akash Deep high on the back pad, but ball-tracking again saved him, revealing it would miss the stumps. Despite the fielders closing in with two slips and a leg slip, Akash Deep managed to survive, while a visibly surprised England team regrouped after seeing two seemingly confident appeals denied by technology.

In the 114th over, Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty knock of 72 came to an unfortunate end when Chris Woakes trapped him with a harmless full delivery drifting down leg. Jadeja flicked at it, only to feather a fine edge behind, where keeper Jamie Smith took an excellent diving catch with his right glove. The dismissal, often known as a “leg-side strangle,” handed England the breakthrough they were waiting for. As Akash Deep walked in to bat next, India’s lower order faced the task of narrowing the deficit, while Bashir remained off the field, adding to England’s temporary bowling concerns.

Nitish Kumar out on 30. Washington Sundar joins steady Jadeja on the crease. India have registered a massive world record. They have become the team with most sixes (34) in an away Test series. This is just the third game of the series and the Shubman Gill-led side has already surpassed the previous record of 32 by West Indies against India in 1974/75.

Ind: 374/6 (109.43Overs) Trail by 13 Runs

India remain in control despite being five down, losing just one wicket in the session. England are yet to dominate even a brief phase of play. After a testing period around lunch, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy settled in well and batted with composure. Their partnership has put India in a strong position to take the lead.

Ind: 327/6 (95.4 Overs) Trail by 60 Runs

England have taken the second new ball, and it’s Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer who begin the spell. It’s a surprising move from Ben Stokes to leave out Chris Woakes, a proven threat with the new ball, especially against a lower middle order. Woakes’ ability to move the ball around the fourth stump could have posed serious problems for the current batters, who lack the technique of the top order. 

Ind: 299/5 (83.3 Overs) Trail by 88 runs

KL Rahul brought up his 10th Test century in 67th over (100 in 177 balls and then out), marking a memorable moment as he is the second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar (3 centuries) to score multiple centuries at Lord’s. However, his innings came to an abrupt end soon after. Attempting a drive to a tossed-up delivery from Shoaib Bashir, Rahul got a thick edge, and Harry Brook made an easy catch at first slip.

Ind: 258/5 (70 overs), Trail by 129 runs

A moment of poor judgment cost Rishabh Pant his wicket. After tapping the ball towards the off-side, Pant called for a quick single. While KL Rahul made it to the other end comfortably, Pant was caught short as a direct hit from Ben Stokes found the target. It’s a crucial breakthrough for England, especially as India had built strong momentum. Pant and Shubman Gill had put together a solid 141-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rishabh Pant was run out on 74. KL is still batting on 98. Lunch on Day 3.

Ind: 248/4 (65.3 Overs)

India enjoyed a solid first hour of play, adding 59 runs without losing a wicket. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant began cautiously, adjusting to the conditions, before shifting gears and playing more freely. India have now moved to 202/3 in 57.3 overs.

Controversy around the Dukes ball flared up again on Day 3 when Jofra Archer requested a ball change after the first delivery of the 46th over. The umpire conducted a gauge test, which the ball passed, and denied the request, much to Jofa Archer’s dissatisfaction. This added to the ongoing debate, with players from both sides having already raised concerns over ball quality throughout the series. Meanwhile, India are three down with Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul hope to reduce the deficit. 

England seized the momentum from India and posted a formidable total of 387 in their first innings. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer for India, claiming three early wickets and eventually finishing with an impressive five-wicket haul, earning his name on the honours board. However, the rest of the Indian bowling attack struggled to make early inroads.

By stumps on Day 2, India had lost three wickets and still trail by 242 runs. KL Rahul held firm with a composed half-century and remains unbeaten on 53.

At the close of Day 2, only 75 overs were bowled, with 22 overs lost over the two days despite the extra half-hour being used. The slow over rate is likely to draw the attention of the match referee in the coming days. India ended the day trailing by 242 runs, facing an uphill task but still in the game. While the cricket itself has seen moments of intrigue, the sluggish pace of play has added a layer of frustration to this Test, making every lost over feel significant as the contest unfolds. 

In the 34th over, England’s persistence paid off when Chris Woakes removed Shubman Gill for 16. With keeper Jamie Smith standing up to the stumps—a tactic England had used in the previous Test to keep Gill pinned inside his crease—Woakes bowled a teasing delivery that drew Gill into a false shot. Gill edged it, and Smith completed a sharp catch behind the wicket. The breakthrough came just as India looked to rebuild, underlining England’s tactical discipline and clever field placements.

Ben Stokes broke a steady partnership in the 21st over by dismissing Karun Nair for 40, thanks to a sensational catch by Joe Root. The ball straightened off a good length, caught Nair off the shoulder of the bat, and flew between keeper and slip. Root dived to his left and took a brilliant low catch with his wrong hand. After a quick check, the third umpire confirmed it was clean. With that, Root surpassed Rahul Dravid’s record for most Test catches — a milestone moment wrapped in brilliance.

Jofra Archer continued to bowl with menace in the 8th over, getting one to rise sharply into Karun Nair’s body. Nair was caught in an awkward position while trying to fend it off, and the ball ballooned off his glove, flying past leg gully for four. A lucky boundary, but a clear sign that Archer is keeping the pressure on.

Jofra Archer announced his return to Test cricket in style, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal in just the second over. Bowling at 145 kph, Archer got one to seam around off stump, forcing a leading edge off Jaiswal’s bat. The ball flew straight to Brook at second slip. England erupted in celebration as Archer was hugged by Bashir, marking a fiery start for the pacer.

Mohammed Siraj brought an end to England’s innings in the 112th over with a cracking yorker to dismiss Brydon Carse for 56. After testing him with various lengths, Siraj nailed a 137 kph delivery that tailed in late and shattered the stumps as Carse missed his flick. Gautam Gambhir was seen fist-pumping from the dressing room and signaling for a heavy roller. England are all out, and India will now gear up to bat.

Jasprit Bumrah has claimed his 15th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, dismissing Jofra Archer in the 110th over to leave England at 370/9. After an unlucky Day 1, Bumrah came roaring back with three wickets in the morning and capped it off in the second session. With this feat, Bumrah’s name will now be etched on the prestigious Lord’s Honours Board – a proud moment for Indian cricket.

Mohammed Siraj finally got his man in the 107th over, dismissing Jamie Smith for 51. After being dropped on 5 by KL Rahul earlier, Smith edged a lovely delivery that swung away from a good length. Substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel took a stunning low catch to his right, inches above the turf. Siraj celebrated with a gesture toward the dressing room — possibly signaling “2-0” — as India got a crucial breakthrough.

Jamie Smith reached another well-made half-century in the 97th over, flicking a full delivery from Nitish Reddy down the leg side for a single. Following up his impressive hundred and fifty at Edgbaston, Smith once again proved to be a headache for India. He raised his bat to acknowledge the applause, showing solid form and composure at the crease.

Just one ball after dismissing Root, Jasprit Bumrah struck again in the 88th over, removing Chris Woakes for a first-ball duck. A faint edge off a sharp delivery that nipped away was caught cleanly by substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel. Though the on-field umpire missed it, India’s review revealed a clear spike on UltraEdge. Bumrah now stands on the verge of a hat-trick, turning up the heat early on Day 2.

Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he’s India’s go-to man, dismissing Joe Root in the 88th over for 104. With the second new ball doing just enough, Bumrah bowled a fuller delivery outside off that nipped in slightly, took the inside edge, and shattered the middle stump. It was the 11th time Bumrah has dismissed Root in Tests. The crowd applauded as Root walked back after a gritty century, giving India a crucial breakthrough early on Day 2.

Jasprit Bumrah delivered a stunning delivery in the 86th over to clean up England skipper Ben Stokes for 44. Coming around the wicket, Bumrah landed it on a good length outside off, and the ball jagged back in sharply to beat Stokes’ defence. It crashed into the top of off stump, sending it flying. Another Bumrah special, just like the one that got Brook — India back on top!

The first day of the Test between India and England felt like a classic, old-school match. England, known for their aggressive Bazball approach, couldn’t find momentum throughout the day. Nitish Reddy’s strike in the 45th over pushed England on the back foot and gave India the upper hand—until Joe Root stood tall like a wall for his team. With Root unbeaten on 99, India is now all set for the Day 2 challenge.

At stumps on Day 1, after 83 overs, England ended their innings having scored at a patient rate of around three runs an over. On a hot day in London, the batters chose caution over flamboyance, carefully negotiating disciplined bowling and occasional uneven bounce. Joe Root, inching close to a well-crafted century, anchored the innings with trademark composure, while the rest of the batting order focused on survival rather than aggression. The slow tempo reflected England’s willingness to adapt and grind it out under testing conditions to build a solid foundation for the days to come.

In the 83rd over, Akash Deep tested Joe Root outside off, but Root calmly collected a couple of runs with a crisp square drive (82.2) and added another single despite playful goading from Jadeja at deep backward point (82.4). Stokes, meanwhile, safely saw off the rest of the over, leaving and defending as needed. With Root moving to 96* and stumps looming, commentator Mustafa Moudi highlighted Root’s remarkable record—103 scores of 50+ in Tests, the highest among active players. The over ended with Root smiling under pressure, just a few runs away from yet another masterful century.

In the 82nd over, Jasprit Bumrah immediately made the new ball talk, challenging Stokes with sharp deliveries that nipped back off the seam (81.4 and 81.5), even striking him on the thigh. Stokes remained watchful, leaving a couple of balls drifting down leg. Meanwhile, Root continued to keep the scoreboard moving, steering a fuller delivery past backward point for two (81.1) and adding another single (81.2). Bumrah’s probing spell hinted at the new ball’s threat, but England’s experienced pair managed to survive, mixing caution with smart placement.

In the 81st over, Akash Deep returned to the attack with the new ball available but not yet taken. Root and Stokes picked up singles with neat flicks off their pads (80.1 and 80.3), while the rest of the over saw Stokes leave deliveries outside off. Mid-over, play was briefly halted as a swarm of flying bugs disrupted proceedings, visibly bothering Bumrah and drawing complaints from Stokes to the umpires. Once play resumed, Akash Deep continued probing around off stump, but England’s pair stayed composed, calmly working the ball around to keep the scoreboard ticking.

In the 80th over, Ravindra Jadeja kept the pressure on with a mix of flatter deliveries and subtle flight. Stokes managed a single with a flick to long-on (79.3), though quick fielding from Nair forced him to hurry between the wickets. Root added another run by pushing into the off side (79.5), but otherwise defended watchfully against Jadeja’s skiddy deliveries that slid on with the arm. With the second new ball approaching, England’s batters played it safe, content to rotate the strike and wait for easier scoring opportunities.

In the 79th over, England’s batters mixed caution with controlled aggression against Washington Sundar. Root showcased his versatility by immediately executing a reverse-sweep off the second ball he faced (78.5), picking up a single to deep backward point. Stokes, meanwhile, worked a couple of singles on the leg side by neatly flicking Sundar’s drifting deliveries. Bowling around the wicket to Root, Sundar tried to vary his angle and flight, but England’s experienced duo continued to rotate the strike, ensuring steady progress even as the spinners probed.

In the 78th over, Ravindra Jadeja produced a testing spell that highlighted the pitch’s unpredictable nature. One delivery (77.4) spat off a length and turned sharply past Root’s bat, prompting a loud caught-behind appeal, while another (the no-ball) stayed alarmingly low and forced keeper Jurel into a sharp take. Despite the probing lines and bounce, Root stayed watchful, blocking out the rest of the over and wisely abandoning thoughts of risky singles given Stokes’ physical discomfort. This over underlined how the surface is starting to misbehave, adding tension to England’s steady progress.

In the 76th over, Ravindra Jadeja kept the pressure on with a probing line and attacking field, but Joe Root broke the shackles in style off the final delivery, sweeping a full ball to deep mid-wicket for four. Earlier in the over, Stokes added a single by working a turning delivery through square leg, while Root also collected a run with a flick past mid-on. Despite slip and short leg lurking, England’s pair managed to rotate strike and then cap the over with that confident boundary, showing both caution and intent as they steered England into a stronger position.

In the 75th over, Washington Sundar mixed sharp in-drift with clever flight to challenge both Stokes and Root. Stokes began by carefully defending balls angling into him, even digging out a tricky yorker-length delivery (74.5). Root managed to find a gap on the fourth ball, driving an overpitched delivery to mid-off for a single, while Stokes also collected a run with a flick behind square earlier in the over. Despite Sundar’s probing lines and late dip, England’s experienced duo handled the threat calmly, continuing to build their partnership with quiet singles and solid defence.

In the 74th over, Ravindra Jadeja bowled a tidy maiden to Joe Root, keeping him pinned with a mix of quicker deliveries and subtle turn. Root, ever watchful, defended resolutely and found no gaps despite a couple of drives to mid-off and nudges towards midwicket. Commentator Arnav noted that this surface offers far more assistance for spinners than the flatter tracks seen earlier in the series. Even so, England’s position remains solid as Root patiently absorbed the pressure, ensuring no breakthroughs for India in this testing spell.

In the 73rd over of the innings, bowled by Washington Sundar, England’s batters adopted a measured approach. Root managed to collect a single off the third delivery (72.3) by tucking a turning ball behind square, while Stokes played out the rest of the over with patience. Sundar varied his lengths cleverly—some deliveries drifted in sharply, others turned away outside off—but both Root and Stokes resisted any temptation to force the pace. The over reflected England’s willingness to slow things down and absorb pressure, waiting for the right moments to counterattack.

In the 72nd over of the innings (bowled by Nitish Reddy), England offered a glimpse of their tactical flexibility. After a steady single from Stokes off the first ball, Joe Root showcased a flash of aggression on the fourth delivery (71.3), dancing down the track to loft a stylish drive past the non-striker for four. Yet, the rest of the over was marked by composed defence and smart rotation, with Root adding another run through a cut shot and Stokes carefully seeing off probing deliveries outside off. As Nikhil aptly noted in commentary, this over underlined how England can seamlessly switch gears from the high-octane ‘Bazball’ approach to classical Test match batting when conditions demand.

Nitish Reddy continued to apply pressure with a disciplined over, conceding just a single to Stokes on the final ball. The rest of the over featured tight lines and good length deliveries, with Stokes unable to find gaps or get any momentum going.

Washington Sundar kept things tidy from his end, giving away just two singles in the over. Both Root and Stokes played cautiously, opting for soft flicks and pushes. There were no boundaries, but India managed to control the flow without any real chances.

Nitish Reddy came close to breaking through as India reviewed a strong LBW appeal against Stokes, only for ball-tracking to return umpire’s call. The English skipper added four runs with a fine glance off his pads and went after a wide one later but missed. A mix of drama and frustration for India.

Washington Sundar kept a tight line in the 66th over, mixing up his angles from wide of the crease. Both Ben Stokes and Joe Root rotated strike smartly, with Root flicking one and driving another for a quick single, while Stokes added three more with a cut and a well-placed clip.

Mohammed Siraj kept it tight to Joe Root in the 66th over, conceding just one run. He beat the bat, drew a muted LBW appeal, and showed maturity after Root pulled out late due to movement behind the bowler’s arm. Root finally got a single with a wristy pull to fine leg.

Washington Sundar continued to apply pressure in the 65th over, sticking to a disciplined line. While most deliveries were safely defended by Stokes, both batters managed a single each to keep the scoreboard moving. Root’s calm glance to fine leg helped bring up another run as England stayed solid.

In the 64th over, Siraj bowled a mix of deliveries to Ben Stokes, who carefully accumulated runs and brought up his 200. Stokes played with patience, working singles and a couple of quick twos, while Root supported well at the other end. The innings showed signs of stability as England continued their steady build.

Washington Sundar bowled a tricky 63rd over to Ben Stokes, mixing up pace and line expertly. Stokes managed to defend well, with Sundar drifting the ball and tempting drives that just missed the edge. Despite some solid shots to cover, Sundar kept tight control, not giving Stokes any easy runs.

Mohammed Siraj switched to the Nursery End and bowled a tight 62nd over to Ben Stokes. Stokes managed a couple of runs with a flick and a slice, but Siraj maintained pressure with full and good length deliveries just outside off stump. Gill has now used all his frontline bowlers except Washington Sundar, who bowled only one over.

Ravindra Jadeja bowled a patient 60th over, tempting Joe Root into some drives but keeping things tight. Root defended well and played carefully, while Ben Stokes took a single to keep the strike rotating. Jadeja’s control kept the pressure on the England batsmen.

Akash Deep bowled the 60th over with good length and pace, trying to keep things tight. Joe Root and Ben Stokes rotated the strike well, picking singles and a couple of runs. Root showed good footwork but was beaten a few times, while Stokes stayed patient, playing some cautious shots.

Ravindra Jadeja bowled a disciplined 58th over, mixing full and quicker deliveries that kept Ben Stokes and Joe Root on the back foot. Stokes defended well but managed just a single off the thick outside edge. Root rotated the strike with singles, helping England keep the scoreboard ticking.

Akash Deep bowled a tricky 58th over with some good length deliveries, but Ben Stokes showed his intent with two powerful boundaries. A well-timed cut and a big hit over backward point broke the pressure. Meanwhile, Joe Root kept the strike rotating with singles, helping England maintain momentum.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a controlled 56th over, mixing pace and movement expertly. Stokes got off the mark with a flick for two but was otherwise kept on the back foot by some unplayable deliveries. Root rotated the strike with a neat single while Bumrah’s late swing and bounce kept the batsmen guessing.

Akash Deep bowled a tidy 56th over, maintaining good line and length. Stokes played cautiously, tapping and leaving balls outside off without taking risks. Meanwhile, Root worked the ball around for a quick single, helping keep the scoreboard ticking. India continued to apply steady pressure.

In the 55th over, Jasprit Bumrah bowled with sharp pace and control. He tested Ben Stokes with a fast bumper, which the new batter skillfully avoided. The over ended with a crucial breakthrough as Bumrah trapped Harry Brook with a quick nip-backer that sneaked past his defense to hit the off stump. Brook was dismissed for 11 runs, giving India a major boost.

Jasprit Bumrah delivered a crucial breakthrough after tea, bowling out England’s top batter, Harry Brook. The 140 kph nip-backer darted in sharply, beating Brook’s defense and crashing into the off stump. India’s number one bowler reasserted his dominance with a vital wicket.

Jadeja bowled tightly, mixing up arm-balls and fuller deliveries to keep Root and Brook on their toes. Both batsmen played cautiously, taking singles when available and maintaining a steady rhythm without taking undue risks.

Bumrah’s pace and bounce troubled Brook, who faced some tricky deliveries, including a sharp short ball that hit him on the pads. Brook stayed cautious, while Root used quick footwork to rotate the strike and add valuable runs for his team.

In the 51st over, Bumrah overpitches and Brook capitalizes with a well-placed drive for four runs, finding the gap wide of cover. Root follows with an easy single, keeping the scoreboard ticking. A close caught-behind chance off a short bouncer sparks an appeal, but the umpire is unmoved and India’s captain Gill opts not to review. Root remains solid, defending and playing cautiously through the rest of the over.

In the 49th over, Ravindra Jadeja continued his tight bowling, keeping England’s batsmen on their toes. Harry Brook got off the mark with a neat single on the first ball, driving square on the off-side.

Root responded well too, tapping a quick single to the left of cover. Jadeja’s deliveries kept varying in pace and length, with Brook defending solidly but yet to open his account with a boundary. The field shifted as silly point moved to gully, ready to support Jadeja’s spin attack.

In the 45th over, Ravindra Jadeja delivered a clever spinning ball that led to Ollie Pope’s dismissal. After a motivating team huddle, Jadeja bowled a teasing delivery that spun away from Pope outside off stump. Trying to drive with force, Pope edged the ball to substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel, who made a sharp catch to send him back for 44 runs off 104 balls.

In an unusually slow and attritional second session, England managed only 70 runs from 24 overs at a rate of 2.91 per over — their second slowest home Test session in the Bazball era. India bowled with discipline but lacked luck, with the ball softening and offering little assistance. Root and Pope stood firm, while India lost keeper Pant to injury, replaced by Jurel. Jadeja’s brief spin spell showed some promise as India prepare for the final session.

Washington Sundar kept things tight in the 49th over, with Pope and Root cautiously rotating the strike. Pope worked the ball around but couldn’t find any boundaries, while Root managed a couple of singles. With fewer than 50 overs bowled so far today, the teams prepared for the tea break.

In the 48th over, Ravindra Jadeja made his entry with spin bowling, challenging the English batsmen. Pope showed caution, playing with soft hands and solid defence while Root took a quick single to keep the scoreboard moving. Jadeja’s flight and turn tested the pair as tea approached.

In the 46th over, Joe Root reached his fifty with a calm flick to fine leg, raising his bat to acknowledge the cheers. Root and Pope kept rotating the strike with singles, while Nitish Reddy bowled a disciplined spell, making the batsmen earn every run under mounting pressure from the Indian bowlers.

Ollie Pope showed some signs of release under pressure in the 45th over as he managed to pull a boundary off Akash Deep, easing some of the tension. He also picked up a single, rotating the strike smartly. However, Akash Deep continued to ask tough questions, especially with a delivery that cut Pope in half and another that brushed his thigh pad, drawing an excellent diving take from Jurel behind the stumps. Root, too, ended the over with a quick single off an inside edge, as India maintained relentless pressure despite England picking up a few runs.

In the 43rd over, Joe Root showed his class with a classic back cut for four off Nitish Reddy. The rest of the over saw disciplined bowling from Reddy, keeping it full and probing around off-stump. Root stayed cautious, defending solidly. Good news for India came through during the over — Rishabh Pant’s finger injury isn’t serious, and he should be fine. The new ball hasn’t made a breakthrough yet, but the bowlers are sticking to tight lines.

Drama unfolded mid-over as Shubman Gill walked up to umpire Paul Reiffel with the ball, clearly unhappy with its condition. After putting it through the measuring rings, the umpires decided it was time for a change. Siraj, meanwhile, had a quick inspection of Pope’s bat. The fourth umpire walked in with the box of replacements, and India finally got the new ball they’d been asking for. This could bring some fresh bite into the attack.

India nearly broke through in the 43rd over (beginning with 42.1) as Akash Deep got one to jag in sharply, trapping Ollie Pope on the thigh pad. Though the bowler was confident, the height saved Pope. Earlier in the over, Pope picked up a confident three through cover and followed it with a crisp drive for two. Root added a single off the back foot, but overall, England’s run rate continues to stay well below their Bazball standards.

Ollie Pope began the 42nd over with a classy drive through cover for three runs off Akash Deep. The umpires paused play to inspect the ball, possibly due to it going soft, but decided to continue with the same one. Shubman Gill wasn’t pleased and walked away shaking his head. England moved to 123 for 2, with Root on 41 and Pope on 27.

Akash Deep delivered a probing 41st over, almost getting Root with an inside-edge that narrowly missed the stumps on the first ball. Root managed a single with a flick off his pads, while Pope stayed solid in defense. Deep maintained tight lines, not offering much room to score.

Nitish Reddy bowled a tight over in the 40th, mixing good lengths and swing to challenge Root and Pope. Root managed a couple of singles, playing with a cautious approach and backing away at times, while Pope also rotated the strike with a well-timed run. The fielders were sharp, with two gullies in place, keeping the batsmen under constant pressure.

Akash Deep bowled a steady over, mixing full deliveries and back-of-length balls to keep Root and Pope on their toes. Root rotated the strike with a well-placed single to deep backward point while Pope struggled a bit, missing a pull shot and mistiming a drive to cover.

The field had two slips and a gully to keep the pressure high on the English batsmen. India may consider giving Jadeja a spell soon to try and break the partnership.

Nitish Reddy kept a tight line and length in this over. Root showed good judgment by leaving a couple of balls outside off stump and defending well, including a full delivery jammed back to Reddy that nearly resulted in a run out. Root also drove cautiously to the off side, finding the cover-point fielder.

Pope, on the other hand, took a positive stride forward and drove on the rise for a quick single, keeping the scoreboard ticking. The field was set with a short cover-point to keep pressure on the batsmen.

Siraj delivered a full ball just outside off, which Root defended forward carefully. Root then timed a lovely drive for four off a full delivery swinging away wide of off stump. There was also a leg byes boundary when the ball brushed Root’s pad as he tried to clip it away.

India’s bowling lengths have shifted this session, with fewer full deliveries and more short balls, keeping the pressure on Root and the English batsmen with smart variations.

England reached their 100-run mark in 35.4 overs—marking their slowest home Test hundred in the Bazball era. Nitish Reddy kept things tight throughout the over, troubling both Root and Pope with movement and bounce. Root managed to ease some pressure with a neat flick for three, but Pope’s late-cut attempts didn’t quite come off. There was a brief moment when one flew towards gully but didn’t carry. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, clearly in discomfort, was seen climbing up to the dressing room as Jurel continues behind the stumps.

In the 34th over, Siraj kept things tight and probing with sharp lines outside off. He nearly got Pope with a delivery that slid under his bat and also forced a risky single off Root, which could’ve cost Pope his wicket had Jaiswal’s throw been accurate. Pope managed to collect a couple of runs through cover late in the over, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Meanwhile, substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel was right into the action, collecting cleanly as Pant remained off the field, still nursing his injured fingers.

Rishabh Pant appeared visibly in pain after a delivery struck the fingertips of his already taped-up left hand. The physio rushed in with spray and drinks as Pant jumped around in discomfort. Having already received treatment earlier in the session, this latest hit proved too much. After a short delay and some consultation, Pant walked off the field. Dhruv Jurel, who was seen warming up on the sidelines, was brought on as the substitute wicketkeeper. Indian players grabbed some drinks during the stoppage.

Jasprit Bumrah continued to keep the pressure on with his mix of pace and yorkers. Pope remained watchful, collecting a single through the covers and surviving a sharp yorker. A wayward delivery down leg resulted in byes, while Root calmly added another run. Despite the effort, India’s fielders and keeper were tested, with Jurel seen warming up on the sidelines, possibly hinting at a change behind the stumps.

Mohammed Siraj maintained tight lines and lengths in a probing over, challenging both Pope and Root with movement off the seam. Pope managed to jab a single through square leg, while Root remained cautious, defending solidly and showing patience against the late swing and sharp pace. A sharp stop from Nitish Reddy at gully added to India’s high-energy fielding display.

Mohammed Siraj kept Joe Root guessing in the 31st over with sharp seam movement and variable bounce. Root was beaten multiple times — once pulling and missing due to low bounce, and then edging an attempted drive onto his pads. Siraj’s tight line outside off created pressure as Root searched for timing but failed to find any fluency. A probing over that tested the former skipper thoroughly.

Jasprit Bumrah tested Ollie Pope with a well-thought-out over, mixing up the angles and lengths. He started outside off, then brought the ball in sharply, even striking the pad once. Pope had a tough time reading the seam movement and was beaten a couple of times. A short ball down leg stirred a half-hearted appeal, but the umpire wasn’t interested. Bumrah’s precision and control didn’t fetch a wicket, but certainly kept the batter in check.

Siraj bowled a testing 29th over to Joe Root, mixing seam movement with consistent lengths. Root stayed alert, stepping out once but mostly defending from the crease. The deliveries skidded off the pitch, some nipping away and others angling in. Despite probing lines, Root looked solid, managing the over without giving any chances.

In the 27th over, Siraj continued to apply pressure with a good mix of lengths and sharp movement. Pope had a close call when an inside edge off a good length delivery got lodged in his pad flap—reminding fans of his dismissal in the last match. Root looked steady but couldn’t find the gaps, while one delivery cutting down leg resulted in a bye as Pant couldn’t collect cleanly. Despite no wickets, Siraj kept both batters alert with testing lines.

Starting the second session, Bumrah came in sharp during the 26th over with disciplined lines. Pope stood firm, defending confidently against the back-of-length deliveries. However, Bumrah offered a rare loose one on the pads, which Pope flicked stylishly through square leg for four. Despite the occasional scoring opportunity, Bumrah continued to test the batter with pace and movement.

The 25th over wrapped up the first session of Day 1 with Nitish Reddy keeping a tight line. Pope managed a quick single early in the over, while both batters played cautiously against full deliveries and subtle swing. Root ended the session by flicking one straight to mid-wicket as India maintained pressure right up to lunch. England head into the break with two wickets down and their middle order settling in.

In the 24th over, Bumrah bowled consistently on a good length, shaping the ball both into and away from the batsmen. Root stayed patient with solid defense while Pope looked to find gaps, taking a quick single and playing some aggressive drives, including one that was nearly caught behind. The Indian pacer’s disciplined line limited scoring opportunities, keeping the batsmen on their toes.

In the 23rd over, Akash Deep kept challenging Root with swinging deliveries, drawing a fine leg glance for four and a quick single. Pope contributed with a flick for three runs, while Siraj’s spectacular diving stop at deep backward square prevented a boundary. The bowling attack maintained control with sharp movement, especially from the Nursery End, keeping the batsmen under pressure despite their steady running between the wickets.

In the 22nd over, Bumrah applied pressure with sharp inswingers and well-directed deliveries outside off stump. Root showed his patience, leaving several balls and flicking selectively, though he was struck high on the pad multiple times. A leg bye raced away for four after Root missed a flick, adding to the scoreboard without costing a wicket. Despite some close calls, Root managed to stay calm and steady at the crease.

In the 21st over, Akash Deep maintained a disciplined line outside off stump, keeping the batsmen on their toes. Root and Pope focused on rotating the strike with singles, taking advantage of the occasional loose ball down the leg side. Despite some straight deliveries, the English duo stayed composed, leaving and defending well to keep the scoreboard ticking steadily.

In the 20th over, Nitish Reddy faced some resistance as Pope got off the mark with a powerful drive through cover for four. The bowler kept testing Pope with good length deliveries, but the opener cut and tucked with ease. Meanwhile, Root showed his class by timing a three-run drive past the bowler, forcing a sharp chase from Bumrah. Despite tight bowling lines, Reddy’s over leaked runs as the English batsmen rotated the strike effectively.

In the 19th over, Akash Deep operated from the Pavilion End and continued to maintain good control over his line and length. He tested Pope outside off with solid pace and drew soft defensive shots, while Root looked comfortable rotating the strike with well-timed flicks. With a short leg and leg gully in place, India maintained attacking fields, but luck continued to elude them despite several play-and-miss moments. The over highlighted disciplined bowling and steady resistance from the English pair.

In the 18th over, Nitish Reddy kept the pressure on Joe Root with consistent movement and probing lines outside off stump. He beat the bat twice in the space of three deliveries, drawing loose shots from the experienced batter. Root managed a single with a gentle push to point, while Pope remained cautious and left a delivery in the testing channel. Reddy’s control and subtle movement made it a testing over, showcasing his growing confidence in just his second spell.

In the 17th over, Joe Root began to shift momentum with two stylish boundaries — one a classy cover drive and the other a wristy flick off his pads. Siraj kept up his pace around 140 km/h and challenged both edges with movement and bounce. Ollie Pope, meanwhile, let a short ball sail through. Despite Root’s fluent strokes, the pitch continued to offer enough to keep the bowlers interested, as shown by the earlier false-shot percentage stat — 38.4% in the first 15 overs, one of the highest ever at Lord’s.

In the 16th over, Nitish Reddy maintained his rhythm after the double strike in his previous over. He kept Pope quiet with deliveries swinging into the pads and testing the off-stump channel, while Root survived a sharp bouncer that jagged away and rose steeply, beating him completely. Root managed to sneak a quick single earlier in the over, but India’s field setup remained sharp with multiple slips and gullies, keeping the pressure firmly on the new pair.

In the 15th over, Siraj focused on testing Ollie Pope with deliveries consistently outside off stump. Pope played watchfully, leaving most balls and defending a few with soft hands. The only real chance came early in the over when an outside edge dropped just short of KL Rahul at second slip. With both openers back in the pavilion, Pope looked determined to settle in, but Siraj kept the pressure on with disciplined lines.

The 14th over turned the game as Nitish Reddy delivered a stunning double blow, dismissing both Duckett and Crawley within four balls. Duckett fell first, gloving a short ball down leg straight to Pant, giving Reddy his maiden Test wicket. Just two deliveries later, Crawley edged behind, handing Pant his second catch of the over. In between, Ollie Pope survived a tough chance at gully and got off the mark with a single. Reddy’s introduction, a bold move by skipper Gill, paid off immediately with momentum swinging India’s way.

In the 13th over, Siraj kept things tight with a series of full and good-length deliveries outside off stump. Duckett managed to sneak a quick two with a neat flick, while Crawley edged one safely. A near run-out after a slip from Crawley added some light moments, but the batsmen mostly stayed calm, carefully negotiating the tight bowling.

In the 12th over, Bumrah kept Crawley and Duckett under pressure with a mix of sharp deliveries and precise lines. Crawley was beaten by a nip-backer that sparked an LBW appeal, but ball-tracking showed it was too high to review. Duckett managed a quick single despite a fumble in the field, while some deliveries just missed the edge or were left alone carefully by both batsmen.

In the 11th over, Siraj delivered a variety of lengths outside off stump to challenge Crawley. The opener showed good patience, softly dabbing the ball to backward point and leaving tempting deliveries alone. Despite a few wild swings when charging, Crawley mostly stayed composed and avoided giving away runs.

• 9.6: Good length ball close to off at 133 km/h; Duckett defends with soft hands to gully.

• 9.5: Length delivery outside off at 138 km/h; Duckett lets it go.

• 9.4: Back of a length at 135 km/h; Crawley tucks a single past short leg.

• 9.3: Full delivery on off at 136 km/h; Crawley nudges it off the outer half to backward point.

• 9.2: Back of a length outside off at 136 km/h; Crawley leaves it alone.

• 9.1: Slanted down leg; Duckett gently helps the ball to deep backward square for a single.

• 8.6: Crawley steps down but is met by a back-of-length ball; tries to whip it leg-side, misses, and is hit on the thigh pad. Ball rolls back to Siraj.

• 8.5: Crawley shapes for a big drive with a high backlift, but the ball angles in and he adjusts last moment to block it.

• 8.4: Cracking boundary! Full delivery outside off, Crawley doesn’t move his feet much but nails a fluent drive past cover.

• 8.3: 135 km/h fullish ball close to off; Crawley presses forward and defends with a straight bat.

• 8.2: Duckett gets one on leg-stump at 133 km/h and neatly tucks it behind square for a single.

• 8.1: Good length delivery angled across at 136 km/h; Duckett leaves it alone.

• 7.6: Length delivery outside off; Crawley leaves it, but it swings late and troubles Pant behind the stumps. Gill walks over to chat with Akash Deep.

• 7.5: Crawley shuffles across and is struck on the pad by an angled-in delivery; impact outside off, no leg bye as he’s sent back.

• 7.4: Best shot of the over — back of a length outside off, Crawley punches it in front of square for a controlled boundary.

• 7.3: Crawley throws his bat at a wide one and gets a thick edge that flies over the slips for four — lucky escape.

• 7.2: Slanted into the pads, Crawley misses the flick and is hit on the pad.

• 7.2 (No ball): Crawley drives beautifully through covers off a full, wide delivery for four — Akash Deep oversteps.

• 7.1: Starts with one down the leg side; Crawley misses the glance. Duckett walks over to calm him down and urges focus.

• 6.6: A sharp 136 km/h inswinger beats Duckett on the inside edge, but swings too much down leg — no LBW appeal.
• 6.5: Tight line at 138 km/h near off stump; Duckett presses forward and defends to the off-side.
• 6.4: Slightly short and outside off at 138 km/h; Duckett slashes it toward cover, not quite from the middle.
• 6.3: Angled in at 140 km/h and straightens off the deck; Duckett meets it with a solid straight bat.
• 6.2: Short of length at 140 km/h, Duckett handles the bounce and punches it to cover.
• 6.1: Length ball outside off; Duckett lets it go, and the ball doesn’t carry to Pant.

• 5.6: Big shuffle from Crawley, exposing all three stumps as he misses a clip; ball narrowly misses leg stump.
• 5.5: Fullish ball driven uppishly by Crawley; Washington dives at mid-off but it falls just short.
• 5.4: Crawley charges down the pitch, tries to go big but the ball nips away and beats the edge — signs of impatience.
• 5.3: Good length ball at 133 km/h with extra bounce; Crawley plays it softly to gully.
• 5.2: Fullish outside off; Crawley defends off the outer half to point — the short leg has forced him back into the crease.
• 5.1: Crawley dances down the track, but Akash Deep responds with a short delivery; it hits high on the bat and trickles to cover.

• 4.6: Ends the over with a nip-backer that catches Duckett stuck on the crease; no shot offered.

• 4.5: Duckett finds confidence with a classy straight drive for four off a full delivery outside off.

• 4.4: Angled delivery at 136 km/h down leg; too wide for Duckett to glance, no run.

• 4.3: Outswinger this time; Duckett waits and punches it through cover for two runs.

• 4.2: Painful blow for Duckett! Short nip-backer beats the inside edge and strikes him on the stomach.

• 4.1: Bumrah starts with a sharp deck-in delivery; Duckett is beaten on the inside edge, but it’s too high for an LBW.

• 3.6: Full delivery outside off; Crawley leaves it alone as it goes straight on.

• 3.5: Sharp nip-backer cuts Crawley in half; appeal for caught behind as the ball brushes his back pocket, but not out.

• 3.4: Strays down leg at 130 km/h; Crawley misses the glance, safely collected by Pant.

• 3.3: Back of a length outside off at 134 km/h; Crawley leaves it with no interest.

• 3.2: Nip-backer strikes Crawley high on the pad; stifled LBW appeal, no stride forward.

• 3.1: Beautiful delivery to start—back of a length, angles in and straightens, beating the outside edge with nice carry to Pant.

• 2.1: Starts with a 131 km/h full delivery on off; Crawley defends solidly with a straight bat.

• 2.2: 139 km/h fuller ball around off; Crawley taps it softly and takes a sharp single.

• 2.3: Back of a length at 138 km/h; Duckett stays behind the line and pushes it to mid-off.

• 2.4: Tempting length outside off; Duckett goes for a flashy drive but is beaten on the inside edge.

• 2.5: Close call! Full swinging delivery; beats Duckett’s inside edge as he tries to drive.

• 2.6: Good length at 140 km/h, angling into leg; hits Duckett high on the pad as he misses the clip.

• 1.1: Starts with a short ball down leg; Duckett leaves it alone.

• 1.2: Angled-in delivery at 133 km/h; Duckett defends straight to mid-on.

• 1.3: Back of a length, slanted in; Duckett tucks it behind square and runs two.

• 1.4: Good length ball nips back in; Duckett plays it close to his body.

• 1.5: Poor line down leg; Duckett glances it for four past a diving Pant.

• 1.6: Another leg-side ball; Duckett tries to glance but misses.

• 0.1: Bumrah opens with a 133.3 km/h good length delivery outside off; Crawley lets it go.

• 0.2: Another length ball at 132 km/h, outside off; no swing, Crawley leaves again.

• 0.3: Full delivery swings away, Crawley leaves, but Pant parries it—1 bye added.

• 0.4: Good length ball outside leg, squares up Duckett, edges it but falls short of Pant.

• 0.5: Full delivery on off, Duckett gets off the mark with a single to cover-point.

• 0.6: Fuller ball at 133 km/h close to off, Crawley defends with bat and pad together.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar marked a special moment by ringing the bell ahead of the third Test, just as the teams lined up for the national anthems, India’s first, then England’s. As the players walked out to the middle, it was clear the pitch looked less green compared to the day before.

In a twist from the earlier matches, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first in the third Test against India. This was unexpected, as he had decided to bowl first in the previous two games. Even India’s skipper Shubman Gill looked puzzled by Stokes’ sudden change in strategy.

England captain Ben Stokes, after winning the toss, said, “We are going to have a bat. Generally this surface has some help for the bowlers in the first hour. It (the mood) is good, well fought series and we are up for this game. The body is good. Quick turnaround, we are fresh and ready to go. Everyone likes playing at Lord’s and you have to enjoy the occasion. Just one change – Archer replaces Tongue.”

While coming to the toss Team India skipper, Shubman Gill said, “I was confused what to do till this morning. I would have bowled first. There would be something for the bowlers in the first session. Everyone chipped in and that’s what the discussion was about. The bowlers are feeling confident, wasn’t easy to pick 20 wickets on that (Edgbaston) wicket. I am feeling great, as a batter you expect to be in the middle of the situation and batting. We have one change – Bumrah for Prasidh.”

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir