England and India faced off on the opening day of the third Test at Lord’s, where the match unfolded on a slow and tricky surface that challenged batters and signalled a return to a more traditional style of Test cricket.
England, opting to bat first, began cautiously but suffered early setbacks against India’s disciplined seam attack. Amid the fall of wickets, it was Joe Root who anchored the innings with a composed and technically sound performance. By the end of the day’s play, Root remained unbeaten on 99, leading England to a total of 251 for 4.
Root’s innings, which came off 191 balls and included nine boundaries, stood out for its patience and classical Strokeplay. He built vital partnerships, first with Ollie Pope and later with captain Ben Stokes, who contributed 39 runs despite visibly struggling with a groin injury. The Root-Stokes stand was instrumental in stabilizing England’s innings after a shaky start.
India’s bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, maintained control through consistent lines and lengths. They were well supported by all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who picked up key wickets early in the day.
The match was marked by a few unusual events, including ball changes, a temporary stoppage due to a swarm of ladybirds on the field, and an injury to India’s wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Despite these interruptions, the day belonged to Joe Root, who crossed 3,000 Test runs against India and became the highest run-scorer in Tests at Lord’s.
With the series level at 1-1, the outcome of this Test is expected to play a decisive role. England’s cautious yet effective batting approach, highlighted by Root’s near-century, suggests a strategic shift in response to the challenging conditions at Lord’s.
