The third Test between India and England in the five-match Test series is being played at the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground. On the first day, England finished with 251 runs for 4 wickets. The day ended with Joe Root and Ben Stokes batting strongly.
Root is just one run away from a brilliant century, while Stokes is playing a steady knock at the other end.
Toss and Team Changes
England won the toss and chose to bat first.
Both teams made one change each:
- England brought in Jofra Archer in place of Josh Tongue.
- India included Jasprit Bumrah, replacing Prasidh Krishna.
India’s Strong Start with the Ball
India started the match with a bang. Fast bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy gave India a great start by taking two wickets in his first over.
- First, he got Ben Duckett caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Duckett scored 23 runs.
- Then, he dismissed Zak Crawley, also caught behind by Pant. Crawley scored 18 runs.
This left England at 47/2, under pressure early in the first session.
Root and Pope Build a Strong Partnership
After the early wickets, Joe Root and Ollie Pope came together and stabilized the innings.
They added 109 runs for the third wicket in 211 balls.
India did not get any wicket in the entire second session, thanks to the solid batting of Root and Pope.
- Root played with great control and focus.
- Pope also supported well, scoring 44 runs with four boundaries from 104 balls.
Jadeja and Bumrah Strike in Final Session
In the third session, Ravindra Jadeja finally broke the partnership by dismissing Ollie Pope.
Soon after, Jasprit Bumrah bowled Harry Brook for just 11 runs.
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This brought England’s score to 172/4.
Root and Stokes End the Day Strong
With two new batsmen at the crease, Joe Root and Ben Stokes began to build another partnership.
By the end of the day:
- Root was unbeaten on 99 runs from 191 balls.
- Stokes was on 39 runs from 102 balls.
They have added 79 runs in 170 balls for the fifth wicket so far. Root looks all set to reach his 37th Test century on Day 2.
India’s Bowling Highlights
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 2 wickets in his opening spell – a great performance for a young player.
- Jasprit Bumrah: 1 wicket
- Ravindra Jadeja: 1 wicket
Even though India started strong, England fought back well with Root and Stokes at the crease.
What to Expect on Day 2
Day 2 will be important for both teams.
- England will hope that Root completes his century and builds a big total with Stokes.
- India will look for early wickets to stop the run flow.
The pitch at Lord’s seems good for batting, so bowlers will need to be smart and patient.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the match situation at stumps on Day 1. Match details and performances may change as the game continues. Please check official sources for the latest updates.
