Leeds/Patiala, 23 June (Sports Desk)
On June 22, 2025, the third day of the first Test match between India and England at Headingley, Leeds, part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship, delivered an enthralling contest. Jasprit Bumrah’s scintillating five-wicket haul and KL Rahul’s composed batting ensured India maintained a slight edge, finishing the day at 90/2 in their second innings, leading by 96 runs. Despite Harry Brook’s near-century and England’s resilient lower-order fightback, the match remained finely poised, with rain curtailing play early. Below is a detailed account of the day’s events, drawing from multiple sources.
watch……https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zimC_dxQo9k
Morning Session: England’s Fightback Led by Brook and Pope
- England’s Overnight Position: England resumed at 209/3, trailing India’s first-innings total of 471 by 262 runs. Ollie Pope was unbeaten on 100, with Harry Brook on 0, having survived a dramatic no-ball reprieve from Jasprit Bumrah on Day 2.
- Early Momentum: The day began with cooler, cloudier conditions compared to the previous two days, offering India’s seamers some assistance. Prasidh Krishna opened the bowling, and Brook immediately signaled his intent, cutting a wide delivery for four and swiping a short ball for six in the first over.
- Pope’s Dismissal: Ollie Pope, starting on 100, added just six runs before falling for 106. Prasidh Krishna tempted him with a short, wide ball, which Pope cut straight to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps, giving India their first breakthrough. This ended a crucial partnership and shifted momentum.
- Brook’s Aggressive 99: Harry Brook, playing at his home ground, played a dazzling innings, falling agonizingly short of a century at 99. He survived two dropped catches (on 46 by Yashasvi Jaiswal and on 80 by Rishabh Pant off Ravindra Jadeja) and capitalized on India’s fielding lapses. Brook’s innings featured audacious shots, including a charge down the pitch to slap Bumrah through cover and consecutive boundaries off Prasidh Krishna. However, India’s short-ball strategy paid off when Brook top-edged a pull shot off Krishna to Shardul Thakur at deep backward square, departing to a stunned Headingley crowd. His 99 set up a one-innings shootout.
- Bumrah’s Brilliance: Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler, consistently challenging England’s batsmen. He dismissed Ben Stokes, caught by Pant off a wide delivery that Stokes edged while attempting a cut, ending the England captain’s resistance. Bumrah’s fiery spell also accounted for Joe Root on Day 2 (28, caught by Karun Nair), and he later cleaned up Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue to complete his five-wicket haul (5/83). This was his third five-for in England, underlining his class as a bowler.
- England’s Lower-Order Resilience: Despite losing key wickets, England’s lower order fought back impressively. Jamie Smith (40) matched Brook’s attacking tempo but fell to a short-ball trap, caught by Sai Sudharsan off Prasidh Krishna after a successful review overturned an initial lbw decision. Chris Woakes (2,000 Test runs milestone) and Brydon Carse added a crucial 55-run stand, with Woakes hitting consecutive sixes off Prasidh Krishna to reduce the deficit to just 30 runs. England’s last five wickets added 189 runs in 35.5 overs, a stark contrast to India’s collapse of 5/24 in their first innings.
- England’s Total: England were bowled out for 465, just six runs short of India’s 471, giving India a slender first-innings lead. Bumrah (5/83), Prasidh Krishna (3 wickets), and Mohammed Siraj (2 wickets) were India’s wicket-takers, while Shardul Thakur struggled, leaking 38 runs in six overs. India’s decision to pick Thakur over Kuldeep Yadav was increasingly questioned, as spin could have been effective against England’s lower order.
watch…….ICC Hall of Fame Inducts Seven New Legends Afternoon Session: India’s Second Innings Begins
- India’s Batting Approach: With a six-run lead, India began their second innings cautiously, aiming to build a substantial target. The cloudy conditions and swinging ball tested openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul against England’s pace attack of Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse.
- Early Overs: Jaiswal faced the first ball from Woakes, surviving a probing over, while Rahul played with characteristic elegance, driving Woakes for two boundaries in the third over. Carse bowled a short ball to Jaiswal, who pulled uncomfortably for four. India reached 16/0 after three overs.
- Jaiswal’s Dismissal: Brydon Carse struck for England, dismissing Jaiswal for a low score (exact runs not specified in sources, but he was out early). This brought debutant Sai Sudharsan to the crease, who got off the mark with a boundary off his first ball but appeared nervous.
- Rahul’s Composure: KL Rahul anchored the innings, finishing unbeaten on 47 off 75 balls (7 fours). His disciplined approach, leaving balls outside off-stump and punishing anything too full, kept India steady. He shared a 30-run partnership with Sudharsan, who scored 30 off 48 balls before falling to Ben Stokes.
- Sudharsan’s Departure: Stokes, bowling with control, dismissed Sudharsan three overs before the close of play, caught by Zak Crawley for 30. This wicket came at a crucial juncture, leaving India at 82/2. Shubman Gill, India’s captain, joined Rahul, scoring 6 off 10 balls (1 four) before rain intervened.
Evening Session: Rain Curtails Play
- Rain Interruption: Light but persistent rain arrived at 6:04 PM, just before the scheduled close of play at 6:00 PM. Stokes attempted to rush through overs by employing Shoaib Bashir’s spin, but the umpires called off play after a heavy burst. India finished at 90/2 (23.5 overs), with Rahul (47*) and Gill (6*) at the crease, leading by 96 runs.
- Conditions and Outlook: The match was described as evenly poised, with India holding a slight advantage due to their lead and Rahul’s form. However, England’s bowlers, particularly Stokes and Carse, showed they could exploit the conditions, setting up an intriguing Day 4. The forecast of rain over the remaining days added uncertainty to the outcome.
Key Performances
- India:
- England:
Talking Points
- India’s Fielding Woes: Dropped catches of Brook (on 46 and 80) and earlier lapses (Pope on 62, Duckett on 15) proved costly, allowing England to close the first-innings gap.
- Team Selection Debate: India’s choice of Shardul Thakur over Kuldeep Yadav was heavily criticized, as Thakur was expensive and ineffective, while Kuldeep’s spin could have troubled England’s lower order.
- Bumrah’s Workload: With Bumrah expected to play only three of the five Tests, his five-for highlighted his importance, but India will need to manage his workload carefully.
- Match Context: The game, part of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, saw both teams wearing black armbands to honor former England bowler David Lawrence, who passed away at 61, and victims of a recent Ahmedabad air tragedy. A minute’s silence was observed before play.
Summary
Day 3 was a rollercoaster, with England’s lower order, led by Brook’s 99 and Woakes’ late flourish, nearly overtaking India’s first-innings total. Bumrah’s five-wicket haul ensured a narrow lead, while Rahul’s composed batting in the second innings kept India in control. The early end due to rain left the match delicately balanced, promising a thrilling continuation on Day 4. India’s 96-run lead, with eight wickets in hand, gives them the upper hand, but England’s bowling attack and the unpredictable Headingley weather could still tilt the scales.
