India vs England 3rd Test, Day 1 Report: Joe Root’s Unbeaten 99* Steers England to 251/4 at Lord’s

Lord’s, London, July 11 (Sports Desk)

On the opening day of the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Lord’s, England reached 251/4 in 83 overs, anchored by a resolute Joe Root (99*) and supported by an unbeaten Ben Stokes (39*). India’s disciplined bowling, led by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s double strike, kept England’s scoring rate in check, but dropped catches and a slow pitch allowed the hosts to build a solid platform.

Match Summary

• England 1st Innings: 251/4 (83 overs)

• Key Performers:

  • Joe Root: 99* (182 balls, 8 fours)

  • Ben Stokes: 39* (79 balls, 5 fours)

  • Nitish Kumar Reddy: 2/46 (15 overs)

  • Jasprit Bumrah: 1/49 (17 overs)

  • Ravindra Jadeja: 1/42 (14 overs)

• Toss: England won the toss and elected to bat first.

• Series Context: The five-match series is level at 1-1, following England’s five-wicket win at Headingley and India’s 336-run victory at Edgbaston.

Day 1 Highlights

England, opting to bat on a slow Lord’s pitch under cloudy skies, faced early pressure from India’s seamers. Nitish Kumar Reddy struck twice in the 11th over, dismissing Ben Duckett (17, caught by Rishabh Pant on a pull shot) and Zak Crawley (20, edged to the slips with a late outswinger), leaving England at 38/2. Shubman Gill dropped a tough chance off Ollie Pope in the gully, a miss that proved costly.

watch….India vs. England 2nd Test 2025: Shubman Gill’s Twin Tons and Akash Deep’s Ten Wickets Secure India’s Historic Victory at Edgbaston

Root and Pope then forged a 67-run partnership for the third wicket, navigating a wicketless second session. Pope (44) looked assured but fell immediately after tea, edging Ravindra Jadeja to substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel, who replaced Rishabh Pant after Pant suffered a finger injury. Jasprit Bumrah, returning after missing the second Test, dismissed Harry Brook (11) with a sharp inswinger that pegged back the off stump, reducing England to 172/4.

Root and Stokes then steadied the innings with an unbroken 79-run stand for the fifth wicket. Root, one run shy of his 37th Test century, played with trademark composure, while Stokes, battling a minor injury, showed resilience despite discomfort. India took the second new ball in the 83rd over, but Root and Stokes saw out the day, frustrating the visitors.

India’s Bowling and Fielding

• Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/46): Made the early breakthroughs, dismissing both openers in one over.

• Jasprit Bumrah (1/49): Bowled probing spells and induced an edge from Duckett that fell short, but got Brook with a gem.

• Ravindra Jadeja (1/42): Broke the Root-Pope stand with Pope’s wicket.

• Akash Deep (0/75) and Mohammed Siraj (0/63): Went wicketless despite disciplined spells, with Siraj taunting Root to play aggressively over the stump mic.

• Fielding Woes: India dropped at least two catches, including Pope by Gill, and lost Pant to injury, with Jurel taking over as substitute keeper.

Pitch and Conditions

The Lord’s pitch was sluggish, with minimal carry, prompting Bumrah to instruct the slips to stand closer. Early seam movement favored India’s bowlers, but the surface eased out, rewarding disciplined batting. The weather remained dry, with a clear forecast for Day 2, promising good batting conditions.

Quotes

• Shubman Gill (to teammates, via stump mic): “No more entertaining cricket, lads. Welcome back to the boring Test cricket.”

• Mohammed Siraj (to Joe Root, via stump mic): “Baz-Baz-Bazball! Come on, I want to see it.”

• Ben Stokes (pre-match, to ESPNcricinfo): “The mood is good. We’re pushing towards coming away from Lord’s at 2-1.”

Outlook for Day 2

England, at 251/4, are well-positioned to target a total above 350, with Root poised for a century and Stokes looking to capitalize. India will aim to strike early with the new ball, relying on Bumrah and Akash Deep to expose England’s lower order, including Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes. With the series tied, India must address their fielding lapses and maintain bowling discipline to curb England’s momentum.

watch……Archery World Cup 2025 Madrid: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Rishabh Yadav Break World Record in Compound Mixed Team

Scorecard Snapshot

• England 1st Innings: 251/4 (83 overs)

  • Zak Crawley: 20 (35 balls)

  • Ben Duckett: 17 (28 balls)

  • Ollie Pope: 44 (88 balls)

  • Harry Brook: 11 (20 balls)

  • Joe Root: 99* (182 balls)

  • Ben Stokes: 39* (79 balls)

• India Bowling:

  • Nitish Kumar Reddy: 15-2-46-2

  • Jasprit Bumrah: 17-3-49-1

  • Ravindra Jadeja: 14-1-42-1

  • Akash Deep: 19-3-75-0

  • Mohammed Siraj: 18-2-63-0

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save