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Root Anchors England as India Toil on Day 1 at Lord's
Joe Root's masterful unbeaten 99 led England's charge on a challenging opening day of the 3rd Test at Lord's, as India's bowlers toiled to make inroads despite early wickets.
England vs India: Root Steadies the Ship After Early Indian Breakthroughs at Lord's
Lord's, London – The iconic Lord's Cricket Ground witnessed a classic Test match grind on Day 1 of the 3rd Test between England and India, with former captain Joe Root delivering a quintessential performance to steer the hosts to 251 for 4 at stumps. Root, tantalisingly close to a century on 99 not out, was ably supported by skipper Ben Stokes (39 not out) in a resilient partnership that blunted India's spirited bowling attack.
Having won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch offering some early assistance, England's openers, Zak Crawley (18) and Ben Duckett (23), started cautiously. However, India's young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, making an impact, struck twice to remove both openers, catching their edges to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
Ollie Pope looked set for a substantial innings, crafting a patient 44 before falling to a sharp catch by substitute fielder Dhruv Jurel off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja. Harry Brook's brief stay at the crease was cut short by a fiery Jasprit Bumrah, who knocked over his stumps for 11, leaving England precariously placed.
Yet, as he has so often done, Joe Root stood firm. Displaying a masterclass in Test match batting, Root showcased his full repertoire of strokes and unwavering defence, navigating through a disciplined Indian bowling performance. His partnership with Ben Stokes has been crucial, with the England captain providing solid resistance and adding valuable runs.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah (1-35) once again led the attack with his customary precision, while Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-46) was the pick of the bowlers with his double strike. Ravindra Jadeja (1-26) also chipped in with a crucial wicket. However, Akash Deep (0-75) and Washington Sundar (0-21) found wickets harder to come by, and Mohammed Siraj (0-33) was economical but wicketless.
With Root poised on the brink of another Lord's hundred and Stokes looking comfortable, India will be eager to break this partnership early on Day 2 to expose England's lower order. The stage is set for another captivating day of Test cricket at the Home of Cricket.(source-crickbuzz)
Note that,the 5-match test series is still 1-1.
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