Root’s masterclass and key partnerships with Pope and Stokes power England to strong first-day finish as India struggle to capitalize after early breakthroughs.
London [UK], July 11: A near-century from Joe Root and resilient partnerships with Ollie Pope and captain Ben Stokes helped England dominate Day 1 of the third Test against India at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Root stood firm at 99* at stumps, guiding the hosts to 251/4 after a seesaw start, recovering from early blows inflicted by Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah.
🏏 Day 1 Match Summary: England vs India, 3rd Test at Lord’s
After winning the toss and opting to bat, England saw a solid yet cautious start from openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett against the disciplined pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. Despite a slow start, Crawley broke loose with a trio of boundaries in the eighth over. However, the momentum was quickly halted as Nitish Kumar Reddy struck twice in quick succession post-drinks, dismissing both openers and reducing England to 44/2.
🔥 Root and Pope Stabilize After Early Wickets
With two early dismissals, the pressure was on England’s middle-order. Joe Root, who has had a quiet series so far, arrived with intent. Partnering with Ollie Pope, Root steered England’s innings with textbook Test cricket — measured, calm, and composed. The pair added a crucial 109-run stand that blunted India’s attack, guiding England from 44/2 to 153/2 by Tea.
Root reached his half-century in 102 balls with seven boundaries, while Pope contributed a gritty 44 before Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership in the very first ball of the final session, caught behind by substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel (as Rishabh Pant went off due to a finger injury).
⚔️ Late Session Resistance: Root and Stokes Firm Up
After Harry Brook briefly threatened to counterattack with an aggressive 11, Jasprit Bumrah struck back with a deadly nip-backer to send the in-form batter back. England stood at 172/4 when captain Ben Stokes joined Root in the middle. From there on, the duo adopted a traditional Test approach, focusing on rotating the strike and preserving wickets.
Their partnership flourished quietly, adding 79 unbeaten runs by stumps. Root, on the cusp of another Lord’s century, was left unbeaten on 99, while Stokes played a mature hand, finishing on 39*.
🚑 Injury Concern for India: Rishabh Pant Substituted
In a setback for India, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant injured his finger midway through the second session. Dhruv Jurel replaced him behind the stumps, taking a sharp catch to dismiss Pope. Pant’s condition remains under observation and could influence India’s fielding performance for the rest of the match.
📊 Brief Score at Stumps – Day 1:
England: 251/4 (Joe Root 99*, Ben Stokes 39*; Nitish Kumar Reddy 2/46, Bumrah 1/45, Jadeja 1/61) vs India
England will resume Day 2 in a commanding position with the well-set duo of Root and Stokes aiming to push the total beyond 400. India, despite a few bright moments, will need early wickets on Friday to claw back into the game. With Root eyeing a memorable Lord’s century and India seeking a fightback, Day 2 promises high-quality red-ball action.