Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, 2025 |3rd Test |7/10/2025 Lord's Cricket Ground, London
2
1
0
0
0
0
|
0
2
0
1
0
0
BATSMAN
R
B
4s
6s
SR
Joe Root *
99
191
9
0
51.83
Ben Stokes (C)
39
102
3
0
38.24
BOWLERS
O
M
R
W
ECON
Jasprit Bumrah
18
3
35
1
1.94
Akash Deep *
17
2
75
0
4.41
Commentary
Well then, an absorbing opening day of this third Test has flown by. It was laden with patience, grind, and of course, hard work. The surface offered subtle challenges, turn for Jadeja and the occasional uneven bounce for the seamers, keeping both bat and ball in constant contest. It was a hard-fought day that rewarded discipline and careful application over flair. With the second new ball only 2.5 overs old, the first hour of the second day promises a stern examination for Joe Root and Ben Stokes as they look to push England towards a commanding total. The Indian bowlers will be keen to make early inroads, capitalising on the freshness of the cherry to turn the tide. Day 2 begins on Friday, 11th July, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). Till then, take care, cheers!
For a while, India held the squeeze, pairing spin and seam to keep the runs on a leash. But Joe Root was in his bubble of zen, unflustered by bounce or movement. He soaked up everything India threw at him, rarely looking hurried. Ben Stokes, at the other end, played himself in, struggling with a possible groin injury, but together they stitched another handy partnership that helped England stabilise as the shadows lengthened, and eventually coasted England safely to Stumps with an unbeaten 79-run stand.
The partnership had taken a good shape on a slow deck with the ball getting softer and softer, and conditions increasingly facilitative to batting. Come the third and final session, it just took the first ball for Jadeja to break that 109-run stand, and it was followed up nicely by Bumrah's ripper as he removed Brook cheaply, with England slipping from 153/2 to 172/4.
The second session was an absolute slow-burn, and lifeless, with the game progressing at a snail's pace. Not much happened, but the Indians were pretty disciplined with their lines and lengths. Rishabh Pant walked off the field after taking a blow on his left index finger, with Jurel coming in as the substitute keeper. Pope and Root dug in a resilient stand with the former notching up yet another fifty, with Root also crossing 3000 Test runs against India itself. Overall, with not much action, only 70 runs came in the afternoon session in 24 overs, but the Indians were deprived of wickets. Hence, uncharacteristically, the session went England's way.
Ben Stokes yet again won the toss and this time, elected to bat on a sunny, bright day in London. However, India wrested control after a cautious first hour from England, with Nitish Kumar Reddy striking twice post drinks to peg the visitors back at 44/2. Again, the English opening pair failed to bat long enough. The slower pitch and residual moisture aided movement, especially from the Nursery End, where Bumrah and Reddy thrived. False shots, uneven bounce, and fading lacquer on the Dukes ball added to England’s discomfort, before Root and Pope steadied things to close a gripping session which ended as a draw.
SESSION SUMMARY - 34 Overs, 98 Runs and 2 Wickets. Quite an anti-Bazball day, as well and truly mentioned by Nasser Hussain on-air. Not a single session saw runs in triple digits, which proves how sedate it went through and through. Joe Root finishes tantalisingly close to a century, stranded on an unbeaten 99, a score that leaves any batter with a bittersweet taste, proud of the effort, yet restless knowing the job’s not quite done. Alongside him, a visibly hobbling Ben Stokes limped through the Long Room, where members stood to salute the pair’s grit and resilience, with England bagging the evening session as well.
82.6
0
Akash Deep to Ben Stokes, Attacking the stumps from around the wicket, on off, Stokes gets right behind it to block. That will be STUMPS on Day 1!
82.5
0
Akash Deep to Ben Stokes, On off, on a good length, Ben Stokes covers the line and stabs it down the deck. A dot and that will mean Root will remain on 99 overnight, unless there is a no ball or a wide that allows them to sneak a bye.
82.4
1
Akash Deep to Joe Root, On a back of a length, outside off, Joe Root gets on his toes and punches it away to the left of deep point. It is hit to the dominant left side of Ravindra Jadeja there and Ben Stokes, with a loud call of no, refuses the second run. Jadeja picks the ball up and teases Root for the second run by rolling the ball in front of him.
82.3
0
Akash Deep to Joe Root, Tighter line, on a back of a length, on the off stump, Root stays back to dab it down on the off side.
82.2
2
Akash Deep to Joe Root, Pitched up, moving away in the air, outside off, Root frees his arms and drives it along the ground to the right of deep point. Ravindra Jadeja is quick across the turf in the deep and cuts it off. Root moves to 98 with this brace and the 250 is up for England!
82.1
0
Akash Deep to Joe Root, Oh, that could have gone anywhere! This straightens off the deck and shoots up a bit as well, on off, on a good length. Root is turned around as he looks to work it on the leg side. Gets it off the splice of the bat and drops it well away from the despairing dive of Deep beside the strip on the off side.
END OF OVER 82 | 3 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 248/4
With just about a couple of more minutes left, this could well be the last over of the day. Akash Deep (16-2-72-0) to bowl.
81.6
0
Jasprit Bumrah to Ben Stokes, Fuller in length, tailing back into the left-hander, Ben Stokes ekes out an inside edge onto the front pad.
81.5
0
Jasprit Bumrah to Ben Stokes, Half a shout for LBW but that is sliding down leg! Shaping back into the left-hander, on middle and leg, on a nagging length, Stokes is baten on the flick and gets hit high on the front pad.
81.4
0
Jasprit Bumrah to Ben Stokes, Nipping back in, on a back of a length, on middle, Stokes hangs back to deal with it. Gets beaten due to the movement and wears it on the thigh pad.
81.3
0
Jasprit Bumrah to Ben Stokes, Sliding down leg, on a length, Stokes lets it go.
81.2
1
Jasprit Bumrah to Joe Root, Outside off, on a good length, Root eases it to the left of backward point for a single.
81.1
2
Jasprit Bumrah to Joe Root, Jasprit Bumrah serves it full and the shape takes the ball further away from the right-hander, Root reaches out and just glides it late to the left of deep point for a couple of runs.
END OF OVER 81 | 3 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 245/4
80.6
0
Akash Deep to Ben Stokes, A tempter from Akash, full and moving away in the air, Stokes seemed a bit tempted initially to go for the drive but then resisted and left the ball alone.
80.5
0
Akash Deep to Ben Stokes, Bowled from wide of the crease, seaming away, on a good length, outside off, Ben Stokes shoulders arms.
Suddenly, a swarm of flying bugs has arrived, causing disruption in the concentration of the players, and hence, another halt in play. Ben Stokes is not quite pleased with it as he is bothered by those around him. But eventually, the umpires signal for the play to continue. Quite a bizarre stoppage this, with just about 5 minutes remaning in the day's play.
80.4
1
Akash Deep to Joe Root, On the pads again from Deep, on a length, Root helps it to the left of deep fine leg for a run.