India vs England, third Test Day 1: Root, Pope steady England after early blows

Dubai: England reached 153 for 2 at tea on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s, with Joe Root anchoring the innings on 54 not out — his 67th Test half-century — and inching closer to what could be his 37th hundred. Ollie Pope is giving him solid support on 47 not out, as the duo has put on an unbroken 109-run stand in 35 overs.

India endured a wicketless second session and were dealt another blow when wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant walked off the field after injuring his left finger. Dhruv Jurel took over duties behind the stumps.

Despite the setback, Indian bowlers maintained disciplined lines and lengths on a slow surface that’s offering assistance to both seamers and spinners. But the session belonged to England, particularly Root and Pope, who showed restraint and maturity, reining in their natural Bazball instincts and waiting patiently for scoring opportunities.

Former India coach Anil Kumble, speaking on Match Centre Live on JioCinema, praised India’s first-session effort but said the home side had pulled things back.

“Nitish’s surprise impact came from his length and high-arm action,” Kumble observed. “This is the kind of pitch where you cannot just blast teams out — you need patience. If India can bowl England out for under 300, it will be a job well done.”

Kumble cautioned that the returning Jofra Archer could pose a serious threat on such a surface.

“Nitish showed shades of that — the way the slope here helps take the ball away from the left-hander, and Duckett fell victim to that twice. As for the Crawley dismissal — that was a beauty. Perfect length, perfect line, and just enough movement to find the edge.”

He added that both teams would be relatively satisfied going into the final session, though India might rue the missed chance for a third wicket.

“What was interesting is that the breakthrough didn’t come from Bumrah, Akash Deep, or Siraj — it was Nitish Kumar Reddy who stepped up and delivered not one but two crucial wickets. Going forward, slip fielding will be key. The bounce and pace have been inconsistent — the ball hasn’t always carried cleanly — so India must stay sharp in the cordon,” Kumble concluded.

Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s double strike halted England’s promising start on Day 1 of the third Test, reducing the hosts to 83 for 2 at lunch, after they opted to bat first. Joe Root looked in ominous touch at the break, unbeaten on 24, with Ollie Pope on 12.

After skipper Ben Stokes chose to bat first—departing from England’s decision at Edgbaston—legendary Sachin Tendulkar rang the bell to signal the start of what was billed as a high-octane clash. England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett initially looked resolute, frustrating India’s new-ball pair Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep on a pitch with a tinge of green but little carry.

Having scored just 15 runs in the first seven overs, Crawley broke the shackles in the eighth over, hitting Akash Deep for three boundaries—through the covers, over the slip cordon, and one delightful straight drive. At the end of 13 overs, England had reached 35 without loss, with Duckett on 19 not out and Crawley on 18 not out.

The momentum shifted soon after the drinks break when Nitish Kumar Reddy was introduced into the attack. The young all-rounder struck twice in quick succession to break the opening stand and jolt England. Duckett was the first to fall, attempting a pull shot but only managing to edge through to Rishabh Pant for 23 off 40 balls (3 fours). Soon after, Crawley (18 off 43) was also caught behind, this time edging a sharp delivery that climbed awkwardly.

England, suddenly 44 for 2, could have been in deeper trouble had skipper Shubman Gill held on to a tough chance offered by Pope.

Root, determined to make amends after a quiet series so far, quickly got into his groove. In the 18th over, he flicked and drove Siraj for boundaries to bring up England’s 50. The experienced pair of Root and Pope then ensured there was no further damage before lunch.

Brief Scores: England 83/2 in 27 overs (Joe Root 24*, Ollie Pope 12*, Nitish Kumar Reddy 2/15) vs India

After a batter-friendly surface at Edgbaston yielded a record Indian win, the iconic Lord’s is expected to offer a more traditional balance between bat and ball — with fast bowlers tipped to play a starring role when the third Test begins later today.

The much-anticipated return of pace spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer has added a new dimension to the contest. Bumrah, rested for workload management, is set to reclaim his place in India’s XI, while Archer returns to Test cricket after nearly four years away due to injury. The duel between these two express pacers could be pivotal in shaping the series.

Despite Bumrah’s absence, India dominated in Birmingham, winning by a record 336 runs. Mohammed Siraj bagged a six-wicket haul, Akash Deep claimed 10 wickets in the match, and skipper Shubman Gill led from the front with twin centuries (269 and 161). The return of the world’s No 1-ranked bowler only strengthens India’s confident unit.

“Bumrah is just amazing — the way he thinks, his accuracy. It’s probably more difficult for the keeper than for the batter,” said India vice-captain Rishabh Pant in the pre-match press conference. “Especially in England, with the movement he gets, it’s something special.”

England, meanwhile, are banking on a fired-up Archer to inspire a turnaround after their heavy defeat. “It’s really exciting for English fans and for Jof himself,” said captain Ben Stokes. “He’s had a tough journey, but he’s back. There are no restrictions — no plans to limit him to four or five-over spells.”

Stokes also promised a strong response at Lord’s. “We’ll come out trying to hit them hard and get back into the series.”

India have a strong recent record at Lord’s, having won two of their last three Tests here (2014 and 2021). While they are wary of Archer’s threat, Pant insisted the team won’t be overawed. “It’s not about any individual — it’s about playing good cricket.”

Pant also raised concerns about the frequent de-shaping of the Dukes ball. “It’s definitely irritating. Every ball plays differently. But it’s not in our hands.”

With tempers cooling and tensions rising, Day 1 at Lord’s is set to deliver classic Test match theatre — and possibly, a pace masterclass.