In the ongoing England vs India Test match at Lord’s, England closed Day 1 on 251 for 4. Joe Root remained unbeaten on 99, just one run away from his 37th Test century and eighth at the historic ground.
England chose to bat first after winning the toss, but their approach surprised many. Known for their aggressive “Bazball” strategy, England batted at a slower pace, scoring at just over three runs per over. It was their slowest full-day scoring rate under coach Brendon McCullum.
Despite some taunts from the Indian players—Shubman Gill joked about the return of “boring Test cricket”—England stuck to a cautious plan. Mohammed Siraj was even heard urging Root to “show Bazball,” but England stayed defensive.
The England vs India contest remained tight throughout the day. India’s bowlers worked hard on a sluggish pitch. Jasprit Bumrah returned to the side and bowled with control. Nitish Kumar Reddy took two quick wickets in a single over, removing both England openers. He was also involved in a key moment when Shubman Gill dropped Ollie Pope in the slips.
Ollie Pope added 44 before being dismissed after tea. Ravindra Jadeja took his wicket with a sharp delivery that edged to Dhruv Jurel. Jurel kept well in place of the injured Rishabh Pant, who left the field after being hit on the finger.
Bumrah later bowled Harry Brook with a delivery that cut back off the seam. Captain Ben Stokes battled through discomfort after a possible groin injury but remained unbeaten on 39 at stumps, alongside Root.
India’s bowling attack kept the match balanced. While Siraj and Akash Deep remained wicketless, Jadeja, Bumrah, and Reddy ensured England didn’t run away with the game.
The pitch offered little help to bowlers, especially in the second session, where England batted without losing a wicket. Root showed his experience, rotating strike and leaving dangerous balls alone. He and Pope added 109 runs, followed by an unbroken 79-run stand with Stokes.
As Day 2 of England vs India approaches, all eyes will be on Root, who is expected to complete his century. The match remains evenly poised, with both teams showing patience and strategy over flair.
Read more: India vs England 3rd Test Begins at Lord’s: England Choose to Bat First to see how the match started at the iconic venue
