India Strike Early at Lord’s: Reddy’s Double Blow Shakes England On Day One, England Reach 83/2 At lunch,
London: Joe Root and Ollie Pope anchored England’s recovery after a dramatic start to the third Test at Lord’s, reaching 83 for 2 at lunch on day one. India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy turned the tide, striking twice in his opening over to remove England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. Despite Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj going wicketless in the first 13 overs, India captain Shubman Gill’s bold move to hand the ball to Reddy paid off spectacularly. Root and Pope have since forged a vital 39-run stand for the third wicket, steadying the Three Lions in a tense morning session.
Lord’s Pitch Promises Pace
Unlike the batter-friendly tracks at Headingley and Edgbaston, Lord’s is set to favor seamers, with England’s management requesting a lively, pace-friendly surface. Recent matches at the venue, including the Australia-South Africa World Test Championship final, saw first-innings scores average just 309, signaling tough conditions for batters on day one.
Also read: Shubman Gill Eyes Historic Records in Test Series vs England
Team Changes and Key Players
England made one change to their XI, with Jofra Archer replacing Josh Tongue for his first Test appearance in four years. The hosts will bank on Archer’s express pace to exploit the spicy Lord’s pitch. India, meanwhile, welcomes back Jasprit Bumrah, likely in place of Prasidh Krishna, bolstering their bowling attack.
India’s Lord’s Record
India’s history at Lord’s is modest, with just three wins in 19 Tests, alongside 12 losses and four draws. Their last victory here in 2021, led by Virat Kohli’s fiery “60 overs of hell” mantra, remains a highlight. With Bumrah’s return and Gill’s red-hot form, India hold a slight edge, but England’s hopes hinge on Archer and home conditions. As the series hangs in the balance, both sides are set for a fierce battle over the next five days.