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Joe Root Anchors England’s Gritty Fightback on Testing First Day at Lord’s
A Hard-Earned 99 from Root Guides England to Stability in Third Test*
England’s Joe Root played a crucial anchoring role as the hosts finished Day 1 of the third Test against India at Lord’s with a respectable 251/4 on the board. On a green-tinged surface with testing conditions, Root’s unbeaten 99 stood out as a masterclass in patience and technique, guiding England out of early trouble and putting them in a competitive position by stumps.
Tough Start for England on a Green Lord’s Pitch
India’s Seamers Capitalize on Conditions
England’s decision to bat first after winning the toss came as a surprise, especially given recent home trends. The pitch, offering both seam movement and uneven bounce, quickly proved why batting was a high-risk decision. Jasprit Bumrah, returning to the playing XI in place of Prasidh Krishna, along with debutant Akash Deep, troubled the English openers with relentless accuracy.
While both pacers were unlucky not to grab early wickets—thanks to edges falling short and near misses—the pressure finally paid off. It was Nitish Reddy who reaped the rewards. In a dramatic over, he removed Ben Duckett (gloving one down the leg side) and Zak Crawley (caught behind with a beautiful seaming delivery), reducing England to 25/2 early in the session.
Read our detailed preview of the third Test to revisit how the teams lined up and pre-match expectations.
Root and Pope Dig Deep in Gritty Stand
Joe Root, known for his classical Test match temperament, was joined by Ollie Pope as the duo weathered a challenging period. Their partnership of 109 runs came off 211 deliveries and was marked by restraint, determination, and grit. Pope benefited from some luck along the way, but together, the pair slowly chipped away at India’s early advantage.
The pitch continued to play tricks, with false shot percentages peaking at 38.4%—the highest for a first 15-over spell in England since 2006. Boundaries were hard to come by and the run rate dipped significantly. This was a rare occasion where England, under the Bazball philosophy, played at just 2.91 runs per over across a full session.
Pope’s promising innings ended on 44 when he edged Ravindra Jadeja to stand-in wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who replaced the injured Rishabh Pant.
India Strike Again but Root Holds Firm
Stokes Joins Root for Stabilizing Partnership
Harry Brook couldn’t build on the foundation, falling for a low score to Bumrah’s in-swinger. With the scoreboard reading 172/4, England looked vulnerable once more. However, Ben Stokes, facing criticism for recent batting performances, joined Root to form a cautious but important stand.
Their partnership of 50 off 100 balls was far from fluent, but its value lay in its resilience. While the boundaries dried up, both batters absorbed pressure, especially against India’s spinners and an aggressive field setting.
Root, calm and collected, moved through the nineties in the closing overs and ended the day unbeaten on 99—one run away from his 31st Test century. England’s total of 251/4 reflects a day of battles—against the pitch, the Indian bowling attack, and their own instincts to attack.
Key Highlights from Day 1 at Lord’s
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Joe Root becomes the third Englishman to cross 3000 Test runs against India.
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Nitish Reddy impressed on debut with two quick wickets.
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England’s 109-run stand between Root and Pope was pivotal.
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India’s fast bowlers kept the pressure on but lacked luck with early chances.
Brief Scores
England 251/4 (Joe Root 99, Ollie Pope 44; Nitish Reddy 2/46)* vs India
For detailed match stats and ball-by-ball commentary, visit the ESPNcricinfo match center.
