Highlights, India vs England, 2nd Test Day 3 at Lord's, London, Full cricket score: Hosts lead by 250 at stumps

That’s it… India have been put out of their misery. Stumps for the day!

And that’s stumps. England lead by 250 runs. That’s maybe 150-180 runs more than India would’ve wanted. With two days of cricket left, this match seems to be heading towards only one direction. Heavy showers are expected on Day 4 while light showers are expected on Day 5 but more on that tomorrow. 

Today was all about Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow. India dominated the first session and then talk began that they might bounce back if they bowl England out under 200 but alas that wasn’t meant to be. Bairstow missed the ton but his contribution was as vital as Woakes’. He is still at the crease. But the question is will England declare or would they want more runs?

Frustration for some. Fair to assume that Indian players won’t mind the break

Bad light is an utter nonsense in this day and age. Gerronwivit #EngvInd

— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) August 11, 2018

Boos ring out as players go off for bad light… second new ball was taken immediately and the umpires didn’t like the pace attack from both ends… We still have 50 minutes of scheduled time. So wait and watch.

Bad news. Play has been stopped due to bad light.

After 81 overs,England 357/6 ( Chris Woakes 120 , Sam Curran 22)

No swing on offer in the first over with the second new ball. However, runs did come in the over. Seven of them.

FOUR! Width again from Ishant and Woakes cuts it to backward point.

India have opted for the second new ball. Ishant Sharma comes back…

After 80 overs,England 350/6 ( Chris Woakes 116 , Sam Curran 19)

Ashwin is trying to get Woakes trapped LBW but the batsman is well aware of Ashwin’s tricks and managed to see off the over without any trouble.

FOUR! Boundaries are flowing. Ashwin pitches it short from round the wicket, Woakes rocks back and drills it through cover.

After 79 overs,England 346/6 ( Chris Woakes 112 , Sam Curran 19)

After the first-ball boundary, Hardik stuck to the stumps and fourth stump line apart from a ball on the pads. Five came in the over. The lead well… it’s just too much.

FOUR! Another over starts with a boundary. Short and wide, Curran rides the bounce and cuts it through point.

After 78 overs,England 340/6 ( Chris Woakes 111 , Sam Curran 15)

A better over from Kuldeep Yadav. After a full toss on the second ball, he beat Curran’s outside edge and might just have figured out the ideal pace to bowl on this pitch.

FOUR! Another full toss from Kuldeep. He is trying to bowl the magic ball here. Curran sends it to the mid on the fence.

After 77 overs,England 335/6 ( Chris Woakes 111 , Sam Curran 10)

India concede six runs once again in this over. They are still pushing for wickets when the need of the hour seems to be defensive bowling.

Players on famous Lord’s honours boards for both batting and bowling:

Gubby Allen
Ian Botham
Stuart Broad
Andrew Flintoff
Ray Illingworth
Vinoo Mankand
Keith Miller
Ben Stokes
CHRIS WOAKES*

FOUR! Hardik bounces Woakes and he is up for the challenge. Pulls it behind square.

Everyone… almost everyone… you, me, ex-cricketers in India and England… anybody who has a Twitter account… got on the Kuldeep Yadav hype train… and he has had a shocker here today… 

Barring Alec Stewart, I don’t remember anyone questioning Kuldeep’s Test inclusion… cannot complain about conditions… Ashwin has shown immaculate control. Just goes to show the difference in limited-overs and Test cricket… white Kookaburra and red Dukes ball.

After 76 overs,England 329/6 ( Chris Woakes 106 , Sam Curran 9)

Kuldeep Yadav has had a horrible game so far. Needless to say that it isn’t going to do his confidence any good. He is looking like a club bowler right now with all the full tosses and poor lines.

FOUR! Full tosses galore from Kuldeep. Curran smacks two of them through midwicket for the same result.

After 75 overs,England 321/6 ( Chris Woakes 106 , Sam Curran 1)

Hardik Pandya provides the breakthrough and suddenly India have changed their fields. Curran, who tok the game away from them at Edgbaston, will be targetted now. He gets off the mark off his second ball.

Guess what… Pandya with the breakthrough… took a stunning catch from DK to get it done though… no celebration… sums up the Indian mood… you just know the writing is on the wall…

OUT! Guess who has ended this frustrating stand? Hardik Pandya. Marginally ahead of a length, outside off, Bairstow flashes and edges it. Karthik dives to his right and takes a fine catch. Bairstow has played his part. 

England lead by 213 runs. 

Bairstow c Karthik b Hardik Pandya 93(144)

After 74 overs,England 315/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 93 , Chris Woakes 105)

Kuldeep returns to the attack. But his role clearly is stop the runs. No catching fielders around the batsmen. Kuldeep was picked for his wicket taking skills… mind you…

Chris Woakes is the fifth player to score a century and take a 10-wicket haul at Lord’s in Tests in a career after Gubby Allen, Keith Miller, Ian Botham and Stuart Broad.

After 73 overs,England 308/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 92 , Chris Woakes 103)

It won’t be wrong to say that India have given up on the idea of bowling England out. They are waiting for the declaration.

After 72 overs,England 307/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 92 , Chris Woakes 102)

Ashwin will continue. The field is spread. Hardly a challenge for the England batsmen. They settle for three singles. The lead is 200 now.

After 71 overs,England 304/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 91 , Chris Woakes 100)

This partnership has cut India out an task but it might also start affecting their morale. They have started scoring for fun. The 300-run mark is up. The lead is 197!

This is the highest sixth wicket stand for England against India in Tests eclipsing 171 runs stand between Ian Botham and Bob Taylor happened at Mumbai in 1980.

England batsmen batting at No.7 or lower scoring a century against India at Lord’s in Tests:

Godfray Evans, 1952
Jack Russell, 1996
Matt Prior, 2011
CHRIS WOAKES, 2018*

What a Test comeback for Woakes… maiden Test hundred at Lord’s… he has special relationship with this ground… India’s bowling has been pedestrian since England crossed 200… and Woakes has made it count… now for a quick double… by which I mean Bairstow is scheduled to get his hundred shortly too.

Maiden century! Woakes mistimes a pull over midwicket but hits it well enough to run three. Ashwin slips in the deep as the batsmen complete the third run. Off comes the helmet and the celebration follows. All the English players are cheering Woakes, who is making a comeback in this match. Outstanding effort from Woakesy.

After 69 overs,England 291/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 83 , Chris Woakes 95)

Runs are leaking and how. It’s the 70th over and bowlers are still bowling on the pads. India have lacked discipline today. Six come in the over.

FOUR! Another delivery on the pads and Bairstow paddles it away to the fine leg fence.

After 68 overs,England 285/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 82 , Chris Woakes 90)

England will need to declare if India are to bat again. At least that’s what the feeling one gets after seeing the way India are bowling right now. Two singles and a boundary in the 68th over.

FOUR! Ashwin keeps it on the pads and Woakes tickles it fine and it races away to the fence.

After 67 overs,England 279/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 81 , Chris Woakes 85)

Hardik comes back into the attack and rightly so. Three singles in the over. Where is the wicket going to come form? England are 21 runs away from 300. 193 runs more than India managed to score…

After 66 overs,England 276/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 79 , Chris Woakes 84)

Ashwin looked threatening for an over but since then Bairstow and Woakes have played him pretty confidently.

FOUR! Unlucky. Ashwin induces an edge off Woakes but it goes past the first slip and races away to the fence.

After 65 overs,England 272/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 79 , Chris Woakes 80)

Right, nothing going India’s way right now. The bowlers are losing their confidence. Ishant concedes 11 off his 18th over.

FOUR! Too full and on the sticks. Woakes drives it down the ground.

FOUR! Back of a length, width on offer. Ishant’s asking to be punished and Woakes obliges. Guides it past gully and beats Kuldeep Yadav, who was fielding at deep point.

Ishant is back now… England in complete control though and India look bereft of ideas. Will Ashwin continue to bowl with him? The fact that Pandya – as third-choice pacer – has only bowled 10 overs is telling.

After 64 overs,England 261/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 79 , Chris Woakes 69)

Chris Woakes is now batting on his highest Test score. England’s lead has crossed the 150-run mark. If this continues for another hour, England can easily push for an innings win.

Chris Woakes has gone past his previous highest Test score of 66 which he made against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2016.

After 63 overs,England 258/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 79 , Chris Woakes 66)

Ishant was well… inconsistent in his comeback over. Got good shape on a couple of deliveries but then he bowled short and wide too. Four in the over.

FOUR! Ishant steams in and well… bowls a rubbish delivery. Short and outside off, Bairstow cuts it to deep point.

Ishant Sharma reintroduced into the attack.

After 62 overs,England 254/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 75 , Chris Woakes 66)

Remember the over where Ashwin troubled Bairstow? Yeah, think Ashwin’s forgotten whatever he did there. He’s back to trying too many things. Nine come in the over. 

England’s lead three shy of 150.

FOUR! This time through the off side. Ashwin drops it short and Woakes rocks back to cut it through cover-point.

FOUR! Ashwin flights it a lot and Woakes’ eyes lit up. He kneels and slogs it over midwicket.

After 60 overs,England 242/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 72 , Chris Woakes 57)

Shami has used the occasional bumper against Bairstow. But the batsman has managed to keep it out of his way successfully. Meanwhile, Kohli was seen stretching his legs. Is he fancying a bowl? I doubt. Three singles in the over.

After 60 overs,England 242/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 72 , Chris Woakes 57)

Typical Ashwin. Like so often, the Tamil Nadu player seems to be experimenting too much. Six came off the first three balls which were followed by three dots.

FOUR! Another experiment from Ashwin. Short and slightly wide, Bairstow goes back and punches it wide of cover.

After 59 overs,England 236/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 67 , Chris Woakes 56)

Shami has been on the money in this session so far. But the wicket has eluded him. England lead by 129 runs.

FOUR! Shami overpitches. Jonny doesn’t mind. Lunges forward and drills it through cover.

100-partnership is up for Bairstow-Woakes…. dark dark clouds…. not rain-threatening although we might have some… but that’s beside the point… 

Ashwin is bowling in tandem with Shami and Ishant… says everything you need to know where India are lacking at the moment…

After 58 overs,England 232/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 63 , Chris Woakes 56)

Swann mentioned in the post-tea show that Ashwin was bowling from the wrong and he couldn’t be more accurate. Ashwin beat Bairstow twice in the over. Jonny almost got castled on the second ball. Good signs these for India. Single came in the over.

After 57 overs,England 231/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 62 , Chris Woakes 56)

Shami continues. Only two slips for Woakes. The ball is reversing and Shami is trying his best to hide the ball from the batsman. Woakes sees it off successfully. Maiden.

After 56 overs,England 231/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 62 , Chris Woakes 56)

Change of ends for Ravichandran Ashwin. Will it change India’s fortunes? Woakes respects him for the first four balls and then milks a single to long on to complete the 100-run stand with Bairstow. Root sauntered towards the balcony to applaud the duo. Kind of explains the importance of this stand.

India are back on the field. So are Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes. Will be interesting to see what England’s game plan is here.

Tea, Day 3

Only Jos Buttler’s wicket for India in the afternoon session. The pair of Bairstow and Woakes have batted solidly giving England a huge lead of 123 runs in the first innings. In a little over 30 overs, India have leaked 141 runs. Lot to rethink and reassess before they come out for the final session. Do join us for that.

After 55 overs,England 230/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 62 , Chris Woakes 55)

Shami gets one to dart back in and hits Bairstow on the pads. There is a loud shout, but reckon it was too high. Only two runs off the over as Woakes and Bairstow remain unbeaten after adding 99 runs for this partnership. England will go into Tea with a massive advantage, in terms of runs it is 123.

After 54 overs,England 228/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 60 , Chris Woakes 55)

Woakes’ second boundary off the over was a shot of confidence and it will keep rising with more time he spends in the middle. Ten runs off Ishant’s over. India will have a lot to reassess when they take the tea interval.

England losing a Test at home while fielding first and having a lead of 100-plus after their first innings:

v Australia, Manchester, 1961

v Sri Lanka, Leeds, 2014

Fifty up for Chris Woakes… India’s woeful luck continues… not a single inside edge has found the stumps… and I have lost count of how many inside edges there have been today…

FOUR! Classy from Woakes. The ball angling away and Woakes laces a cover drive on the up. Superb batting this.

FIFTY! Woakes completes his fifty! Not the most convincing shot to get to his half-century as he gets a good old french cut to fine leg boundary, but nevertheless it has been a fine innings. A timely knock importantly, providing Bairstow good company and helping England swell the lead.

After 53 overs,England 218/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 60 , Chris Woakes 45)

Woakes camps back and steers it to wide third man for a single off the second ball of the over. Bairstow’s top shot to cover boundary takes the home side’s lead to 111. India desperate to break the partnership.

FOUR! Gorgeous shot from Jonny Bairstow! Was on a good length outside off from Shami and Bairstow hits it on the up. Pierces the gap in the cover to collect a boundary.

Mohammed Shami has been brought back into the attack. He replaces R Ashwin.

After 52 overs,England 213/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 56 , Chris Woakes 44)

Ishant delivers a quiet over giving away just a single. We are into the final passage of play of the second session and it has been completely dominated by England. Woakes is inching towards his half-century as well. What a return for the all-rounder from Warwickshire.

After 51 overs,England 212/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 56 , Chris Woakes 43)

Change in the angle for Ravi Ashwin. He goes round the stumps for the first four deliveries. Woakes’ scoop brings a change in the field as well. The short leg is removed and a leg slip is place. Three more singles after the boundary. The lead climbs over 100.

FOUR! Woakes gets down on his knee, gets outside the line of the ball and scoops it through leg slip for a boundary.

After 50 overs,England 205/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 55 , Chris Woakes 37)

After the bouncer, Ishant tries to outsmart Woakes with a yorker on middle, however Woakes was alert to dig it out. Harbhajan Singh on air thinks India is losing the plot. He believes they shouldn’t get impatient as they are unable to break the partnership and the idea should be cutting down the runs, build pressure that will in turn lead to a wicket. To be fair the runs have come at a healthy clip. Five more runs off the 50th over. England lead by 98.

200 up for England. Looks good as game over with that 100-run lead… India need a humongous effort with bat and some help from rain to save this game from here. 

A word for Bairstow… was watching from the stands as he notched up his half-century… some real grinding work from him after he couldn’t put bat to ball in the first part of his innings… has turned the game around. But more than that… India have missed a third pacer… Pandya not the same quality as Stokes who had troubled India when Anderson/Broad/Curran stopped bowling. This is the difference so far in the series.

FOUR! Bouncer with hardly any spite in it. In fact there was nothing in it from Ishant. Woakes pulls it to long leg fence for four.

After 49 overs,England 200/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 55 , Chris Woakes 32)

Ash continues. Bairstow bunts it to long on for a single. A brace past backward square leg and a single off the final ball by Woakes brings the 200 up for England. The pair has now added 69 valuable runs. England lead by 93.

After 48 overs,England 196/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 54 , Chris Woakes 29)

Woakes gets off strike off the first ball with a single behind point. Bairstow runs two to mid wicket off the next after turning the strike past point. Woakes sees off the final three deliveries off the over without much trouble.

Ishant Sharma back into the attack, replaces Kuldeep Yadav.

After 47 overs,England 192/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 51 , Chris Woakes 28)

England’s sixth wicket stand keeps pushing India on the backfoot. The spinners aren’t really causing any trouble, Kohli will soon have to turn to one of his pacers for some sort of an inspiration. At this moment it is all England. They are cantering towards 200. Ashwin’s over costs five runs.

FOUR! Ashwin’s variation goes horibbly wrong. Not sure was it the carrom ball or a seam up. It was short and wide outside off that Woakes put away to cover boundary.

After 45 overs,England 179/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 43 , Chris Woakes 23)

Bairstow’s 19th Test fifty and the 50-run stand coming off two seperate boundaries as the lead increases to 80. Bairstow playing Kuldeep with relative easy. The young wrist-spinner has strayed in his lines a few times as well.

FIFTY! First fifty off the match. Jonny Bairstow gets to his half-century with a ravishing cover drive. Similar to the previous one, but this time the line was closer to the stumps, so Bairstow opens up a touch to play it into the gap. Bairstow was scratchy in the start but he has hung around playing some quality strokes to reach the landmark.

FOUR! Flighted outside off stump. Bairstow leans forward and cover drives it for four. Brings up the first 50-run stand of the match.

After 45 overs,England 179/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 43 , Chris Woakes 23)

No real turn for Ashwin that would threaten these two. Woakes shows his defensive ability with the bat. Blocking the ball bringing the bat close to bat and pad. Maiden.

After 44 overs,England 179/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 43 , Chris Woakes 23)

Kuldeep sticks to the plan of bowling floaters with a short leg and slip in place. Woakes and Bairstow tick the scoreboard as the lead swells to 72. Five runs come off the over. All English batsmen have got starts but haven’t got a big one, in fact they haven’t stitched big partnerships either. The current stand is worth 48 is the highest.

Kuldeep Yadav returns for a new spell, replaces Pandya.

After 43 overs,England 174/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 41 , Chris Woakes 20)

Ashwin angles one in and Woakes clips it off middle and leg to midwicket for a single. Bairstow attempts a sweep and misses, but he was way outside off stump, so there was no real danger. He gets forward and defends the penultimate delivery nicely. Some sort of an interest off the final ball and Bairstow works it to short leg. One run off it.

After 42 overs,England 173/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 41 , Chris Woakes 19)

Loud grunt from Pandya as he bowls a bumper at 126 clicks that goes over Woakes’s head. Umpire has to deem it wide. Another single off an inside edge, but this time Woakes is the batsman. Bairstow crushes it through cover-point for four. Eight runs come off the over. England lead by 66.

FOUR! Loose delivery from Pandya outside off and Bairstow throws his hands at it to thrash it through cover-point.

After 41 overs,England 166/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 35 , Chris Woakes 18)

We have seen a few stay low as another delivery from Ashwin barely rises after pitching. Little bit of drift from Ashwin to finish the over. A boundary to long on the only runs coming off it.

FOUR! Tossed up from Ashwin. Bairstow’s eyes light up, gets under it and thumps it over mid on to long on boundary. One bounce and over the ropes.

After 40 overs,England 161/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 31 , Chris Woakes 18)

Pandya’s delivery stay a touch low. Went on the bounce to ‘keeper Karthik or he collects it almost off the turf. Two singles off the last two deliveries. The innings run rate continues to be over and around four runs an over.

After 39 overs,England 159/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 30 , Chris Woakes 17)

Ashiwn into the attack straight away after drinks. The first hour of the play of the second session belonged England. India would want to keep the lead under 100. Can Ashwin’s spin bring wickets? Well, at least no in his first over. Bairstow and Woakes collect couple of singles as Ashwin looks to find his rhythm.

England since lunch:

Overs – 13.3

Runs – 68

Wickets – 1

RR – 5.11

Ravichandran Ashwin introduced in the attack for the first time. A slip and short leg stationed.

After 38 overs,England 157/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 30 , Chris Woakes 16)

Pandya’s new spell begins with a boundary to third man. Woakes presses forward and drives it past mid off for a brace. and takes England lead to 50. Hardik pitches one in the corridor to beat Woakes’ outside edge. Six runs off the over.

Drinks taken.

FOUR! Good length outside off and Woakes dabs it past the third slip to beat the wide third man as the ball races down the slope.

Hardik Pandya returns to the bowling crease

After 37 overs,England 151/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 30 , Chris Woakes 10)

Ishant continues. Bairstow with some confident leaves in the over as Ishant sends down a maiden. We have seen the visuals of Ashwin loosening up. He is yet to bowl in this match.

After 36 overs,England 151/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 30 , Chris Woakes 10)

Shami potency as a bowler doubles up with the ball reversing. Only two slips in place as Shami will be targetting the stumps. Bairstow presses forward and tries to defend but gets an inside edge to square leg. He hares back for the second run. Cries of ‘Ohhhh’ after a perilous leave from Jonny Bairstow. The ball was very close to the off stump there. Bairstow guides it past backward point for a couple. Gets off the strike with a single off the next ball to mid wicket. Woakes ends the over with a boundary.

FOUR! Wristy bit of work from Woakes. He plays it with the swing as he whips it off his legs through mid wicket for a boundary.

Jonny Bairstow’s 30 is now the highest score of match, going past Ashwin’s 29.

After 35 overs,England 142/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 25 , Chris Woakes 6)

How good has Ishant been bowling! He tries to mix it up with a yorker and we saw a sharp bouncer in the previous over. Signs of reverse swing for Ishant as well, as he goes past Bairstow’s inside edge. Virat takes a referral for a caught and bowled, after the ball hit Bairstow’s pads and bobbed up in the air to Ishant. No edge there. The ball darted back in, hit the pad and ballooned up. India lose one of their two reviews. Quick single off the next ball.

Superb pressure from Shami and Ishant here… don’t know how Bairstow is still there… he has poked at almost everything… 

Also, India might just be missing a third pacer… who bowls after Shami/Ishant are done with these spells? Under absolute grey clouds at the moment… Not Pandya, come on!

After 34 overs,England 141/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 24 , Chris Woakes 6)

Seen few loose shots from Bairstow in last couple of overs. Misses the cut a couple of times. He earns two runs with back foot punch and then takes a single off the final ball to mid wicket.

After 33 overs,England 137/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 21 , Chris Woakes 5)

Ishant continues to cause problems to Bairstow, looks like any moment we might see him play on and lose his wicket. Sharma surprises Woakes with a very good bouncer. Ishant providing able support to Shami at the other end. Two singles in the over.

After 32 overs,England 135/5 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 20 , Chris Woakes 4)

Shami is delivering a fantastic spell for his side. He has pinned three batsmen, the latest being Jos Buttler and is running in with a lot of vigor. With five wickets remaining, he will fancy the idea of earning a fifer and getting his name on the honour’s board.

And well, what do you know… the blue has disappeared… cloud cover at Lord’s… no chance of rain though…

FOUR! Woakes gets off the mark with a boundary. Not the most convincing start for England’s number seven. Shami almost squared him up as Woakes’ head was falling on the offside trying to work it to mid on. Gets an outside edge that goes along the ground past the cordon to third man fence. Shami won’t mind it.

Chris Woakes is the new man in

LBW and gone… Shami with another… what a day he is having… India’s best Test bowler across conditions is putting his hand up… England do not have any reviews so every time the umpire raises his finger, Kohli has that extra element of celebration…

OUT! With Buttler shuffling across a leg before was always on the cards. Straight and full from Shami, Buttler misses the flick and the ball thuds around the shin area. He was dead duck! A pretty straightforward decision for Aleem Dar. Shami has four. England lose five.

J Buttler lbw Shami 24 (22)

After 31 overs,England 131/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 20 , Jos Buttler 24)

Buttler finds the fence early in the over slicing Sharma to third-man. Ajinkya Rahane with some excellent fielding in the covers as he saves two runs for his team.

Lord’s is the only venue where Bairstow has made 300-plus runs in Test cricket.

FOUR! More runs! Again the open face of the bat from Buttler and the third man is wide, in fact he is almost standing at deep backward point. Ashwin puts in the dive, but isn’t able to drag the ball back in play.

Most runs in international cricket in 2018:

1405 – Jonny Bairstow*

1404 – Virat Kohli

1357 – Joe Root

After 30 overs,England 124/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 20 , Jos Buttler 17)

In the search of a bowled or a leg before, Shami keeps attacking the stumps, but at the same time runs the risk of going for runs. Couple of delightful shots to the boundary in the over by Bairstow. Runs continue to come at a quick rate. This partnership has already added 35 in just 33 deliveries.

Bairstow not having the best timing at the moment. Trying to cut away too much. Both Shami and Ishant looking to play on this… one with width (Shami) and one without width (Ishant)… And just as I typed that… two full balls from Shami dispatched for four… pressure released…

FOUR! This time through the covers. Shami bowls it in the slot outside off stump and Bairstow doesn’t fail to stroke it through covers. Cracking sound on impact as well. Right from the middle of the bat.

FOUR! Length on middle and Bairstow once again gets forward, presents full face of the bat and to drive back past the bowler for another lovely boundary.

After 29 overs,England 116/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 12 , Jos Buttler 17)

Ishant has all the right reasons to feel little unlucky here. Keeps getting the back to come back in late. He had both Buttler and Bairstow inside-edging in the same over, but on both occasions the ball evaded the stumps. England lead by 9.

England in the lead after lunch… but India cannot afford to think about that… they are still attacking for good measure… 

Still no Ashwin… given there are two right-handers at the crease…

FOUR! Slice of luck for Jos Buttler. Didn’t cover for the inward seam movement Ishant is getting. The ball was close to the stumps after Buttler got an inside edge. The ball runs down to fine leg boundary.

After 28 overs,England 110/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 11 , Jos Buttler 12)

Change of ends for Shami. He runs in from the nursery end replacing Hardik Pandya. Concedes a boundary off the over that takes England ahead. Couple of more singles, including leg bye in the over.

FOUR! Lovely stroke down the ground from Bairstow. Shami aiming to bowl wicket-to-wicket pitches little too full and Bairstow crunches it past mid on

Change of ends for Mohammed Shami

After 27 overs,England 104/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 7 , Jos Buttler 11)

Sharma with his natural inward movement causes some discomfort to Bairstow first and then Buttler. Bairstow gets the 100th run on the board for England with an insiude edge onto the pads as they scamper a quick single. Buttler shoulders arm to aball the nips in sharply, the ball does hit the pad but it was far away from stumps. Sharma strays in line and Buttler flicks it to the boundary. England now three runs away from India’s first innings total.

FOUR! Full on the pads from Ishant and Buttler has no problems in clipping it away to mid wicket boundary.

Bowling change: Ishant Sharma is back into the attack

After 26 overs,England 99/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 6 , Jos Buttler 7)

Hardik continues post Lunch. Will be interesting to see when Virat brings in Ravichandran Ashwin. Pandya finds Buttler’s outside edge that goes on a bounce to KL Rahul at third slip. Buttler shimmies down the pitch and meets the ball, different approach to negate any movement or perhaps upset the length/ rhythm of the bowler than compared to the players who stand outside their crease.

FOUR! Buttler just held the face of the bat open to steer it through gully as the ball rolls towards third man fence. Kuldeep loses the chase.

After 25 overs,England 92/4 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 5 , Jos Buttler 1)

Shami breaks the stumps at the non-striker’s end while getting into his delivery stride. He knocks the bails over and umpire Erasmus calls it a no-ball. Buttler works it off the middle stump to mid wicket for his first run. Bairstow returns the strike next ball. Shami finishes the over with a slight shape away, getting a the outer portion of Buttler’s bat. England 15 runs away.

Okay then! Time for the afternoon session to commence. Jonny Bairstow is joined by Jos Buttler. Shami will complete the remainder of the over after getting Root off the final ball of the morning session.

Root gone at the stroke of lunch.. Terrific session for Shami this… ball is doing something and he has made it talk… the most important batsman in this England line-up is gone… 18 runs to play with still and believe it or not, India are still in with a shout here thanks to brilliant Shami.

Root gone at the stroke of lunch.. Terrific session for Shami this… ball is doing something and he has made it talk… the most important batsman in this England line-up is gone… 18 runs to play with still and believe it or not, India are still in with a shout here thanks to brilliant Shami.

Lunch: India started as poorly as it got. The lines were wayward and there was of talk of Ashwin’s early introduction even before the fifth over. But as the match progressed, both Shami and Ishant found their rhythm. 

Shami gave the breakthrough and Ishant then got rid of Alastair Cook with a peach. Hardik Pandya too was rewarded with Ollie Pope’s wicket, who displayed his potentinal, after a decent spell. 

The icing on the cake though was Root’s wicket. 

England are 89/4 and trailing by 18 runs. Fair to say that they are in ascendancy despite the morning session. India have to coninue their good work…

OUT! Huge wicket. Mohammed Shami strikes at the stroke of lunch. Keeps it on a length and the ball stays low. Root fails to bring his bat down in time and is trapped in front. Erasmus raises the finger and Kohli’s celebrations begun. 

 Root lbw b Shami 19(53)

After 24 overs,England 84/3 ( Joe Root (C) 17 , Jonny Bairstow (W) 1)

Yes, no. Yes, no. England have already found themselves in a couple of tight situations as far as running between the wickets is concerned. This time around an early no from Bairstow avoided any mix-up. A couple of runs in Hardik’s sixth over.

The last time before today, Hardik Pandya took a wicket was in the first Test against South Africa at Cape Town. He bowled 58.3 overs after that to get a wicket today.

After 23 overs,England 82/3 ( Joe Root (C) 16 , Jonny Bairstow (W) 0)

Phew. Root chases a wide delivery and almost nicks it to Karthik. An excited Kohli has a word or two to shout from the slip cordon. Shami once again attempts to trap Root LBW but he flicks it through midwicket for a single. The over ends with three dots.

FOUR! Too full and on the pads, Root shuffles slightly and flicks it through square leg.

After 22 overs,England 77/3 ( Joe Root (C) 11 , Jonny Bairstow (W) 0)

Pandya continues from the other end, and gets the breakthrough right away, trapping Pope lbw off the first ball. The debutant goes upstairs, but England end up losing their second review. Another appeal for lbw, this time against new batsman Jonny Bairstow, but a faint outside edge saves him on this occasion. Just two runs and a wicket off a quality over from Pandya.

Couple of really poor reviews by England

On the bright side for Eng the remaining batsmen are saved of the horror of bad reviews because there aren't any left #ENGvIND

— Kanishkaa Balachandran (@kanishkaab) August 11, 2018

Pandya has a wicket… lbw… Pope is gone… from the naked eye looked as if there could be some height issue… but no, it was out… Virat’s celebration showed how much he believes in Pandya and guess that’s what matters really… he has got the breakthrough… slow progress for India. 

Ashwin still hasn’t bowled though.

OUT! Pandya’s the one who gets the breakthrough in the end, trapping Pope lbw with a delivery that skids through and catches the batsman unawares! Pope tries going upstairs, but gets three reds in return, as England lose their second review. ENG 77/3

Pope lbw Pandya 28(38)

Pandya’s trapped Pope LBW, and the youngster opts to go upstairs.

After 21 overs,England 75/2 ( Joe Root (C) 11 , Ollie Pope 26)

Shami is brought back in place of Kuldeep, and Pope greets him in a new spell with a cut towards deep backward point off a short, wide delivery for a four. Pope goes for another drive three balls later, but is intercepted by cover on this occasion, and gets only a single. Five off the over.

Harlod Gimblett is the only debutant to score a fifty against India at Lord’s. He did that in 1936. Ollie Pope is looking good today.

FOUR! Not the best of starts by Shami in a new spell, bowling short and wide to Pope, who cuts it behind square to collect another boundary! ENG 74/2

Mohammed Shami brought back in place of Kuldeep Yadav. Can he get a breakthrough for the Indians in the last 30 mins of the first session?

After 20 overs,England 70/2 ( Joe Root (C) 11 , Ollie Pope 21)

Pandya continues from the Nursery End. Singles collected by Root and Pope off the last two deliveries of the over are all that are collected off the 20th over. England are just 37 runs short of the Indian total, with eight wickets in hand.

After 19 overs,England 68/2 ( Joe Root (C) 10 , Ollie Pope 20)

Pope guides the ball wide of slip off the second delivery, getting enough time to come back for a second run. Three singles collected off the remainder of the over, with five coming off the over.

After 18 overs,England 63/2 ( Joe Root (C) 8 , Ollie Pope 17)

Singles exchanged off the first two deliveries of Pandya’s latest over, with Pope guiding the ball towards the midwicket region off the fourth delivery to collect two runs. Four off the over.

After 17 overs,England 59/2 ( Joe Root (C) 7 , Ollie Pope 14)

Maiden from Kuldeep, a much better over from the left-arm wrist-spinner, with the England captain opting to remain defensive in this over.

After 16 overs,England 59/2 ( Joe Root (C) 7 , Ollie Pope 14)

Just two runs off Pandya’s second over, with Pope guiding the ball towards the midwicket off the last delivery, preventing the over from going as a maiden. Meanwhile, this partnership is already starting to look good, and would be a cause of worry for the Indians.

Tighter second over from Kuldeep after an awful start…. India clearly missing a third pacer seeing as Pandya is bowling now… he lacks penetration as compared to Umesh of course… it is a tight call on balance for the Indian team. But that doesn’t make Pandya undroppable. Something to ponder over, albeit it is too early to pass judgment.

After 15 overs,England 57/2 ( Joe Root (C) 7 , Ollie Pope 12)

Kuldeep into his second over, and he keeps it much tidier in this over, barring the fourth delivery in which Pope picks a googly from the chinaman bowler perfectly to punch it for a boundary.

FOUR! Wrong ‘un from Kuldeep, and young Pope picks it perfectly, punching it through cover to collect his second boundary! ENG 56/2

Slip and leg-slip in place for Kuldeep.

After 14 overs,England 52/2 ( Joe Root (C) 7 , Ollie Pope 7)

Pandya’s introduced from the other end, with Kohli opting to deploy spin and seam in tandem after drinks. The all-rounder is off to a start much better than that of Kuldeep, giving away just three off the 14th over.

Change from both ends. Hardik Pandya replaces Shami from the Nursery End.

After 13 overs,England 49/2 ( Joe Root (C) 5 , Ollie Pope 6)

Kuldeep Yadav is given the first over after drinks, with spin being introduced for the first time in the innings, and the left-arm wrist-spinner is off to a shaky start, conceding 11 off his first. Serves up a fuller delivery to Root outside off, one that’s met with a lovely cover drive that ends up being the England captain’s first boundary.

FOUR! Solid punch through the off-side by Root off Kuldeep! A shot of confidence from the captain!

First hour of pace and now spin is in… Kuldeep before Ashwin… he won’t be too far behind either.

Right then, time for some spin. Kuldeep Yadav to bowl the first over after drinks.

Time for drinks.

After 12 overs,England 38/2 ( Joe Root (C) 1 , Ollie Pope 5)

Middle stump sent for a walk… but Root had pulled out midway. He wasn’t ready. Shami affords a smile. He is keeping it in the corridor of uncertainty. Bowls his third maiden on the trot.

After 11 overs,England 38/2 ( Joe Root (C) 1 , Ollie Pope 5)

Pope gets off the strike on the first ball. Root does the same on the final ball. The other four balls were outside off which Root was happy enough to leave…

After a slow-ish start, this has become a brilliant spell from Shami… almost got Root… almost… definitely squared him up… and almost creates a chance at gully now… wonderful stuff…

After 10 overs,England 36/2 ( Joe Root (C) 0 , Ollie Pope 4)

After ten overs, Indian pacers have finally figured out the lines they need to stick to. Shami induced an edge from Root on the third ball but it fell just short of Rahane at gully. Consecutive maidens for Shami.

After 9 overs,England 36/2 ( Joe Root (C) 0 , Ollie Pope 4)

Two bad balls and one excellent delivery. Sums up the difference between England and India thus far in the match. While, England pacers didn’t give Indian batsmen any breathing space, India have been wayward throughout the morning session. Nonetheless, a beautiful moment in the ninth over. Pope scored his first Test runs.

Ollie Pope’s batting average of 85.50 in 2018 CC Division -1 is the highest among players who played atleast four innings.

FOUR! First Test runs for Pope. Short and angling in and the debutant flicks it in front of square leg.

Debutant Ollie Pope is the new man in.

Gone… the round-wicket angle as worked for Ishant… brilliant ball from Ishant… double blow from India… this is suddenly a superb start… 

Rousing reception for the 20-year-old making his debut at Lord’s now…

OUT! What a comeback from Ishant Sharme after being smacked for a boundary. On a length, swingingin, Cook looks to defend but the ball seams away, finds the edge and Karthik makes no mistake. Simply outstanding! 

Cook c Karthik b Ishant 21(25)

FOUR! Ishant becomes ambitious. Goes too full and keeps it outside off. Cook latches onto it and creams it through point.

After 8 overs,England 28/1 ( Alastair Cook 17 , Joe Root (C) 0)

Some relief for India but they need more wickets. Two. Three. Five. Anything. This first session is that important. If England are 70/1 at Lunch, India might well as start thinking about the third Test.

Joe Root has scored a fifty-plus score in each of his 12 Tests against India so far.

Shami with a wicket… India were desperately looking for a breakthrough.. and it has come… full and down leg but not enough movement as Keaton Jennings is trapped lbw. Looked plumb, but Cook asked him to go for DRS… Graeme Swann on BBC has absolutely taken Cook to cleaners for that call…. jeez, what a waste of a review!

OUT! Mohammed Shami draws first blood. Shami angles it on a full length and Jennings looks to flick but only connects thin air. The ball raps him on the pad and Dar raises the finger. Jennings reviews unsuccessfully. Three reds and England have lost a review. 

Jennings lbw b Shami 11(22)

After 7 overs,England 28/0 ( Alastair Cook 17 , Keaton Jennings 11)

Late from Jennings. He guides it past the slip cordon and collects three. The next ball Cook sends a freebie to the long off fence. Ishant though troubles Cook on the last ball. Bowls it on a length and the ball seams away, Cook pokes at it. On any another day, he would’ve nicked it…

Ishant has changed over to round the wicket… should have bowled from that angle from the very first ball… two overs wasted really… and at cost of 9 runs that India didn’t have to field with… 

Also feel they are bowling from wrong ends… coming round the wicket, Ishant should bowl from the press box end and use the slope with his away angle to the lefties…

FOUR! You deserve to be punished like that if you bowl it that full. Cook accepts Ishant’s half-volley and drives it down the ground.

After 6 overs, England 21/0 ( Alastair Cook 13 , Keaton Jennings 8)

Shami is keeping it on the stumps. Making the batsman play and Cook has trusted his defence. To be fair, the conditions are nowhere threatening as they were yesterday but the ball is seaming and swinging a bit. One off the over.

No real prodigious swing for the Indian new ball bowlers yet, as the search for first wicket continues

Overhead conditions can't be the only factor behind a ball swinging. India have bowled straight this morning! Hopefully the Duke's ball swings more once the lacquer goes off

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 11, 2018

After 5 overs, England 20/0 ( Alastair Cook 13 , Keaton Jennings 7)

Much, much better from Ishant Sharma. From round the wicket, he kept in the fourth to sixth stump line. Didn’t trouble the batsman much but made him respect him. First maiden of the day.

After 4 overs, England 20/0 ( Alastair Cook 13 , Keaton Jennings 7)

Shami continues… albeit with no improvement. England collect three singles and a three from the fourth over. The run rate is 5 right now.

After 4 overs, England 20/0 ( Alastair Cook 13 , Keaton Jennings 7)

Shami continues… albeit with no improvement. England collect three singles and a three from the fourth over. The run rate is 5 right now.

After 3 overs, England 14/0 ( Alastair Cook 9 , Keaton Jennings 5)

If similar bowling continues, India might well want to introduce R Ashwin early into the attack. He was brilliant with the new ball in the first Test and his records against left-handers is well-documented.

After 3 overs, England 14/0 ( Alastair Cook 9 , Keaton Jennings 5)

If similar bowling continues, India might well want to introduce R Ashwin early into the attack. He was brilliant with the new ball in the first Test and his records against left-handers is well-documented.

Jaffa first up from Ishant…. better line in this over… guess the first was a warm-up… gave away four runs though that India didn’t have to play with…

FOUR! Horrible start this for India. Keeps it on the pads and Cook flick it past the diving square leg.

Ishant Sharma has taken 11 wickets at Lord’s in Tests – the joint most for him at a venue in Tests. He picked up a seven-for at the venue to help India to win the match in 2014. Can he do it again?

After 2 overs, England 9/0 ( Alastair Cook 5 , Keaton Jennings 4)

The Indian pacers haven’t found their lines yet. Shami is bowling too outside off. Switches to round the wicket after four balls. Maybe that will help. Five came off the over.

One over and you can see how conditions have changed… India have to be on the money with everything today… every ball, every run… And that’s a s*&t over from Ishant to start with… a very poor line…

FOUR! Shami, from round the wicket, bowls one on short and around middle and leg. Easy for Cook, who tucks it away through square leg.