Joe Root’s Gritty 99 Anchors England on Day 1 at Lord’s Amid India’s Disciplined Bowling

In a compelling display of traditional Test match temperament, #JoeRoot crafted a resilient unbeaten 99 to guide England to 251 for four at stumps on Day 1 of the third Test against India at Lord’s. Root, who soaked up 191 deliveries, demonstrated grit, class, and unwavering patience, a stark contrast to England’s usual “Bazball” aggression.

 

He was ably supported by skipper #BenStokes, who stood firm at the crease on 39* off 102 balls. Together, they stitched an unbroken partnership of 79 runs for the fifth wicket, keeping India’s attack at bay during the final session.

 

England’s approach on Thursday reflected a deliberate departure from their hallmark attacking brand. For only the second time in the #Bazball era, they chose to bat first at home, embracing a classical long-format style on a Lord’s surface that had been the subject of much speculation.

 

Though the pitch looked grassy on the eve of the match, it appeared flatter by the time the toss was held. With the five-match series tied at 1-1, conditions were always going to play a crucial role in shaping the contest. England read the situation well, opting for a more conservative, calculated game plan.

 

India’s bowling unit, which boasted six options, bowled with admirable discipline throughout the day. However, debutant and Edgbaston hero Akash Deep struggled to settle into a rhythm, perhaps affected by the unfamiliar Lord’s slope and match pressure.

In the afternoon session, England steadily progressed to 153 for two at tea. Root and Ollie Pope (44 off 104) embraced old-school Test cricket, respecting the bowling and being content to leave deliveries outside the off-stump. The pair added crucial runs in what was a subdued session by England’s standards, scoring just 70 runs in 24 overs.

Root reached his half-century with a flicked boundary to fine leg, showcasing his finesse even amid tight fielding and consistent bowling lines. However, post-tea, India struck twice. # Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand by having Pope caught behind with a ball that spun away sharply. Soon after, #JaspritBumrah produced a peach of a delivery that seamed in and breached Harry Brook’s defense.

India also suffered a brief injury scare when wicketkeeper #RishabhPant took a painful blow to his left fingers from a down-leg delivery by Bumrah. He walked off the field, and young Dhruv Jurel filled in commendably. Fortunately, Pant’s injury was deemed minor, and he is expected to resume his duties on Day 2.

Earlier in the day, England had made a cautious start. Openers Zak Crawley (18) and Ben Duckett (23) weathered the new ball spell, taking the team to 39 without loss in the first hour. However, it was India’s young all-rounder #NitishKumarReddy who stole the limelight in the morning session.

Introduced from the Nursery End, Reddy made an immediate impact, striking twice in the same over. Duckett fell to a gloved short ball down leg, while Crawley was undone by a length delivery that seamed away and caught the outside edge. Pope nearly fell first ball, but captain Shubman Gill failed to grasp a sharp chance at gully.

#AkashDeep, who had shone at Edgbaston, couldn’t replicate his success and seemed unsettled by the slope and conditions at Lord’s. Bumrah, returning in place of Prasidh Krishna, operated from both ends in search of breakthroughs but was only rewarded late in the day.

Despite the action on the field, the atmosphere at Lord’s was electric. With a seating capacity of just over 30,000, it felt as if the entire city of London had turned up to witness this marquee Test. The iconic walk from the nearby St. John’s Wood tube station was a colorful parade of cricket lovers, many of whom had flown in from India.

For Indian fans, the dedication to the longest format was evident. One family from Bengaluru reportedly paid a hefty £1,200 to secure three tickets from touts outside the stadium — a testament to the match’s global allure and the continuing romance with #TestCricket.

While Test matches in some parts of the world face challenges in drawing crowds, England remains a bastion of support for the red-ball game. Day 1 at Lord’s was a clear reminder that when the stakes are high and legends are at play, the longest format still reigns supreme.

With Root one run away from his 37th Test hundred and the series finely balanced, Day 2 promises yet more drama at the home of cricket.