Will Pant's Finger Injury Haunt India? Day 1 Drama at Lord's

Here's a detailed analysis of Day 1 of the India vs England 3rd Test at Lord's, session by session.

India vs England 3rd Test, Lord's - Day 1: A Gritty Battle at the Home of Cricket

Match Scorecard at Stumps, Day 1: England 251/4 (83 overs) - Joe Root 99* (191), Ben Stokes 39* (102)

Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London Toss: England won the toss and elected to bat

Session by Session Analysis:

Session 1: Morning Grind with Indian Breakthroughs

• England's cautious start: Contrary to their usual 'Bazball' approach, England began the day with unusual circumspection on a pitch that offered some early movement and uneven bounce. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett aimed to see off the new ball, building a slow but steady partnership.

• Nitish Kumar Reddy's double strike: Just when England seemed to be settling, India's fourth seamer, Nitish Kumar Reddy, provided a crucial double breakthrough. He dismissed both openers, Zak Crawley (18) and Ben Duckett (23), in the same over, shifting the momentum towards India. This was a testament to India's disciplined bowling and Reddy's ability to extract something from the surface.

• Rishabh Pant's early injury scare: In a worrying moment for India, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant sustained a blow to his left index finger while attempting to collect a Jasprit Bumrah delivery. He received on-field treatment and initially continued but was visibly uncomfortable.

• Tea Score: England 153/2 (approx.) - Joe Root and Ollie Pope began to rebuild.

Session 2: The Partnership of Patience

• Root and Pope's steady hand: The second session saw Joe Root and Ollie Pope bat with immense patience and resilience. They blunted the Indian attack, which, despite disciplined lines and lengths, found wickets hard to come by. The pitch seemed to flatten out somewhat, making stroke-making slightly easier but still requiring application.

• Pant leaves the field: The discomfort from his earlier finger injury forced Rishabh Pant to walk off the field. Dhruv Jurel, a reserve wicketkeeper, took over the gloves. This was a significant blow for India, adding pressure on their bowling unit.

• India's disciplined but wicketless phase: While India maintained tight control over the run rate, they couldn't break the Root-Pope partnership in this session. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja bowled well, creating some chances but without success.

• Score at end of Session 2 (Tea): England 153/2.

Session 3: India Fights Back, Root Nears Century

• Jadeja's crucial wicket: India finally got the breakthrough they needed shortly after tea. Ravindra Jadeja, who was extracting some turn from the slow Lord's surface, dismissed Ollie Pope (44), ending a significant partnership and bringing Harry Brook to the crease.

• Bumrah strikes: Jasprit Bumrah, returning to the attack, got his reward by dismissing Harry Brook (after Brook had shown some early aggression). This gave India a crucial fourth wicket and put them back in the game.

• Root and Stokes' resilient stand: Despite losing two quick wickets, England found stability again through the experienced partnership of Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes. Root, playing a classic Test innings, nudged his way closer to a century, showcasing immense patience and skill. Stokes, while seemingly bothered by a groin issue, provided solid support, curbing his natural attacking instincts.

• England's "Anti-Bazball" approach: The day highlighted a clear shift in England's batting strategy, with their run rate significantly lower than their usual 'Bazball' tempo. Indian captain Shubman Gill and bowler Mohammed Siraj were even heard playfully remarking on England's uncharacteristic caution.

• Stumps on Day 1: England 251/4. Joe Root was stranded on 99*, one run short of a well-deserved century, with Ben Stokes unbeaten on 39.

Rishabh Pant Injury Update:

Rishabh Pant sustained a blow to his left index finger. Reports indicate he has chipped his fingernail, which is painful but the finger is not broken. He received treatment with ice in the dressing room and is under the supervision of the medical team. Dhruv Jurel substituted him as wicketkeeper for the remainder of Day 1. Initial indications suggest Pant should be fit to bat in India's first innings, but his keeping duties for Day 2 will be monitored.

India's Bowling Performance:

India's bowling unit had a commendable Day 1. Despite a relatively flat pitch in parts, they bowled with discipline, maintaining tight lines and lengths.

• Nitish Kumar Reddy was the standout performer, providing crucial early breakthroughs with his double-wicket maiden.

• Jasprit Bumrah, returning to the side, was his usual incisive self, bowling with pace and getting some late movement. He picked up a key wicket and troubled the batters.

• Mohammed Siraj bowled with good rhythm, and even trolled the English batters for their slow play, showing confidence and aggression.

• Ravindra Jadeja extracted some turn and bounce, especially in the final session, and picked up the important wicket of Ollie Pope.

• Akash Deep also contributed with a disciplined spell, although he remained wicketless.

Overall, the Indian bowlers stuck to their plans, forcing England to abandon their aggressive style and grind out runs. They created pressure throughout the day, and while England ended on a decent total, India ensured they worked hard for every run.

follow us on