England Summer 2021

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India in England - Records




Highest Innings Totals

1. England 710-7d - Edgbaston, 10th August 2011
2. India 664 - The Oval, 9th August 2007
3. England 653-4d - Lord's, 26th July 1990
4. England 633-5d - Edgbaston, 12th July 1979
5. England 629 - Lord's, 20th June 1974


Lowest Innings Totals

1. India 42 - Lord's, 20th June 1974
2. India 58 - Old Trafford, 17th July 1952
3. India 82 - Old Trafford, 17th July 1952
4. India 92 - Edgbaston, 13th July 1967
5. India 93 - Lord's, 27th June 1936

9. England 101 - The Oval, 19th August 1971


Highest Individual Scores

1. Graham Gooch 333 - Lord's, 26th July 1990
2. Alastair Cook 294 - Edgbaston, 10th August 2011
3. Geoffrey Boycott 246* - Headingley, 8th June 1967
4. Ian Bell 235 - The Oval, 18th August 2011
5. Sunil Gavaskar 221 - The Oval, 30th August 1979


Best Bowling Figures In An Innings

1. Frederick Trueman 8-31 - Old Trafford, 17th July 1952
2. Alec Bedser 7-49 - Lord's, 22nd June 1946
3. Alec Bedser 7-52 - Old Trafford, 20th July 1946
4. Ishant Sharma 7-74 - Lord's, 17th July 2014
5. George Oswald Allen 7-80 - The Oval, 15th August 1936


Most Runs In A Series

1. Graham Gooch 752 - 1990
2. Michael Vaughan 615 - 2002
3. Rahul Dravid 602 - 2002
4. Virat Kohli 593 - 2018
5. Sunil Gavaskar 542 - 1979


Most Wickets In A Series

1. Frederick Trueman 29 - 1952
2. Stuart Broad 25 - 2011
3. James Anderson 25 - 2014
4. Alec Bedser 24 - 1946
5. Frederick Trueman 24 - 1959

14. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 19 - 2014


Most Runs In Total

1. Sachin Tendulkar 1575 - 1990-2011
2. Rahul Dravid 1376 - 1996-2011
3. Alastair Cook 1196 - 2007-2018
4. Sunil Gavaskar 1152 - 1971-1986
5. Graham Gooch 1134 - 1979-1990


Most Wickets In Total

1. James Anderson 84 - 2007-present
2. Stuart Broad 60 - 2011-present
3. Frederick Trueman 53 - 1952-1959
4. Alec Bedser 44 - 1946-1952
5. Ishant Sharma 43 - 2011-present

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BEEB REPORT

First LV= Insurance Test, Trent Bridge
England 183: Root 64, Bumrah 4-46, Shami 3-28
India 21-0
India trail by 162 runs

England began their series against India in depressingly predictable fashion with another atrocious batting collapse at Trent Bridge.

The home side were bundled out for 183 on the opening day of the first Test, at one stage losing six wickets for 22 runs in 9.5 overs.

They were indebted to captain Joe Root, who stroked a classy 64 and added 72 with Jonny Bairstow.

But it was Bairstow's demise on the stroke of tea that sparked the carnage, with Sam Curran's cavalier 27 not out late on adding to the chaos.

India's four-pronged pace attack was superb, bowling a full length to utilise the assistance on offer, particularly when the floodlights were turned on.

Jasprit Bumrah claimed 4-46 and Mohammed Shami 3-28 for the tourists, who could even afford to omit masterful off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

India moved to 21-0 by the close, with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul largely untroubled.

The forecast is mixed for the remaining four days, but India may have already made a decisive move towards going 1-0 up in the five-Test series.

England beat India 4-1 here three years ago, but before this contest began there was a growing feeling that the tourists could earn their first victory in this country for 14 years.

Virat Kohli's men claimed a famous series win in Australia during the winter and appear to have all the tools to be successful in the UK.

England, on the other hand, have an inexperienced, inconsistent batting line-up and are missing the talismanic Ben Stokes, who has taken a break from the game to prioritise his mental wellbeing. Without the all-rounder, the hosts are struggling to balance their attack, and once again left out spinner Jack Leach.

Does anyone think England will win the series? Pundits make their predictions
In addition, they have had almost no preparation for this game. Only Rory Burns and Dom Sibley have faced more than 100 deliveries in first-class cricket since the series defeat by New Zealand in June.

Zak Crawley had faced six, while Root, Bairstow, Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler and Sam Curran had not played a single red-ball innings. In the case of Bairstow, Buttler and Curran, their last first-class cricket came on the winter tours of Sri Lanka and India.

On a pitch that gradually lost its green tinge under a sky that became increasingly leaden, England's deficiencies were laid bare in a familiar clatter of wickets.


50.2 overs - Bairstow lbw Shami 29 (138-4) - Recalled once more, Bairstow looked in good order, only to fall to an old problem, one that nipped back to trap him in front.
50.6 overs - Lawrence c Pant b Shami 0 (138-5) - In the same Shami over, but the other side of tea, Lawrence followed one down the leg side and was absolutely crestfallen as he departed.
55.5 overs - Buttler c Pant b Bumrah 0 (145-6) - Playing red-ball cricket for the first time in six months, Buttler endured a torturous 18 deliveries before edging Bumrah behind.
58.1 overs - Root lbw Shakur 64 (155-7) - The captain batted beautifully, but even he was guilty of a poor error, playing across the line to the first ball of a new spell.
58.4 overs - Robinson c Shami b Thakur 0 (155-8) - Recalled after the controversy of historic tweets that overshadowed his debut, Ollie Robinson played an awful shovel to mid-on.
59.6 overs - Broad lbw Bumrah 4 (9-160) - Sitting on the back foot, Broad was pinned by an arrowing Bumrah yorker.
Root shoulders England burden
Where might England be without their captain?

In the absence of Stokes, who is not only Root's vice-captain but also his great friend, the skipper is the lone class act in the batting line-up.

Root was initially skittish, taking three fours off his first six balls, but grew into an innings of class that yielded his 50th Test half-century and also took him past Alastair Cook's tally of 15,737 to become England's highest run-scorer in all international cricket.

That he fell amid the collapse tells a story - it is too much for England to keep relying on Root.

This summer and in the Ashes in Australia this winter, England will struggle if the batters fail to support the skipper.

Like England, India have done little in the run-up to this series. Since losing the World Test Championship final to New Zealand in June they have played one warm-up match and trained among themselves.

However, if their stellar batting line-up can get to grips with English conditions, their skilful bowlers have the ability to trouble the hosts, as was proved in Nottingham.

With the ball swinging throughout, India were relentless on a full length, providing a persistent examination which England ultimately failed.

There were surreal moments, too. In the same over that Crawley survived a review for caught behind off Mohammed Siraj, excitable captain Kohli opted for another, and was vindicated second time around.


'England just crumpled' - what they said
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick on BBC Test Match Special: "There's a lot of white-ball cricket in the middle of summer - that's always a challenge. We'd like a bit more red-ball cricket.

"They (the players) felt good coming in. You walk out of the nets feeling good. Maybe the battle of a real Test match just highlighted that you need a little bit more."

Former England spinner Vic Marks: "After that Root-Bairstow partnership, the rest of the England team just crumpled.

"Bumrah was exceptional but England have really squandered an opportunity today."

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur: "It was a good battle between bat and ball in the morning. In the afternoon we felt it would be a good pitch to bat on but the wicket of Jonny Bairstow opened them up."


Archer will not play again this year

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BEEB VIEW

First LV= Insurance Test, Trent Bridge (day two of five)
England 183: Root 64, Bumrah 4-46, Shami 3-28
India 125-4: Rahul 57*
India trail by 58 runs

James Anderson led an exhilarating England fightback before the weather curtailed the second day of the first Test against India.

Anderson took two wickets in two balls - including India captain Virat Kohli for a golden duck - in a thrilling passage of play at Trent Bridge.

That was part of an India slide of four wickets for 15 runs, the tourists falling from 97-0 to 112-4.

They had reached 125-4, only 58 behind England's 183 all out, when bad light and rain sent the players off at 14:30 BST.

They returned for one delivery at 16:15 and two at 17:00, only for the rain to reappear on both occasions.

It could have been even better for England had Dom Sibley held KL Rahul at second slip on 52 during Anderson's skilful spell.

Rahul remains on 57 not out, with the dangerous Rishabh Pant on seven.

The weather forecast is mixed for the remainder of the match, and warnings are in place over thunderstorms due on Friday.


For a while it looked as though England were suffering a hangover from a dismal first-day batting display, their mood as dark as the clouds that slowly engulfed the ground.

Rahul and Rohit Sharma batted beautifully throughout almost the entire morning session, sharing 97 for the first wicket.

There was little wrong with England's display - they arguably bowled too wide and failed to test Rahul and Rohit with the short ball - but the home side seemed lacking in energy, spirit and fight.

Then, when Rohit, on 36, sloppily helped a bouncer from wholehearted Ollie Robinson to long leg, England were transformed.



They returned after lunch full of venom, carrying a threat with every delivery that was sent down under the floodlights.

Cheteshwar Pujara overturned being given lbw to Robinson before he edged Anderson behind. From the next ball, Kohli poked at a wide one to send the crowd into rapture.

From a position of control, India were frantic. Ajinkya Rahane could have been run out had Dan Lawrence's throw hit, then was run out when Jonny Bairstow's throw did.

After that came the Sibley drop, low to his left, and India would have been glad to escape to the sanctuary of the dressing rooms.



Anderson, now 39, managed only three wickets in the 2-0 series defeat by New Zealand in June and was off colour in his short spell of bowling on Wednesday evening.

His battle against Kohli was a feature of England's 4-1 series win here three years ago and England's all-time leading wicket-taker was back to his masterful best to land the first blow this time around.

After Pujara feathered a beautiful delivery that angled in and nipped away, the stage was set for a moment of sporting theatre.

With Anderson roared to the crease, Kohli needlessly felt for the ball. As the edge nestled into the gloves of Jos Buttler, Anderson wheeled away in ecstatic celebration while Kohli stood in disbelief before dragging himself away.

Stuart Broad conducted the crowd for the hat-trick ball, which Rahane survived.

Anderson ended the day with miserly figures of 2-15 from 13.4 overs, his name being sung as the players departed for the final time.



England bowler James Anderson told BBC Sport: "We're in the game. We saw in our innings and in theirs that there are times you can build partnerships. We also saw wickets can fall in clusters."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "From 97-0 to taking four wickets quite quickly, England have just given themselves a glimmer. You can see India losing a few more quick ones and that tail is not long.

"Joe Root will not sleep well tonight knowing Rishabh Pant is still there. If he stays there for another 20 minutes tomorrow, that lead will be gone. Who knows what will happen?"

Former England spinner Vic Marks: "The good thing is that this game is quite well advanced. You could still lose a significant amount of time and still get a positive result."

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Ravindra Jadeja pulled out his sword celebration, Jasprit Bumrah hit a six and also his top score in Tests, Mohammed Shami displayed text-book defensive pushes, and Mohammed Siraj had some fun too as India's much-maligned lower order took them into a position of strength, a first-innings lead of 95 runs, in the Trent Bridge Test. Not before KL Rahul added 27 to his already fine overnight 57.
Rain, though, frustrated them as only 49.2 overs of cricket was possible on the third day, England playing out the 11.1 bowled to them without the loss of a wicket. India now have a maximum of 196 overs to force a result in.
Not long ago, in the World Test Championship final in the same country but against a different opponent, India lost their seventh wicket on 205, the same score as here, but lost the remaining three for 12 runs. Then the last four added 28 in the second innings. The difference in two lower orders - home ones generally tend to outscore their opponents - was believed to be the difference between the two sides leading into the series.
Then Ben Stokes pulled out. Suddenly England didn't have the depth either in their batting or bowling. India ran through their lower order, and batted against an attack whose fourth and final bowler was Sam Curran. And Stuart Broad was having a second consecutive off day. A combination of better resolve from the batters, less incisive change-up bowlers, and some luck - three dropped catches and five missed run-outs in all - meant India enjoyed being at the other end of three frustrating lower-order stands, worth 73 in all.
That in mind, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson did well - splitting nine wickets between them, including a maiden five-for for Robinson - to keep the lead down to two figures.
The day began precariously amid rain breaks. India were 58 behind with Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the middle. Pant was going to play his shots. And so he did. A few came off before he chipped one to short cover to de dismissed for 25 off 20. Along the way he became India's highest run-getter in Tests this year.
Rahul nearly ran Jadeja out when he was four, but Dan Lawrence felt he had less time than he actually did. Instead of lobbing the ball to the wicketkeeper, he went for the direct hit and missed. Jadeja then went on to show why he has been among the best Test allrounders in the world since 2018 and why he provides India the flexibility to play five bowlers.
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A little sun and plenty of rain make for a dramatic scene at Trent Bridge Getty Images
Rahul and Jadeja came together with India still 38 behind, and given the tail behind them they needed a big stand to retain the advantage in the Test. They added 60 runs and also saw off the most testing spell of the day when Anderson and Robinson bowled together. Joe Root dropped Rahul off Anderson during this period, but two boundaries later, Anderson produced a thinner edge to have him caught by the keeper. By then, India were in the lead, and Rahul had once again adapted to a new role - remember he was now being looked at as a middle-order batter - to make himself a place in the side.
Shardul Thakur fell for a duck, and India were just 22 ahead with three proverbial Nos 11 to follow. Things were different here, though. The bowling didn't have that sting for starters. Shami chose to play sensibly, and it came off too. In a 25-ball partnership, Jadeja manipulated the strike to face 22 and scored 24 off them.

Jadeja fell trying to hit Robinson over the field that had come up for the last ball of the over, but England still couldn't get the swift end they were after. Anderson himself proceeded to drop Shami. Bumrah batted with steely resolve. Shanks cleared the infield, and the better ones came right off the middle. He even hit Curran for a stunningly flat pulled six.
By the time Robinson took his fifth, and India's last, wicket, England had been kept in the field for 84.5 overs. Curran bowled only 15 of those, and Broad went at 3.5 an over. India were going to operate with a more evenly spread-out attack.
However, in the few overs that were possible before rain ended the day's play prematurely, the pitch looked a little settled. It was also evident from how India operated with just two slips and a gully. India still drew 11 mistakes in that period, which means it was not a flatbed. Eyes were also on the overheads: clouds were expected to bring assistance for India, but rain could deny them the time needed to inflict damage.

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EEB VIEW

England 183 (Root 64; Bumrah 4-46) & 303 (Root 109, Bumrah 5-64)
India 278 (Rahul 84, Robinson 5-85) & 52-1
India need a further 157 runs to win

Joe Root stroked a century of the highest class to give England hope of beating India in a see-saw first Test at Trent Bridge.

On a compelling, thrilling and competitive fourth day, captain Root was magnificent in making 109.

With Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence chipping in, England - who at one stage looked in danger of being beaten with a day to spare - reached 303 in their second innings, setting India 209 to win.

Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah ran through the lower order with the second new ball to take 5-64 and finish with match figures of 9-110.

India were given an hour to bat and looked set to come through unscathed before Stuart Broad had KL Rahul caught behind for 26.

There was still time for Rohit Sharma to survive a tense England review as India closed on 52-1, needing another 157 for victory.



'There have been times in this match when England looked floored - when they were bowled out for 183 in the first innings, when India reached 205-5 in response and when England found themselves 46-2 on the fourth morning.

However, thanks to the sheer brilliance of Root, they are still in the contest going into what could be a grandstand final day.

On top of Root's knock, a packed Trent Bridge was treated to the skill of Bumrah and the shots of Curran and Bairstow. Even Sibley's vigil was strangely satisfying.



There were moments of pure theatre. As India burned their final review in a desperate bid to remove Root, Virat Kohli was taunted by the home fans. Curran duelled with Mohammed Siraj, while Kohli went face-to-face with Ollie Robinson.

As India began their chase, the growing gloom added to the drama, play seemingly always on the verge of being suspended until the sun appeared for Broad to remove Rahul.

Rain is forecast for Sunday, but it was also due to spoil what turned out to be a memorable Saturday. The hope is that this absorbing contest can be played to a conclusion.


For much of 2021, Root has almost single-handedly carried England's flimsy batting. This was more of the same, a captain's knock that altered their course from defeat to an outside chance of victory.

When Root arrived, England were still 49 behind, yet he instantly changed the tempo with flowing cover drives and urgent running.

He added 89 with Sibley, who twice could have been run out and overturned an lbw in his 28 from 133 balls. Bairstow, with 30, Lawrence's 25 and a punchy 32 from Curran provided further support.

When Root drove down the ground to reach his 21st Test century, it sparked prolonged and emotional celebrations, with the Yorkshireman signalling to wife Carrie and beating his chest in the direction of the vocal England fans.

Root fell in Bumrah's first over with the second new ball, sparking a final England slide of four wickets for 29 runs.

He left to a rapturous ovation, with everyone inside Trent Bridge knowing they had witnessed one of the great Test innings.


They were helped by some loose shots. Sibley drove at a wide one to give an inside edge, Bairstow sloppily pulled straight to deep square leg and Jos Buttler was bowled offering no stroke.



And, just as Root and Curran were building momentum and India were feeling the heat from the crowd, Bumrah intervened.

Extra bounce induced an edge from Root, Curran shovelled to mid-on and Stuart Broad was bowled first ball off his pads by a searing inswinging yorker.

Robinson's slice to third man was the signal for the chase to begin, Rohit and Rahul facing a potentially perilous period against a revved-up England.

The openers managed to silence the crowd, only for Broad to change ends and remove Rahul, before Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara added some late runs on what remains a true pitch.

'One of the great innings of all time' - what they said
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "We have witnessed one of the great innings of all time. We have seen Root play plenty of magnificent innings but that was just pure.



"It was a wonderful day of Test cricket. From where England were two days ago to where they are now, they have a glimmer of hope of winning because of their captain."

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta: "This has been a great advert for Test cricket. It has seemed like every over, maybe even every delivery, has been a key moment.

"Joe Root, what a masterclass. He showed how good he is and how far he is head and shoulders above the rest of England's batters."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "If you think of that target as an apple, India have taken a healthy bite out of it."

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No play draw

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Broad out for the series

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BEEB TAKE ON JOE'S MASTERCLASS OF MAKING THE WRONG DECISION

Second LV= Insurance Test, Lord's (day one of five)
India 276-3: Rahul 127*, Rohit 83, Kohli 42
England: Yet to bat

England suffered a demoralising first day of the second Test as a KL Rahul century led India towards a huge total after they were asked to bat first.

Rahul played with elegance for 127 not out, growing in stature following his supporting role in an opening stand of 126 with Rohit Sharma, who made a superb 83 at Lord's.

With India captain Virat Kohli adding 42 in a third-wicket partnership of 117 with Rahul, India moved to 276-3 and in a prime position to take complete control of the match.

James Anderson - passed fit to play - produced two excellent deliveries to remove Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara, while Ollie Robinson provided a late boost with the wicket of Kohli.

However, the home side were collectively poor with the ball and, as the clouds gave way to evening sunshine, batting looked increasingly comfortable on a true pitch.

England were aided by the rain in the drawn first Test at Trent Bridge. The London weather is forecast to be dry for the weekend, so the hosts will need their batsmen - including Haseeb Hameed, recalled for Zak Crawley - to dig them out of this one.

It was hard to disagree with England captain Joe Root when he opted to bowl first on a cool, grey, damp morning. Kohli said he would have done the same.

However, while it is fair to say England did not get the amount of assistance they might have expected, rarely did they find the right area, alternating between too wide and too straight.

Credit should be given to Rohit and Rahul, who came through what could have been a difficult period with sound judgement, only playing when absolutely necessary.

After Stuart Broad was ruled out for the series with a calf injury, Anderson overcame a quad problem to produce his double strike in the run-up to tea.

By that time, though, India had built a strong foundation and it would look even more ominous for England had Robinson not struck.

Still, India will be looking to heap pressure on England by batting for most of Friday.



Rahul is only playing in this series after injuries to Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal, yet began with scores of 84 and 26 at Trent Bridge and followed up with his first Test hundred in almost three years.

He began as the support to Rohit, who took four fours in one Sam Curran over and got the better of a thrilling duel with the rapid Mark Wood.

Rahul did not score his first boundary - a straight six off Moeen Ali - until the 108th ball he faced, shortly before Rohit fell for his best Test score outside India.




Kohli had not before passed 25 in four Test innings at Lord's and had to come through an examination by Curran and almost played on off Moeen.

Robinson eventually drew him into playing away from his body, with Root grasping the edge at first slip.


Broad is missing a home Test for only the third time since 2010. Without him, England were toothless for long periods.

Robinson's usual accuracy deserted him, Curran began by bowling both sides of the wicket, Wood - Broad's replacement - touched 96mph but was expensive, while the recalled Moeen struggled to make an impact.

As ever, it was left to Anderson, who first nipped one down the Lord's slope to bowl Rohit, then got one got one to go the other way to have the poking Pujara held at third slip.


Jonny Bairstow catches Cheteshwar Pujara off James Anderson delivery for nine
It was the start of an England improvement. Curran bowled a testing spell from round the wicket and Robinson's probing with the second new ball was rewarded by the wicket of Kohli.

There was still time for Root to waste a review on new man Ajinkya Rahane, perhaps a result of England's frustrating day.

'A masterclass' from Rahul - what they said
England seamer Ollie Robinson on BBC Sport: "Everybody saw how green the pitch was this morning and everybody here thought 'win the toss and bowl'. We toiled hard.

"Virat is probably my biggest wicket to date, so I was happy with that. If can get them five or six down early, they have quite a long tail, and we'd still be in the game."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "It was perfection from KL Rahul. That was a masterclass in how to open the batting in England. It's been a joy to watch - a craftsman at work.

"It is a huge day for England tomorrow. They've got to get the wickets, and then it is about the batting, which has been the downfall in the last year."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "I don't think anyone can seriously criticise Joe Root's decision to bowl.

"But there didn't seem to be a great plan about England's bowling today. India have built a fantastic platform."

Former England batsman Mark Ramprakash: "It's been a chastening day for England. There will be some weary bodies and minds. But the next two batsmen are left-handers who play in an attacking style, and then there are the four seamers.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel for England, but they will have to bat well and bat long."

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ESPN

England 118 for 3 (Burns 49, Root 48*, Siraj 2-34) trail India 364 (Rahul 129, Anderson 5-62) by 246 runs
It was more ebb and flow and less one-sided on day two as England counter-punched throughout to significantly limit India's chances of running away with an early advantage in the second Test. Spearheading the bowling effort once again was James Anderson, who became the oldest man in 70 years to take a Test five-for; he was aided much better on the day by the rest of the line-up, and together they made sure that India added only 88 to their overnight score of 276 for 3.
By stumps, England were 246 behind with Joe Root looking solid, after he had put up an encouraging stand with Rory Burns that came just in time as a potent spell from Mohammed Siraj threatened to put India on top once again.
The day couldn't have begun any better for England. Overnight centurion KL Rahul miscued a drive straight to extra cover off Ollie Robinson, second ball of the day, and Anderson had Ajinkya Rahane caught behind off the first ball next over to put an end to a 23-ball effort for India's vice-captain that yielded a single run. At 282 for 5, India were suddenly in danger of a rapid end to their innings as England made use of the overcast conditions far better than they had on the first day.
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James Anderson, the lord of Lord's when India come calling

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Stats - Anderson the oldest pacer with a Test five-for in 70 years

The last recognised pair - Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja - did come good at that point, even if briefly in a 49-run stand. Pant played with typical panache, stepping out to slash over the bowlers, to pummel through the covers, and on one instance even stepping out and leaving a ball outside off. He was dismissed by Mark Wood, who would eventually go on to get Jadeja as well. India's last four wickets added 33, a laboured effort that took 16.1 overs of batting around an atypically subdued Jadeja, who was the last man out. That total of 364 signalled a move towards some parity in the game for England.
Burns and Dom Sibley looked resolute as they took England to tea, but India would punch back immediately after. They did that via Siraj, and with the use of a strategy they had developed earlier in the year on their Australia tour: the leg trap, a move that involved consistently slanting the ball into batters with packed leg-side fields that eventually proved to be a viable attacking as well as defensive strategy.
Siraj was the man entrusted to pull it off, attacking Sibley's middle and leg stumps until he induced a leg-side strangle that has become endemic for England's opener in a short career; he had chipped to midwicket at Trent Bridge, and he did it again on Friday after enduring 44 balls for 11. Next ball, India had three catchers in various orientations around midwicket, and that was enough to push the returning Haseeb Hameed to play down a middle stump line to a full delivery that rattled the base of off.
It became crucial at this juncture for England that Root would get through Siraj's spell unscathed, and the bowler didn't make it easy. He consistently challenged Root's inside edge with a sustained attack at the stumps. On two occasions he came close to trapping him lbw; on both, Virat Kohli made reluctant reviews that showed the ball was sliding down leg side and India burned two reviews quickly. With the second one, he was visually distressed with wicketkeeper Pant, seemingly for being too late in telling him that the review wasn't on.

Funnily enough, it was a Siraj over that did eventually release the pressure off England. The 27th over went for three fours, all of them from Burns, who drove neatly past mid-off and followed it up with consecutive pulls to the midwicket boundary to jump from 19 off 78 to 31 off 84. It also managed to take Siraj out of the attack, and began a series of fours, including two from Root at the start of Ishant Sharma's next over. From 42 for 2 at the end of 26 overs, England swiftly jumped to 73 for 2 at the end of the 30th.
The pattern from there was much like that of India's in the last session of day one, with the sun peeking through the clouds and scoring getting easier. Soon enough, Kohli was forced to turn to Jadeja to tighten up one end in a bid to get to stumps without too much damage.
India did pull one back at the end, though: Mohammed Shami going around the wicket for a third wicket that involved the ball coming in at the stumps. Completely against the run of play, Burns was trapped on the back foot, the ball keeping a touch low as he looked to swish it into the leg side. He made it clear he wasn't pleased with that decision and it ended up costing England a review. But on the balance, at least from the point of view that India didn't make any massive strides after day one, England will have been the happier team at stumps.

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ESPN

Stumps England 391 (Root 180*, Bairstow 57, Siraj 4-94, Ishant 3-69) lead India 364 (Rahul 129, Anderson 5-62) by 27 runs
Joe Root made his fourth century at Lord's, and stretched it past 150 like he had the first three times, as a near-perfect display on Day 3 helped England take a slender lead against India. He was left stranded on 180 with England being bowled out off the last ball of the day. The 27-run lead capped off a gradual comeback from England in the match, which had begun by first bowling India out early on Day 2 and then battling through to stumps on a difficult evening. Exactly two days and two innings now remain for the teams to force a result.
Almost as if it were a reward for their work on Friday evening, England came out to the best batting conditions of the match so far on Saturday - bright sunshine and a flat pitch that they put to good use, starting with overnight batters Root and Jonny Bairstow. The pair put up their third century stand of the year, but this one was of a different flavour, with Bairstow playing a more prominent role. His most prominent role in two years, in fact, as England's No. 5 brought up his first Test fifty since 2019.
Bairstow took the lead early in the day, finding his groove especially on either side of the 50-over mark. England were striking at more than four an over at that stage and Bairstow's confident driving in the V started it all off. He then brought up boundaries through point and gully and his favoured square leg region and pretty soon India were already thinking conservatively.
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Joe Root is all smiles after bringing up his century PA Photos/Getty Images
That meant only two fielders in the cordon and a sweeper point fielder through most of the first session, alongside the early introduction of Ravindra Jadeja, India's go-to bowler for a defensive strategy. Every bit of that helped Root, who has been something of a one-man army for England lately. He ambled along, solid as ever, in what would turn out to be a flawless innings offering no clear chances to India.
For the most part, it was a typically delicate sort of innings from Root, punctuated with nudges and glances, and a handful of flicks through square leg. Not until the very end of the day did he attempt any overly aggressive strokes; when he did, they came off: a reverse ramp over the cordon, and a slog sweep to deep square's left off consecutive deliveries from Mohammed Siraj with England nine down. In the first two sessions, England scored at nearly 3.5 an over, and despite ending up 18 fours in a score of 180, Root finished the innings with England's best strike rate.
He continued being the one to hold England together as well, first with the 121-run stand alongside Bairstow, and then by adding 54 and 58 with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali respectively. Those phases of play blunted any chance for India to turn the game around with the second new ball and ultimately helped England close in on the lead.
For India, it was Siraj who finished highest wicket-taker, but it was Jasprit Bumrah who had looked their best option when the day began. Bumrah would end up wicketless, but was the first to make Bairstow rethink his game. Bumrah had him hurriedly walking across the stumps, trying to protect both his stumps and his outside edge, as the scoring rate dropped down heading to lunch.
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Mohammed Siraj wheeled away all day Getty Images

Then, India brought out a short-ball strategy against which Root was comfortable enough, but not Bairstow. After a few misses on the pull, he ended up going too early at a Siraj bouncer from around the wicket, offering a simple catch to Virat Kohli at first slip. With eight balls to go before the second new ball and England 135 behind, it was India's biggest chance to pry the innings open. But that wouldn't materialise as they battled both challenging conditions as well as their own indiscipline - in general, they erred too straight, or too short.
There was none of the ingenuity that they showed on Friday evening, apart from going back to the short-balls from time to time, as the strategy became plainly about making sure England didn't run away with the game. Eventually, that did pay off. Ishant Sharma, who had bowled a trademark nip-backer to hit the top of Buttler's off stump, managed to get Ali and Sam Curran off consecutive deliveries with England only 23 shy of the lead. The two left-handers fell identically, fencing at away-going deliveries in the corridor, and once again the prospects of a collapse opened in this Test.
But once again, there was a delay - if not downright resistance - because of the lower order. Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, and James Anderson all survived about half-an-hour each for a combined 11 off 61 balls as their captain endeavoured to give them more to bowl at. India's extras helped - 33 in total, 17 no-balls - and it all added up to 50 runs for the last three wickets before Anderson, who was struck multiple times on the body through a nine-ball Bumrah over, was bowled off the last ball of the day.

[Admin]

India 364 (Rahul 129, Anderson 5-62) & 181-6 (Pujara 45, Rahane 61)
England 391 (Root 180*, Siraj 4-94)
India lead by 154 runs
Scorecard
The second Test is set for a grandstand finale after England made late inroads into the India batting on the fourth day at Lord's.

England took three wickets for 20 runs to leave India 181-6, 154 ahead, with all four results possible on the final day.

A see-saw Test continued to fluctuate on a compelling Sunday at Lord's, with England reducing India to 55-3, only for the tourists to grind it out through a partnership of 100 between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

When Pujara fell for 45 off 206 balls - a third wicket for the tireless Mark Wood - it opened the door for Moeen Ali to remove Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja.

The gathering gloom added to the sense of theatre, with England only able to bowl the spin of Moeen and Joe Root despite the second new ball being available.

When the umpires finally decided it was too dark, with eight overs unbowled, the dangerous Rishabh Pant remained on 14 and Ishant Sharma four.

England cannot rely on Root in run-chase - Moeen
TMS podcast: Wood & Moeen strike late to leave Test finely poised

England v India: Moeen dismisses Jadeja with an 'absolute peach'
England hit back after India rearguard
This has been a wonderful Test, one in which England - without a win in six games - have responded to being second best in the drawn series opener and allowing to reach India 276-3 on the first day.

It moved through distinct phases and contained some memorable moments: England's early potency, the resistance of Pujara and Rahane, then the drama of the late wickets.

By the end, the early finish probably suited both sides. India would have wanted to escape to the safety of the dressing room, while England did not want to leak crucial runs while being forced to bowl the spinners in fading light.

The continuing presence of Pant is England's biggest concern, but they will also know they have the opportunity to run through a long India tail when the new ball is finally taken on Monday morning.

Whatever they are chasing, England must contend with a pitch that is becoming increasingly uneven, particularly when the bowling is from the Pavilion End.

There is also a concern over Wood, who left the field with a shoulder injury after diving to stop the ball on the boundary.

Pujara and Rahane make their stand
Pujara had not passed 21 in his 10 previous Test innings, while Rahane possessed only one half-century in 15, yet they combined to defy England and keep India afloat.

The obdurate Pujara spent 34 balls on nought, the lively India fans - on Indian Independence Day - chanting his name when he got off the mark. He took only 12 runs from the first 100 balls he faced.

The wristy Rahane scored slightly more freely and benefitted from being dropped at point on 31 by a diving Jonny Bairstow off Moeen.

England tried everything to split the partnership and were at the point of being blunted when Wood found extra bounce to have Pujara held at a short second slip via the glove.

Rahane lazily edged Moeen behind, with the off-spinner then producing a ripping delivery to beat the grope of Jadeja and take the off stump.

Pant, who waited to bat lying down on a couch in the India dressing room, was his usual frantic self and was in animated conversation with England captain Root as the players left the field.

England's early burst
England were magnificent in the morning session, their bowling threatening, fielding dynamic and tactics astute.

India started their second innings 27 behind and Wood was introduced in just the sixth over. After taking KL Rahul's edge with a delivery clocked at almost 94mph, he prevailed in a thrilling duel with Rohit Sharma.

With Wood haring in, Rohit was determined to take him on, snapping into a breathtaking pull for six. When England put a third fielder on the boundary, Rohit still could not resist, allowing Moeen to take a smart catch at long leg.


England v India: Mark Wood dismisses KL Rahul early on day four
James Anderson's opening spell stretched to nine overs and included a verbal joust with captain Virat Kohli, who became Curran's first wicket of the series.

Prodding at one that was well wide of off stump, Kohli was caught behind, sending Curran on an ecstatic sprint around Lord's.

India were rocked and England buoyant, only for Pujara and Rahane to mount their stoic rearguard that spanned almost 50 overs.


England v India: 'He'll be cross about that!' - Sam Curran gets 'huge' Virat Kohli wicket
'All results are possible'
England all-rounder Moeen Ali on BBC Sport: "They (Pujara and Rahane) played fantastically well, but the way we hung in there put us in a fantastic position to fight to win tomorrow. The scoring never really got away from us so it will be a great day.

"They have Pant, who could take the game away from us in one or two overs, so I didn't want to go out there searching for wickets. The game is beautifully poised."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "We are in for a gem of a last day. We come back tomorrow with all results still possible.

"The first 30 minutes will decide the game. If they allow Pant to get in, that lead will be around 200.

"At the moment I have England as favourites but the more it goes over 200 I will be edging closer to India."

Former England batsman Mark Ramprakash: "England will fancy their chances but there is still work to do. Anything around 200 will be difficult to chase."

[Admin]

THE BEEBS TAKE ON YESTERDAY'S ABJECT SURRENDER

Second LV= Insurance Test, Lord's (day five of five)
India 364 (Rahul 129, Anderson 5-62) & 298-8 dec (Rahane 61)
England 391 (Root 180*) & 120 (Siraj 4-32)
India won by 151 runs
Scorecard
England produced one of their worst home performances in recent memory to lose the second Test against India by 151 runs at Lord's.

From a position where they started the final day as marginal favourites, England's bowling was flayed by the India tail before their batting capitulated to 120 all out.

Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah - two genuine tailenders - shared a ninth-wicket stand of 89 in front of some raucous Indian support.

Shami had reached 56 not out and Bumrah an unbeaten 34 when India declared on 298-8, setting England an unlikely 272 to win or 60 overs to survive.

They instantly found themselves 1-2 after openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley fell for ducks, and hope faded when Jonny Bairstow then, crucially, captain Joe Root were dismissed in the space of four balls separated by tea.


England v India: Jasprit Bumrah removes Joe Root with Virat Kohli catch for 33
Jos Buttler, who faced 96 deliveries for 25, chewed up 16 overs with Moeen Ali and 12 with Ollie Robinson, either side of Sam Curran completing a king pair.

However, Robinson and Buttler fell in successive overs, before Mohammed Siraj bowled last man James Anderson to end with 4-32 and put a rampant India 1-0 up with three Tests to play.

I got tactics wrong in the field - Root
Criticism from commentators fired up India tailenders - Kohli
TMS podcast: India take victory on gripping final day
Tuffers & Vaughan podcast: 'This series has just gone up a notch'
Abject England sink to new low
Disappointing England Test performances have become commonplace, especially overseas. They have also been bowled out for 85 and 67 at home by Ireland and Australia respectively, but at least they won those matches.

What makes this defeat so abject is the manner they threw away a genuine chance of victory, one which came after they were second best in the drawn first Test and allowed India to reach 276-3 on day one here.

Their tactics during the Shami-Bumrah stand were completely baffling. Perhaps sucked in by the emotion of Anderson being peppered by Bumrah on the the third evening, England targeted the man rather than the stumps. By the time they changed the plan, it was too late.


England v India: Reliance on Joe Root is embarrassing - Vaughan
Not only that, but the fractious nature of the contest - there were numerous verbal exchanges between the two sides - seemed to galvanise India, while England wilted.

Sure enough, when England came to bat to save the match on a pitch only showing an occasional sign of uneven bounce, they were blown away, much to the delight of the swathe of India fans inside a buzzing Lord's.

England are now without a win in seven Tests and must find a response when the sides reconvene at Headingley on 25 August. India, on the other hand, will take some stopping.

Shami and Bumrah light up Lord's
With India 181-6 overnight - 154 ahead - their hopes seemed to rest on the swashbuckling Rishabh Pant.

That they could be taken to a declaration by Shami and Bumrah - men who averaged 11 and three respectively in Test cricket - is barely believable.


England v India: Ollie Robinson claims wicket of Rishabh pant
And yet, after Robinson had Pant caught behind for 22 and trapped Ishant Sharma lbw for three, England took leave of their cricketing senses, scattering the field and hardly producing a delivery aimed at the top of off stump.

Although Bumrah began with some wild swipes, Shami was assured throughout. As England became increasingly frustrated, Bairstow dropped a half-chance at mid-wicket when Shami was on 31, while Root shelled a straightforward catch at slip off Moeen when Bumrah had 22.

Shami went to his second Test half-century from 57 balls by hoisting Moeen over mid-wicket for six, both men reaching their highest scores. Overall, the ninth-wicket pair bumped along at 4.5 an over.

By the time the declaration arrived in the second over after lunch, India were the only side with a realistic chance of victory, while England were absolutely scrambled.


Mohammed Shami hits Moeen Ali for a four and a six to bring up half-century
England capitulate
Given their fun with the bat and England's fragile batting, it was almost inevitable that Bumrah and Shami would do early damage.

When Burns got a leading edge off Bumrah and Shami produced a devilish away-swinger to take Sibley's edge, it was the first time in an England home Test innings that both of their openers had fallen for ducks. Sibley must be in severe danger of being left out of the third Test.


England v India: Mohammed Shami edges Dom Sibley for England's second duck
Even the prolific Root, who made an unbeaten 180 in the first innings, could not save his team. He was caught at first slip off Bumrah in the first over after tea and England looked beaten.

Although Buttler and Moeen battled, they still needed the fortune of Buttler being dropped by first slip Virat Kohli off Bumrah and Moeen being caught behind off a Ravindra Jadeja no-ball.

When Moeen and Curran edged successive Siraj deliveries, Curran became the first man to return two golden ducks in a Lord's Test.


England v India: Mohammed Siraj dismisses Moeen Ali and Sam Curran in two balls
Robinson provided support to Buttler, yet when he was lbw on review to a skilful Bumrah slower ball from round the wicket, it was the start of the final three wickets falling in seven deliveries.

Siraj had Buttler caught behind and bowled Anderson with a beauty, the pace bowler setting off on a sprint to begin the celebrations of a famous India victory.

[exile]

At the very least, England should have been able to bat out for a draw but their unprofessional approach in the morning session cost them a match they could easily have won.  Against conventional test match bowling, neither Bumrah nor Shami ever stays very long at the crease but, instead of continuing with a winning strategy, England decided to exact revenge for Bumrah's roughing up of Anderson the day before by bowling bouncers to a T20 field.  This backfired spectacularly, handed the momentum over to India and drained the confidence out of the England team.

Now the pundits are demanding changes to the batting but, thanks to the ridiculous schedule inflicted by the bungling ECB, the only batsmen to have faced a red ball in weeks are already in the team!  So, whoever they bring in is likely to struggle.  What a shambles!

[werneth]

A shambles indeed, Exile. Pope is talked of as a number 3 so what happens? He went in at 3 this morning for Surrey and got a duck.

As for the captaincy, the strain on Root must be immense and with Stokes missing, you wonder who on earth could take over that role. If we go to Australia this winter without Stokes, it doesn't bear thinking about.

[lancsdes]

Was going to posting similar vein last night but ran out of time. I never take any sports results too seriously nowadays but I do hate a craven surrender and that’s what this was.

Experienced cricketers and there is nobody more experienced than Anderson should know to stop the captain using those such sort of tactics but of course Anderson has history on that. Notably in the Roses match at Aigburth where he was more interested in trying to knock Yorkshire openers heads off then get them out.

Still, at least it isn’t brainless captaincy by Lancashire that we are complaining about for a change.

I don’t think Pope is a number three; not compact enough. Having said that, I’m not sure there will  ever be any genuine number threes again. People liken  him to Bell but Bell at his peak was both compact defensively and could also dominate an attack.