England vs India: Joe Root's cautious 99 helps hosts make steady start to third Test at Lord's
England's Joe Root top-scored with 99 not out off 191 balls; Captain Ben Stokes was seen struggling with groin issues while batting towards end of day one; watch day two of the third Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am Friday (11am first ball)
Friday 11 July 2025 11:14, UK
Joe Root top-scored with a cautious 99 not out to help England to a steady 251-4, while captain Ben Stokes suffered an injury scare on day one of the third Test at Lord's.
After winning the toss and electing to bat - only the second time Stokes has made that decision in England - Zak Crawley (18) and Ben Duckett (23) were both dismissed in the 16th over by Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-46).
Root (99 not out off 191) and Ollie Pope (44 off 104) helped to steady things for England, with the former becoming the first player to score 3,000 Test runs against India alone, as well as bringing up his 67th Test half-century.
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India continued to toil, though, taking two more wickets, with Ravindra Jadeja (1-26) removing Pope and Jasprit Bumrah (1-32) dismissing Harry Brook (11), on a wicket that was providing more turn and bounce than the flat pitches at Headingley and Edgbaston.
Stokes (39 not out) joined Root in the middle but there were concerning scenes when he required treatment on an apparent groin issue in the 72nd over after pulling up in pain while playing a leave. After treatment, the England captain continued but was visibly limping as he left the field at the close of play.
During the 81st over, play was briefly and bizarrely interrupted by a loveliness of ladybirds as England made it to stumps four down, with Root and captain Stokes at the crease as the hosts look to regain a lead in the five-match series after India levelled at Edgbaston.
Root's unbeaten 99 highlights day one
Crawley and Duckett put on a 43-run opening partnership, which included seven boundaries, as they looked to make the most of the decision to bat first under bright, sunny skies at the home of cricket.
However, tight bowling from India paid off as Reddy had both England openers caught behind by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in the same over.
Root and Pope, the latter dropped by India skipper Shubman Gill first ball, helped to reconsolidate the morning session, safely guiding England to 82-2 by lunch, but it was India who had the upper hand.
Between them Mohammed Siraj (0-33), and Bumrah (1-35) - the latter who came into the side for Prasidh Krishna - bowled 29 consecutive dot balls to put England under pressure, but Pope and Root didn’t fold.
That was until right after tea when their 109-run partnership came to an end as spinner Jadeja had Pope edge behind to substitute wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, with Pant off the field after chipping the nail on his right index finger.
Bumrah, unusually, arrived at the wicket party a bit late, getting his first scalp in the 55th over as he bowled Brook (11) with a nipbacker, leaving England on 172-4.
Root, on 98, nudged Akash Deep (0-75) behind point, and just as he was about to set off for the second run, Jadeja playfully tempted him to take it by rolling the ball on the floor, but Stokes firmly shouted "no" from the other end.
The Lord's crowd booed at stumps as they were denied seeing another Root century, which would be the 37th of his Test career.
Broad: Stokes' injury 'a big problem'
Former England bowler Stuart Broad said Stokes' injury could be 'a big problem' for the hosts after the England skipper was seen struggling in the evening session on day one.
Jofra Archer came into the line-up, replacing Josh Tongue, and an injury to Stokes could mean the England pace bowler who hasn't played Test cricket in four years is under enormous pressure, and at risk of injuring himself before the away Ashes in winter this year.
"I don't know exactly what it is - but it's a big problem," Broad said on Sky Sports Cricket.
"He has a huge pain threshold so for him to be limping, feeling it, and even be thinking about calling for the physio, it's a big problem.
"England will be working tirelessly on him. Hopefully he pulls up better but this is worrying.
"With the swing on offer with that second new ball, if India had made a couple of breakthroughs, then it was their day.
"If I were in India's changing room opening the bowling, I would have loved three or four overs with that ball to see what could have happened.
"I think England will be happy only losing four wickets, and ultimately, I think it is probably England's day."
Pope happy after 'slow day'
England batter Ollie Pope, who made 44 on day one at Lord's:
"It was a very slow day but credit to the way India bowled.
"I don't think the pitch offered loads after lunch, it was pretty placid, so India held their lengths well.
"I think 251-4 is a good score if we can kick on tomorrow.
"It felt like you had to force the ball through, which in England were are not used to - you usually get rewards for your cuts and clips."
Watch day two of the third Test between England and India at Lord's, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am Friday (11am first ball) or stream without a contract.
England vs India - results and schedule
All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all on Sky Sports
- First Test (Headingley) - England won by five wickets
- Second Test (Edgbaston) - India won by 336 runs
- Third Test (Lord's): July 10-14
- Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford): July 23-27
- Fifth Test (The Kia Oval): July 31-August 4
