PITCH REPORT - Raunak Kapoor and Deep Dasgupta are pitchside, inspecting the Day 2 track at Lord's. Deep notes that it's still a solid batting surface. Adds that there aren't many footmarks yet, though a few ball marks are visible and could become relevant by Day 4 or 5. He mentions the pitch is on the drier side but expects it to hold up well, aided by the grass cover and possibly the natural slope. From a batting viewpoint, he reckons that it remains favourable for now, though the second new ball could be a game-changer, and spinners are likely to play a bigger role as the match progresses.

Ben Stokes appeared to undergo a fitness test a short while ago, during which he performed some sprints and even bowled a few deliveries. He looked visibly comfortable and showed no signs of discomfort. There is an injury concern in the Indian camp as well. Rishabh Pant took a blow to his left index finger yesterday, after which Dhruv Jurel took over the wicketkeeping duties for the remainder of the day. Pant is currently undergoing batting drills but does not appear entirely comfortable, frequently shaking his hand after playing shots. Meanwhile, Jurel has the wicketkeeping gloves on and is warming up on the sidelines.

For India, this morning session carries huge significance. Getting Root out early is a non-negotiable, with a bit of batting yet to come, including Jamie Smith. However, with glorious sunshine overhead and batting conditions still favourable, it won’t be an easy task at all. The second new ball is just 2.5 overs old, and considering how effectively India has wielded the new ball throughout this series, we’re in for another fascinating battle. They say, patience is the key to success, and the team that takes control in these crucial early exchanges will likely shape the direction and pace of the entire match. Stay tuned as another absorbing day of Test cricket is just around the corner.

The day ahead centers around Joe Root, who remains frustratingly close to his century on 99. He’s chasing what would be quite extraordinary. Another century at Lord’s would be his eighth at this venue alone, underlining his special relationship with cricket’s most famous venue. And with Ben Stokes appearing to struggle physically in the backend of the first day, England will be hoping that their captain can continue fresh, as these two experienced campaigners look to extend their team’s advantage.

That brings us to the intriguing undercurrent of the match. Has the bowling been outstanding, or have the batters simply been that good at navigating the challenges? In truth, the answer isn’t binary. It lives in the tense middle ground, where smart batting meets disciplined bowling. With neither side backing down, it's been a contest of technique and temperament.

India’s bowling hasn't been far behind in this fascinating contest either, though they’ll certainly feel a few more wickets would have given them the edge they were seeking. Jasprit Bumrah was, as usual, relentless in his pursuit of edges, mixing up his angles beautifully that kept batters constantly guessing. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja found just enough purchase from the surface to pose consistent threats to create doubt in the batters’ minds.

The opening day delivered a sharp deviation from the usual Bazball bravado towards the conventional old-school Test cricket. This wasn’t a sprint, but it was an absolute slow burn, and the cricket matched that mood. The surface offered subtle assistance to the bowlers, and for the batters, it demanded patience rather than theatrics. England’s batters, led by the ever-composed Joe Root, responded with restraint as they built their innings with care and control.

Hello, everyone! The action continues at the Home of Cricket as Day 2 is upon us in this third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, 2025. This is a crucial Test from both teams' perspectives and has started off on a decent tone. England have taken an early lead in the game by dominating most of the first day with the bat, and now, the Indians are looking to strike back hard. On that note, a literally very warm welcome to our coverage.

... DAY 2, FIRST SESSION ...

Well then, an absorbing opening day of this third Test has flown by. It was laden with patience, grind, and of course, hard work. The surface offered subtle challenges, turn for Jadeja and the occasional uneven bounce for the seamers, keeping both bat and ball in constant contest. It was a hard-fought day that rewarded discipline and careful application over flair. With the second new ball only 2.5 overs old, the first hour of the second day promises a stern examination for Joe Root and Ben Stokes as they look to push England towards a commanding total. The Indian bowlers will be keen to make early inroads, capitalising on the freshness of the cherry to turn the tide. Day 2 begins on Friday, 11th July, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). Till then, take care, cheers!

For a while, India held the squeeze, pairing spin and seam to keep the runs on a leash. But Joe Root was in his bubble of zen, unflustered by bounce or movement. He soaked up everything India threw at him, rarely looking hurried. Ben Stokes, at the other end, played himself in, struggling with a possible groin injury, but together they stitched another handy partnership that helped England stabilise as the shadows lengthened, and eventually coasted England safely to Stumps with an unbeaten 79-run stand.

The partnership had taken a good shape on a slow deck with the ball getting softer and softer, and conditions increasingly facilitative to batting. Come the third and final session, it just took the first ball for Jadeja to break that 109-run stand, and it was followed up nicely by Bumrah's ripper as he removed Brook cheaply, with England slipping from 153/2 to 172/4.

The second session was an absolute slow-burn, and lifeless, with the game progressing at a snail's pace. Not much happened, but the Indians were pretty disciplined with their lines and lengths. Rishabh Pant walked off the field after taking a blow on his left index finger, with Jurel coming in as the substitute keeper. Pope and Root dug in a resilient stand with the former notching up yet another fifty, with Root also crossing 3000 Test runs against India itself. Overall, with not much action, only 70 runs came in the afternoon session in 24 overs, but the Indians were deprived of wickets. Hence, uncharacteristically, the session went England's way.

Ben Stokes yet again won the toss and this time, elected to bat on a sunny, bright day in London. However, India wrested control after a cautious first hour from England, with Nitish Kumar Reddy striking twice post drinks to peg the visitors back at 44/2. Again, the English opening pair failed to bat long enough. The slower pitch and residual moisture aided movement, especially from the Nursery End, where Bumrah and Reddy thrived. False shots, uneven bounce, and fading lacquer on the Dukes ball added to England’s discomfort, before Root and Pope steadied things to close a gripping session which ended as a draw.

SESSION SUMMARY - 34 Overs, 98 Runs and 2 Wickets. Quite an anti-Bazball day, as well and truly mentioned by Nasser Hussain on-air. Not a single session saw runs in triple digits, which proves how sedate it went through and through. Joe Root finishes tantalisingly close to a century, stranded on an unbeaten 99, a score that leaves any batter with a bittersweet taste, proud of the effort, yet restless knowing the job’s not quite done. Alongside him, a visibly hobbling Ben Stokes limped through the Long Room, where members stood to salute the pair’s grit and resilience, with England bagging the evening session as well.

With just about a couple of more minutes left, this could well be the last over of the day. Akash Deep (16-2-72-0) to bowl.