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<\/p>\nIt\u2019s not quite as hot today as it has been the first three days but still very warm, a little bit hazy over head and the pitch has burst into life. Akash Deep from the Pavilion End is getting some steep bounce.<\/p>\n
Early warning sign for Root<\/p>\n
We\u2019re back from lunch and already there\u2019s some drama. Jurel is up to the stumps, Joe Root nicks, Jurel drops it and then it\u2019s given as a no ball. Not sure of the wisdom of Jurel standing up to the stumps for Joe Root. <\/p>\n
No time for lunch to settle in the stomach \u2014 it\u2019s lively already. <\/p>\n
This is what the players can choose from for lunch. Whilst here in the media centre we are having roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So much swing! And Poor Jurel is having a torrid time behind the sticks. I hope he\u2019s getting a proper match fee for this as Rishabh Pant sits with his feet up in the dressing room. <\/p>\n
Bumrah changing his angle to Ben Stokes coming round the wicket and Stokes survives a testing over. And that is lunch \u2014 an amazing morning session. India have dominated and taken four wickets.<\/p>\n
Akash Deep has his tail up after that wicket and is steaming in and there\u2019s a bit of extra carry. Stokes has a wild swipe and he\u2019s been beaten and it\u2019s also beaten the keeper and everybody else and goes for four byes. <\/p>\n
The last over before lunch and Gill brings up Bumrah from the Nursery End\u2026<\/p>\n
Middle stump = out the ground<\/p>\n
Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n Oh for goodness sake I am going to stop saying nice things about England batsmen because every time I do they get out. Brook has gone and it wasn\u2019t smart stuff from him. He was trying to counter attack and he\u2019s been bowled behind his legs. <\/p>\n England are in deep trouble here.<\/p>\n Brook\u2019s \u2018see ball, hit ball\u2019 mentality<\/p>\n Whatever the format, I absolutely love watching Harry Brook batting. Just so uncomplicated in his approach to it. He does have a solid defensive technique but such freedom in his \u201csee ball, hit ball\u201d mentality. There\u2019s a lot to be said for the mentality of \u201cit\u2019s a ball, just hit it\u201d. <\/p>\n Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n Sorry readers \u2014 ignore that bit where I said it had calmed down. It hasn\u2019t. Harry Brook has just taken Akash Deep for 14 in three balls. A ramp to fine leg, a scoop that went even finer and then a six thumped over long-off. <\/p>\n The England white-ball skipper has pulled out all his shots and has clearly decided to try and put some pressure back on the bowlers. <\/p>\n Brook scoops Deep for four<\/p>\n STU FORSTER\/GETTY<\/p>\n Root bringing some calmness to proceedings<\/p>\n Things have calmed a little here after that mad first hour. Perhaps it is because the two opening bowlers are off, or because of the calming presence of Joe Root, but there is less steam coming off my laptop keyboard now and I managed to find time to get an iced latte. <\/p>\n Mike Atherton thinks 250 minimum is what England would need to be able to to defend. The ball is still doing stuff particularly from the Nursery End.<\/p>\n Bit of needle from Nitish Reddy takes the wicket of Crawley for the second time in this Test<\/p>\n CLIVE MASON\/GETTY<\/p>\n And another one gone. India are ecstatic as Reddy gets the wicket of Crawley. A loose drive and the edge goes to backward point where Jaiswal takes a good catch. Huge cheer goes up from the India supporting contingent in the crowd.<\/p>\n Out comes Harry Brook who is averaging 58.20 so far in this series. Big challenge for him here.<\/p>\n Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n That\u2019s the 50 up for England in 85 balls and it\u2019s been an eventful 50. On commentary Dinesh Karthik thinks England need at least 300 to be in this game. <\/p>\n Jurel is up to the stumps for Reddy keeping Crawley in his crease. <\/p>\n Pope\u2019s second-innings struggles<\/p>\n A concerning statistic for Ollie Pope\u2026 His first-innings Test average for England is 46.70, but his second-innings average is 20.02. His performance here follows that trend, scoring 44 in his first innings but being dismissed for four today.<\/p>\n Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n Massive appeal from Siraj for LBW against Pope and he\u2019s persuaded his skipper to review the not-out decision. It\u2019s nipped back in onto Pope\u2019s front pad, nowhere near the bat and IT IS OUT. <\/p>\n Pope is toast \u2014 a very good review. Siraj adjusted his line going a bit straighter and the stumps were in play. We\u2019re going to have drinks now and everyone including me needs one after that mad first hour. <\/p>\n Phew.<\/p>\n Six of one, half a dozen of the other? Siraj and Duckett come together as the Indian bowler celebrates in the England opener\u2019s face<\/p>\n CLIVE MASON\/GETTY<\/p>\n Early delays with physio busy<\/p>\n The physio is on the pitch again. Ben Davies is his name and he\u2019s been on telly a lot this morning. Siraj is so fired up and he\u2019s just beaten Pope on the inside of the bat and it flies over the stumps. <\/p>\n Test cricket is so much more fun when the bowlers slightly have the upper hand.<\/p>\n Duckett shows intent by executing the ramp shot for four off Siraj\u2026<\/p>\n GARETH COPLEY\/GETTY<\/p>\n \u2026 But the opener mistimes a pull shot two balls later straight into the hands of mid-on<\/p>\n CHRIS FOXWELL\/SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n Archer will be licking his lips watching this<\/p>\n A mix up in calling and Crawley has to absolutely peg it to the other end. The throw comes in from Jurel but it\u2019s very wide. A poor throw. <\/p>\n There was some evidence yesterday in India\u2019s innings of the pitch being a bit up and down \u2014 some flying through to Jamie Smith and some dying. <\/p>\n This is going to be a heck of a challenge for England\u2019s batsmen but they\u2019ll feel like the pitch might get even more up and down later on and tomorrow and Jofra from the Nursery End \u2014 if he hits the spot \u2014 could be absolutely unplayable. <\/p>\n A wild drive by Crawley off Bumrah gets an inside edge and doesn\u2019t miss the stumps by very much at all. <\/p>\n Danger from both ends at the moment<\/p>\n It\u2019s balls from the Nursery End that are causing the most issue and there appears to be something in the pitch on a length at the Pavilion end of the pitch. <\/p>\n Siraj is absolutely fired up bowling from the Pavilion End and he\u2019s fired two past Crawley who has had a bit of a wild flash but an inside edge through the leg side gets him a couple.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t type fast enough here\u2026 something happening every ball.<\/p>\n Uneven bounce causing havoc<\/p>\n And now Pope has been hit on the hand. Very uneven bounce and that makes batting so hard. Lateral movement is one thing, but if you can\u2019t trust the bounce that\u2019s a whole other ball game. <\/p>\n Pope picks up a boundary off Bumrah \u2014 it flies for four off the shoulder of the bat. The crowd are getting raucous and what a first half an hour of the day. Both Crawley and Pope have been hit on the hand and the physios are probably going to be earning their money today. <\/p>\n The umpires had a word with Siraj after the wicket \u2014 you can\u2019t really shout in someone\u2019s face like he did and you certainly aren\u2019t supposed to have physical contact. <\/p>\n It\u2019s adding some fun spice to this Test all this, but the umpires will have to keep a close eye that it doesn\u2019t spill over into anything worse. <\/p>\n Siraj gets right in the face of Duckett…<\/p>\n Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n Oh dear \u2014 I have totally commentator cursed Duckett there. He\u2019s trudging back to the Pavilion having top edged a hook straight to midwicket for a run a ball 12. <\/p>\n Siraj shouted in his face and then there was some contact \u2014 looks like a bit of a shoulder barge. I think the Indian bowler will be in trouble for that. India are cock-a-hoop though. <\/p>\n Here comes Ollie Pope who needs to settle quickly, he has a habit of being a bit skittish early on but he can\u2019t afford that given what\u2019s going on out there.<\/p>\n Duckett is in the mood. Plays an incredible scoop over his left shoulder off Mohammad Siraj. I think with the pitch like this they\u2019ll have decided that attack is the best form of defence. <\/p>\n We could be in for a lot of fun here.<\/p>\n Crawley under major pressure<\/p>\n Oh my word, it\u2019s all going on. A massive edge flies past the slip cordon and then another one rises steeply into Zak Crawley as it kicks off the surface into the glove.<\/p>\n Can\u2019t take your eyes off it so far this morning. <\/p>\n Big shout for LBW. Crawley has been hit on the pad but it was given not out on the field. Gill goes upstairs for a review. First look it might be going down leg and the replay shows it is indeed missing leg. That\u2019s about the only decision I\u2019ve called correctly all match. <\/p>\n Lord\u2019s is just about full already. This place has a very specific hum about it in the morning session \u2014 it\u2019s unique to hear, I don\u2019t feel it at any other grounds I go to. <\/p>\n Bumrah gets Crawley on the hand again… Bumrah gets the ball to spit off the deck onto Crawly\u2019s hand\u2026<\/p>\n ANDY KEARNS\/GETTY<\/p>\n \u2026 The England opener throws his bat in pain<\/p>\n STU FORSTER\/GETTY<\/p>\n Good early signs for India<\/p>\n Early signs this pitch is doing something. An absolute seed by Bumrah \u2014 Crawley has to throw his bat after getting hit on the glove from a ball that spat off the pitch and Bumrah races to try and take a catch but can\u2019t get there. <\/p>\n Some early signs of uneven bounce is going to make this entertaining. It\u2019s been a slow, batting friendly deck, but the bowlers will be excited by what they\u2019ve seen so far this morning. <\/p>\n Duckett showing intent… Bazball inbound?<\/p>\n Bumrah opens from the Nursery End and there\u2019s a bit of swing around this morning but Ben Duckett looks like he\u2019s got intent this morning \u2014 perhaps a move back from Bazwall to Bazball is on the cards. They\u2019ll want a hefty lead but enough time to take 10 wickets \u2014 not an easy equation. <\/p>\n No Pant behind the stumps<\/p>\n And the first ball of the morning goes down the leg side for four byes. Rishabh Pant is not on the field and it is Jurel who is wicket keeping again. Pant hurt his hand in the first innings and whilst he batted, he won\u2019t keep.<\/p>\n The second ball of the morning travels quickly across the lush lovely outfield and goes for two. A little hint of swing.<\/p>\n \u2018First three days could have been an email\u2019<\/p>\n A mildly amusing comment from one fan on after the first innings scores finished exactly the same: \u201cThe first three days of this match could have been an email.\u201d <\/p>\n I hope they turn the stump mics up a bit at the start of play so we can hear what sort of reception Zak Crawley gets from the India players after last night\u2019s theatrics. <\/p>\n Give the man an equity card!<\/p>\n Mithali Raj on five-minute bell duties<\/p>\n The players are making their way out on to the hallowed turf and Mithali Raj, the former India women\u2019s captain and batting superstar, is going to ring the five-minute bell. <\/p>\n Raj, left, is the highest run-scorer in the history of women\u2019s international cricket<\/p>\n ANDREW FOSKER\/SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n Another superb knock by KL Rahul on day three<\/p>\n The Indian opening batsman made his second century of the series yesterday in a typically stylish innings, but was dismissed on the next ball he faced, edging to Harry Brook from the bowling of Shoaib Bashir. His hundred yesterday is the 100th instance of a batter being dismissed on 100 in a Test Match innings.<\/p>\n Most Test centuries as an opener in England since 20184 \u2013 KL Rahul, 21 innings3 \u2013 Ben Duckett, 28 innings2 \u2013 Rory Burns, 31 innings2 \u2013 Zak Crawley, 34 innings<\/p>\n![\"England](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/95305c67-8038-4240-8453-353c13bbb50a.jpg\")
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