Can Joe Root Lead England to Victory on Day Two with 99 Not Out?

London, July 10 (NationPress) Joe Root demonstrated his prowess by scoring runs on a challenging and tactical day of Test match cricket, remaining unbeaten at 99 as England concluded Day One with a score of 251/4 in 83 overs against India at Lord's. The third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series provided a gripping spectacle at this historic venue on Thursday.

Despite the sweltering conditions, runs came at a slow pace, yet the play remained engaging for both sides. England adopted a measured approach, reflected in their scoring rate of just 3.02 runs per over on a pitch that is not particularly favorable for batters.

Root, who restrained his aggressive instincts, managed only nine boundaries in his 191-ball innings. He will aim to secure his 37th Test century on Day Two, which would mark his 11th against India and eighth at Lord's. The day's play favored England’s patient style, much to the crowd's delight as they won the toss and opted to bat first.

Root formed a significant partnership of 109 runs for the third wicket with Ollie Pope, who contributed 44 runs. At the close of Day One, Root is partnered with skipper Ben Stokes, who stands at 39 not out from 102 balls, despite battling a minor injury.

India will feel satisfied with their bowling performance, particularly from Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja, who each took wickets. They are hopeful that Rishabh Pant will be cleared to continue keeping wickets after leaving the field due to an injury to his left index finger.

After being forced to bowl first, Bumrah, replacing Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep put pressure on England's top order. Zak Crawley struggled initially but recovered briefly, hitting three fours off Akash in one over. However, Bumrah soon got the better of Ben Duckett, who fell to a slower ball from Reddy.

Reddy showcased his skill by dismissing Crawley with a well-placed length ball, sending England into a cautious approach. While Pope played aggressively, Root scored consistently, helping to stabilize the innings.

The second session started with Pope successfully flicking Bumrah for a boundary. However, Bumrah and Siraj kept the pressure on, bowling maidens and testing both batters. After a series of dot balls, Pope managed to score off Bumrah.

In a concerning moment for India, Pant suffered a painful injury while attempting to catch a delivery from Bumrah but remained on the field until the end of the 34th over before being substituted by Jurel.

Root and Pope's steady play helped them reach a half-century partnership. Following the drinks break, Root showcased his batting skill with two boundaries off Reddy and reached his 67th Test fifty with a clever shot through fine leg.

As the day progressed, Jadeja struck early in the final session, dismissing Pope with a catch by substitute Jurel. Harry Brook fell quickly to Bumrah, leaving Stokes and Root to stabilize once more.

Although Stokes struggled with a groin issue, Root continued to score, showcasing classic Test batting. As stumps were drawn, it was a solid day for England, showcasing traditional Test cricket.

Brief scores:

England 251/4 in 83 overs (Joe Root 99 not out, Ollie Pope 44; Nitish Kumar Reddy 2-46, Ravindra Jadeja 1-26) against India