Can Joe Root Reach His Century? England at 251/4 Against India in 3rd Test

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Joe Root scored 99 not out at the end of Day One.
- England is at 251/4 after 83 overs.
- Ollie Pope contributed with 44 runs.
- England adopted a conservative approach, scoring at 3.02 runs per over.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy took two wickets for India.
London, July 10 (NationPress) Joe Root displayed his exceptional batting skills on a challenging and competitive day of Test cricket, concluding Day One at 99 not out as England posted 251/4 in 83 overs against India at Lord's. This marks the first day of the third Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
On a bright day at this historic cricket ground, runs were hard to come by, but the match remained thrilling for both sides, particularly as England adopted a more conservative approach, evident from their modest run rate of just 3.02 runs per over.
Root, having tempered his natural instincts, scored only nine boundaries in his unbeaten innings from 191 balls. As he heads into Day Two, he aims for his 37th Test century, his 11th against India, and his eighth at Lord's. It was a day where England's cautious strategy paid off, especially after the crowd celebrated their decision to bat first following the toss.
Root formed a crucial partnership of 109 runs for the third wicket with Ollie Pope, who contributed 44 runs. At the close of play, he remained in an unbroken 79-run partnership with captain Ben Stokes, who scored 39 not out off 102 balls, despite battling through the heat. For India, the bowling attack remained effective, with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja among the wicket-takers.
The final session saw Jadeja making an immediate impact, dismissing Pope, who edged to substitute wicketkeeper Jurel, who took a stunning catch while standing up to the stumps. Harry Brook fell quickly, bowled by a brilliant nip-backer from Bumrah, who managed to dislodge the top-ranked red-ball batter.
Stokes, although appearing uncomfortable against spin, managed to hit two boundaries off Akash Deep before finding the ropes once more off Reddy, while Root showcased his prowess with a sweeping boundary against Jadeja. Despite discomfort from ladybird distractions and the introduction of the second new ball, Root and Stokes remained resolute until the day's end, embodying the essence of 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