India, poised by Shubman Gill, faces a turbulent England in the 3rd Test
The third Test of the five-match series between India and England, set to commence on Thursday at Lord's, promises to be a thrilling encounter. The series is currently poised at 1-1 following India's impressive 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston.
England's opening batsman, Zak Crawley, has had twin failures at Edgbaston, adding to the hosts' concerns. On the other hand, India boasts a lone pace-bowling all-rounder in Nitish Reddy, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as the spinners.
The unique slope at Lord's, an eight-foot gradient that runs up and down the ground, introduces a distinct difficulty in terms of seam movement and bowling trajectories. This, combined with a green-tinged pitch offering some initial seam assistance, means both Indian batters and bowlers will face their first real test in England.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah to the Indian bowling attack strengthens India’s ability to take wickets, posing a tougher challenge for England's unsettled batting lineup. Bumrah's presence is crucial given India’s need to take 20 wickets to win, especially on a pitch where pace bowlers could be assisted initially by the conditions.
England's own challenges include dependency on key players like Joe Root to stabilize the batting side amidst uncertainty over others like Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes needing runs. Their bowlers, including returning Jofra Archer and the workload on fast bowlers like Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse, will be tested on the Lord’s pitch.
Ben Stokes, the England captain, is expected to score more runs, while Gus Atkinson, a right-arm pacer, is also back in the England squad. The match starts at 3:30pm IST.
India's performance thus far has been a testament to their depth and rich talent. Despite the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the team has competed and even won majority of the sessions over the course of the two Tests.
The Indian bowling attack, while not inspiring confidence in the first game, will pose a tougher test to England with the return of Jasprit Bumrah. The roaring success of the Indian batters on flat tracks has proved counter productive for the hosts who are now expected to dish out a surface offering a fair amount of seam movement.
The Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has found a way to score runs despite being peppered with short stuff into the body. Mohd. Siraj and Akash Deep had outstanding performances in the last Test. Darren Gough, former England pacer, has praised the Indian bowling attack, stating that they have been the best in the series so far, with Bumrah being the standout performer.
With such a compelling lineup and the unique challenges presented by Lord's, the third Test is shaping up to be a significant test of skill and adaptability for both teams.
The unique challenges presented at Lord's, particularly the eight-foot gradient and the green-tinged pitch, promise to test both Indian batters and bowlers, as they face their first real examination in England.
India's bowling attack, bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, is expected to pose a tougher challenge for England's unsettled batting lineup, with a need for 20 wickets to secure victory.
