The series represented a disappointing finale for England’s Test series against India. Unable to take their foot off the gas, they were bundled out for 247, victim to a series of near misses and end overs collapses. The match took place at the iconic venue of Lord’s, where England’s bowling attack managed only sporadic bursts of effectiveness before succumbing to India’s relentless pressure.
The day began with England’s bowlers attempting to make early inroads, but they faced an uphill challenge as India demonstrated an impressive opening partnership that contrasted sharply with the rest of the day’s play. England’s task became even more difficult when Chris Woakes was forced to retire from the match after aggravating a shoulder injury that he picked up on day one. His absence would mean a potentially crippled attack for the team.
From top to bottom, England’s batting card crumbled under scoreboard pressure all innings long. Jamie Smith fell victim to a lazy poke to slip, while Jamie Overton faced a further setback, dismissed for a four-ball duck. Gus Atkinson took an improbable wicket after a miscued hook shot found its way into the keeper’s gloves. The ball floated right up to mid-on, worsening England’s burgeoning batting crisis.
On the flipside, there was phenomenal application on display from India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal. He went on to score an unfruitful 51, however, he was lucky to not be dismissed on two occasions during his innings. Sai Sudharsan too rode his share of fortune, having been dropped on one before finally getting an lbw call off Atkinson. India’s first wicket partnership went gangbusters, revealing their attack and class. In the other camp, England suffered a historic collapse, spotlighting the major difference in the two teams.
Yet even as the day wore on, the pressure increasingly shifted to England as one by one they saw their top order fall in quick succession. Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell all perished lbw in a merciless eight-over spell. India’s bowlers demonstrated their stinginess and prowess on a dagger’s edge with every ball. India’s last four wickets collapsed in 18 balls, a reminder of how quickly the momentum can change in cricket.
In the middle of all the carnage, Duckett was a shining light for England with his ultra-positive style. He flicked and turned his way down the pitch and blasted reverse sweeps and overheads. Soon enough, he scored 43 runs, including reverse-sweeps against Akash Deep and a gargantuan six off Mohammed Siraj. Zak Crawley’s aggressive innings of 64 runs off 57 balls that smashed 14 fours big proved to be a strong catalyst.
On Saturday, England’s catching let them down spectacularly in the final session with three vital drops. One of those was a nasty cutback off Overton that might’ve turned the tide back in their favor. Those missed chances would come back to haunt England as their innings ended at 247 runs.
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