Bumrah Shines Bright as England Battle for Control at Lord’s
What a morning it has been at Lord’s! The second day of the third Test between England and India has already delivered high drama, gritty performances, and yet another Jasprit Bumrah masterclass that has left cricket fans buzzing.
Starting the day, England were looking to consolidate after a promising, yet slightly shaky, first day with Joe Root standing firm. Root, in his typically composed and elegant fashion, notched up his 37th Test century—his eighth at the hallowed Lord’s ground. It was a loose waft outside off that brought up the milestone, but sometimes cricket’s poetry lies in its imperfections. The crowd rose in unison, and for a moment, it felt like England had rediscovered their rhythm. But if cricket is a game of moments, Bumrah ensured those moments would belong to India.
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Enter Jasprit Bumrah, the quiet assassin. With the ball in hand and his eyes set on the stumps, he dismantled England’s middle order with surgical precision. First, he castled Ben Stokes—who had looked increasingly confident—with a peach that crashed into the top of off. Then came Joe Root, fresh off his century, undone by a subtle inside edge that flattened his middle stump. Just like that, two of England’s most experienced campaigners were back in the pavilion. And before anyone could process it, Bumrah had Woakes nicking behind for a duck. Hat-trick ball, tension high, but Carse stood firm. Still, Bumrah’s 5-wicket haul was in sight—and richly deserved.
Amidst the chaos, Jamie Smith emerged as a calming presence. His quick-fire 38*, laced with fluent drives and clever placement, showed the kind of confidence England needed after the collapse. Brydon Carse too played with heart, helping stitch together a vital partnership that injected some life into the innings. Their 63-run stand off just 13.4 overs was a timely reminder that "Bazball" isn’t entirely dead—it’s just evolving.
India, on the other hand, were sharp in the field, tactically alert, and energized by their bowling spearhead. The pitch, starting to show signs of slow turn, suggests that India might get the best batting conditions next. With Jadeja and debutant Nitish Reddy turning their arms over, England were kept in check, even as they tried to up the scoring rate.
The big question now? Was batting first the right call for England? With the Lord’s surface offering early movement and bounce, and considering India’s potent attack, it might prove costly. That said, anything north of 320 on this track could still be competitive.
One thing’s for certain—this Test is delicately poised. England will hope their tail can wag just a little longer, and that their bowlers can extract the same fire Bumrah did. But make no mistake, the man of the moment is Jasprit Bumrah—bowling with pace, precision, and poetry. He hasn’t just taken wickets; he’s turned the game on its head.
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