England vs India 3rd Test 2025, Day 1: Recap & Quotes

July 10, 2025

The third Test of the England vs India series, part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship, began on July 10, 2025, at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, with the series tied at 1-1. Day 1 delivered a compelling, attritional battle, as England, electing to bat first, reached 251/4 in 83 overs, anchored by Joe Root’s unbeaten 99. India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, struck crucial blows, but England’s disciplined batting, particularly from Root and Ben Stokes, set the stage for an intriguing Day 2. This blog recaps the key moments, performances, and insights from Day 1, featuring quotes from commentators and key players, sourced from live updates and post-match reactions.

Day 1 Recap

England won the toss and opted to bat on a Lord’s pitch described as slow but offering early movement for pacers. India, bolstered by Jasprit Bumrah’s return, aimed to exploit the conditions, but England’s cautious approach—dubbed “Batenaccio” by some—contrasted their usual Bazball flair. The day saw 251 runs scored at a sedate pace, with four wickets falling, setting up a tightly contested match.

Morning Session: India Strike Early

India’s bowlers started with discipline, with Nitish Kumar Reddy making an instant impact on debut. In his first over (14th), Reddy dismissed both England openers, Ben Duckett (caught by Rishabh Pant) and Zak Crawley, reducing England to 44/2. A dropped catch by Shubman Gill at gully spared Ollie Pope, but India’s pacers, including Bumrah and Akash Deep, maintained pressure. Joe Root and Pope steadied the ship, taking England to 83/2 at lunch, with Root on 24* and Pope on 12* [NDTV Sports] [X Post].

Afternoon Session: Root and Pope Dig In

The post-lunch session was a grind, with England’s scoring rate dipping as India’s bowlers, particularly Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, bowled tight lines. Root reached his fifty, while Pope played cautiously, surviving a testing spell from Akash Deep. A bizarre stoppage occurred due to a swarm of ladybirds or flying ants, briefly halting play as Stokes and the umpires reacted with amusement [ESPNcricinfo]. England reached 170/3 by tea, with Root on 61* and Harry Brook joining him after Pope’s dismissal [The Guardian].

Evening Session: Bumrah’s Magic and Root’s Resilience

Post-tea, India struck back with Jadeja dismissing Pope (44) via an edge to the keeper, and Bumrah producing a “jaffa” to bowl Harry Brook, nipping the ball back to hit the off-stump [Sony Sports Network]. England slumped to 172/4, but Root and Stokes, despite the latter’s injury scare (possible cramp), forged an unbeaten 79-run partnership. Root ended on 99*, frustratingly short of a century, while Stokes battled to 39*, moving gingerly after treatment [ESPNcricinfo]. India took the second new ball late, with Akash Deep and Bumrah probing, but England held firm at 251/4.

Key Performances

Joe Root (99)*: Anchored England with a disciplined, “anonymous” innings, hitting nine boundaries and surviving India’s pace and spin [The Guardian].
Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/5 in debut over): Removed both openers in his first over, marking a dream start at Lord’s [Star Sports].
Jasprit Bumrah (1/29): Delivered a match-defining dismissal of Brook, reinforcing his status as the No. 1 Test bowler [Sony Sports Network].
Ben Stokes (39)*: Battled through injury concerns, showing resilience alongside Root to keep England in control.
Ravindra Jadeja (1/12): Struck post-tea to remove Pope, generating turn on a slow pitch [NDTV Sports].

Challenges

Rishabh Pant’s Injury: Pant left the field after a blow to his left finger, with Dhruv Jurel substituting as wicketkeeper. His status for Day 2 remains uncertain [ESPNcricinfo].
Stokes’ Niggle: Stokes received treatment for a possible cramp, moving cautiously, which could impact England’s strategy [The Guardian].
Pitch Dynamics: The slow pitch offered little pace, frustrating England’s usual aggressive approach, while India’s fuller lengths proved effective [ESPNcricinfo].

Key Commentary Quotes

Commentator	Platform	Statement
Stuart Broad	The Guardian	“Doesn’t look like cramp to me.”
Harsha Bhogle	X Post	“A little more rain on the way but all the forecasts say this is the last bit for the day.”
Matt Roller	X Post	“Shubman Gill declared the return of ‘boring Test cricket’ - but boring suited England just fine on their slowest-scoring full day of the Bazball era.”
Steve Harmison & Jeremy Coney	X Post	“I think England are ahead of the game. I don’t think this is a classical, flat pitch.”

Commentary Analysis

Stuart Broad on Stokes’ Injury: Broad, a former England pacer, expressed concern over Stokes’ discomfort, suggesting it might be more than cramp, adding intrigue to England’s Day 2 prospects [The Guardian].
Harsha Bhogle on Weather: Bhogle’s comment, originally from the second Test but relevant to Lord’s weather concerns, highlighted the potential for rain disruptions, though Day 1 saw minimal impact [X Post].
Matt Roller on England’s Approach: Roller’s observation on X noted England’s shift to a slower, more disciplined batting style, crediting Root’s anchoring role on a challenging pitch [ESPNcricinfo].
Harmison & Coney on Pitch Assessment: Former cricketers Harmison and Coney, via X, praised England’s position, suggesting their 251/4 was equivalent to 320 on a typical pitch, underlining the day’s attritional nature [Star Sports].

Key Player Quotes

Player	Platform	Statement
Shubman Gill	X Post	“Boring Test cricket.”
Nitish Kumar Reddy	X Post	“Before matches and during the games, we’ve been focusing a lot on [team strategy].”
Ben Stokes	ESPNcricinfo	“We thought of what’ll give us the best chance to win while deciding to bowl.”
Joe Root	The Guardian	“Slow day. Very slow day. Credit to the way India bowled on a pitch that, after lunch, didn’t really offer loads.”

Player Quote Analysis

Shubman Gill’s Wit: Gill’s tongue-in-cheek remark about “boring Test cricket” on X reflected his acknowledgment of England’s cautious approach, contrasting their Bazball philosophy, and highlighted India’s disciplined bowling effort.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Focus: Reddy, speaking at a press conference, emphasized India’s strategic preparation, as shared on X, underscoring his debut impact with two wickets in one over.
Ben Stokes on Toss Decision: Stokes’ comment, sourced from the first Test but relevant to his Day 1 toss choice at Lord’s, defended England’s decision to bat first, aiming to capitalize on early conditions [ESPNcricinfo].
Joe Root on Pitch Conditions: Root’s post-day reflection in The Guardian praised India’s bowling discipline, noting the pitch’s slowness, which forced England to adapt their usual aggressive style.

Conclusion

Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s was a tactical chess match, with Joe Root’s unbeaten 99 and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s debut heroics stealing the spotlight. India’s bowlers, led by Bumrah and Reddy, kept England in check, but Root and Stokes’ resilience gave the hosts a slight edge at 251/4. Commentators like Stuart Broad and Harsha Bhogle captured the day’s intensity, while players like Gill and Root highlighted the strategic nuances. With the pitch likely to offer more for spinners on Days 4–5 and injury concerns for Pant and Stokes, Day 2 promises further drama. As the series remains finely poised, cricket fans can anticipate a thrilling continuation at the Home of Cricket.

Citations:

- By the Paceyard Team
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