Root’s Grit, India’s Patience: What to Expect on Day 2 at Lord’s

Day 2 of the Lord’s Test promises intense drama as Joe Root gets closer to a gritty hundred. With the new ball imminent, India’s methodical bowling maintains the advantage. Will India take over first, or will England gain ground?

England achieved 251 for four at the end of Day 1 of the third Test match against India at Lord’s, London, on Thursday, thanks to a strong unbeaten 99 from legendary batsman Joe Root. When the stumps were pulled, captain Ben Stokes (39 batting) and Root (99 batting) were at the crease. With wickets from pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy, top fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and spinner Ravindra Jadeja, India won the first and last sessions of the day.

ALSO READ: Lord’s Showdown: England vs. India 3rd Test Winning Probability and Odds Prediction—July 2025

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3rd Test: England vs. India

Date: July 10, 2025
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Toss: England won the toss and elected to bat

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Day 1 – Stumps	Match Stats
England	251/4 (83.0 overs)
Current Run Rate	3.02
Batsmen at Crease	Joe Root – 99* (191)
	Ben Stokes – 39* (102)
Top Indian Bowlers	Jasprit Bumrah – 1/35 (18 overs)
	Akash Deep – 0/75 (17 overs)

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How Will The Lord’s Pitch Behave on Day 2?

Lord’s has recently displayed erratic bounce on Day 1. It was difficult for both hitters and slip fielders in last month’s WTC Final because some pitches stayed low while others sprang up. Particularly early in the game, that resulted in poorly timed receptions and miscalculated shots. In order to capitalize on their seamers’ abilities, England is anticipated to launch a green top that has plenty of bounce and speed.

Seamers should have lateral mobility over the first two days when the Dukes ball swings early. If the sun is out, it is probably best to bat first since it might be dangerous to chase in the fourth inning on a declining pitch.

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Key Stats & Records at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

The average run rate for teams batting first at Lord’s is 2.97 out of 152 games, according to ESPNcricinfo. Teams who have batted first here have lost 45 games and won 54. There are 53 games that are tied.

For teams batting second here, the average run rate is 2.88.

Here at 54.76, Joe Root leads the 2022 runs with seven tons and seven fifties. Here, he is the leading scorer overall. This is where Ben Stokes has excelled. He has scored 843 runs at a rate of 43 or higher in 12 games (20 innings).

The top seven bowlers in terms of wickets are all pacers, indicating that speed bowlers have had greater success here. Two spinners are included in the top 10 wicket-takers here overall.

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Strategic Development for Day 2

The completion of Roots Century

Expect England to come out first again, and this time present Root with his long-coveted Test ton. When the new ball (in use after 17 overs) is taken, it should be a major factor. Will India open with Bumrah and Siraj in an attempt to get early wickets?

India response- Constant Pressure

India has been close-fisted, exploring step by step. They are successful because they established the new ball period. Akash Deep or Reddy is likely to come back in the middle of the session with the older ball targeting Root and Stokes.

Momentum Shift?

Supposing that Root himself gets out short of the score of 100, England may be reduced to approximately 280-300. In such a case, India will smell an easy run chase on day 3 or a possibility to aim to get among the English batsmen.

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Likely Scenarios for Day 2

Scenario	England Strategy	India Strategy	Probable Result
Root to 100, Stokes bats past 60	Push to 300+; essential batting lead	New ball with overcast conditions; aim for early wickets	England to finish around 320–340/6
Root falls sub-100; Stokes retires hurt	Lower-order collapse risk; ~270–300 total	Aggressive with seamers and Jadeja; early pitch cracks	Mid-first-innings collapse; India dominates sessions
Balanced batting, Stokes fit	England eyes 350+ lead; aggressive Bazball resumes	Rotate seamers; bring spin later	Match poised; India under pressure going into Day 3

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Prediction—Day 2 Outcome

England will not score those 320-350 at all easily, though Root will reach the hundred fast. Stokes would add some more and then retire, given the fact that he is a fit man. After lunch, India will seek to attack, hoping to get rid of the lower English composition and end day two with the tourists just below or slightly above the England total. This will frame the stage of the batters of the Indian team beginning their innings on Day 3, which can take advantage of any early pitch variable or wear and tear.

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Bottom Line

• Root and his milestone give rise to the turning point, both emotional and strategic.
  
• One of the major fitness factors in this situation is the body of Stokes that influences the flow of the sessions.
  
• The bowling of India is also their trump card—they might aim at good lines against the lower order.

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Courtesy: https://www.espncricinfo.com/, https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/, https://m.cricbuzz.com/, https://www.skysports.com/

India and England face off at Lord’s on Day 2 in a high-stakes Test showdown. With big names and bold plays expected, now’s the time to back your picks.