England Puts Up 251/4 on Day 1 at Lord's, Root Misses Century by a Whisker

Watching England bat on the opening day at Lord's, you could sense the hunger from their top order. They wrapped up Day 1 sitting on a solid 251 for 4 after 83 overs, but all eyes were on Joe Root, who was left stranded at 99. The home crowd’s groan when he got out just one run away from a milestone was hard to miss, especially with the history of centuries at this ground.

Ben Stokes, never a man to shy from a fight, remains unbeaten at the close. He’ll walk out on Day 2, tasked with guiding the lower order through the early morning movement. Earlier in the day, England started confidently enough. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett looked set for a big opening stand but both were tripped up by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who struck twice just as the openers found their rhythm. Reddy finished Day 1 with figures of 2 for 46 and can hold his head high—sniping out both openers at a key moment.

Ollie Pope and Harry Brook reshaped England's innings with a calm, collected partnership that stretched to 129 runs. They rotated the strike smartly and didn’t let the bowlers settle, looking particularly at ease against the spinners. Pope’s 21 didn’t seem ground-breaking, but it was crucial in steadying nerves after the early wickets. Brook, riding his luck at times, played freely and punished anything loose until his luck finally ran out. His wicket fell to Jasprit Bumrah, who kept England’s scoring in check and lived up to his reputation for making things happen. Bumrah’s subtle movement and relentless accuracy eventually gave India the much-needed breakthrough.

Ravindra Jadeja, tossing up his left-arm spin, chipped in with a tidy spell and dismissed Pope just when England were looking to accelerate. For a moment, England’s middle order looked like it might unravel, but Stokes planted himself at one end and refused to let the momentum slip.

India’s Bowlers Show Grit Despite Host Advantage

Jasprit Bumrah and company didn’t have it all their way. England's batters showed patience, leaving anything outside off-stump and pouncing on anything loose. While Reddy's early strikes set the tone, the rest of the attack had to work for every wicket. Jadeja's spell, though short at 1 for 26, was crucial in applying pressure as the session wore on.

In between the wickets and partnerships, the Lord’s pitch looked good for batting, but hints of movement kept the bowlers interested. Stokes, aware of the odd ball moving, played late and straight, keeping England in control as stumps were drawn. The lower order, not always England’s strength, will now shoulder plenty of responsibility as Day 2 begins.

For India, picking up Root just before he could notch up triple figures was a rare highlight on a day that otherwise saw England dominate through partnerships. The contest is far from over. Stokes’ presence at the crease ensures England will look to build on their foundation, while India knows a couple of early wickets tomorrow could swing the momentum right back.