Jasprit Bumrah produced a devastating spell of fast bowling to seize control for India on the second morning of the third Test at Lord’s, claiming three wickets for just one run in the space of seven balls. His scalps included two of England’s most prized wickets, century-maker Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes, as England crumbled to 271 for 7 after resuming Day 2 on 251 for 4.
Much of the early attention on Friday centred around Joe Root, who had ended the opening day on 99 not out. The former England captain continued a remarkable pattern in Test history, each of the previous 17 batters stranded on 99 overnight had gone on to complete their century the next morning. Root upheld the tradition with a fortunate boundary off the very first delivery of the day, edging a wide ball from Bumrah through gully for four to raise his 37th Test hundred. The milestone took him to fifth on the all-time list of Test century-makers, led by Sachin Tendulkar’s 51.
However, any celebrations from England were short-lived. Bumrah, returning to the side after being rested for India’s emphatic 336-run win at Edgbaston, swiftly dismantled the middle order with a fiery burst. His first breakthrough came with the dismissal of Stokes, who had shown positive signs during warm-up despite a groin issue that had limited his movement on Day 1. Yet, the England captain added just five runs to his overnight score before a searing Bumrah delivery nipped back off the seam and uprooted his off stump. Stokes departed for 44, extending his century drought in Tests to over two years.
Bumrah wasn’t done. In his next over, he accounted for Root, who had moved to 104. Attempting a drive, Root was late on the shot and inside-edged onto his stumps, ending his authoritative stay at the crease. With England still reeling from that blow, Chris Woakes fell to the very next ball, tempted into a loose shot outside off stump, he nicked behind to Dhruv Jurel. The stand-in wicketkeeper, deputising for the injured Rishabh Pant, took a fine low catch. Although on-field umpire Kettleborough was unmoved, India’s review confirmed the faint edge and handed Bumrah his third wicket in four deliveries.
Brydon Carse survived the hat-trick ball, but England’s innings was in disarray. Their woes could have deepened further had KL Rahul not spilled a straightforward chance in the slips offered by Jamie Smith off Mohammed Siraj when the batter was on five. Smith, who had been a thorn in India’s side at Edgbaston with scores of 184* and 88, looked poised to capitalise once again.
(With AFP inputs)
