Joe Root Nears Century as England Grind Against India on Slow Day at Lord’s
England finish day one at 251 for 4 against India, with Joe Root on 99* (Courtesy: Getty Images)

Joe Root Ends Day One on 99 as England Take Measured Approach at Lord’s

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England finished the opening day of the Lord’s Test at 251 for 4, with Joe Root just one run short of a patient century. In a rare shift from their usual aggressive style, the team slowed things down, adapting to a lifeless pitch and a persistent Indian bowling unit.

Root, calm and unhurried, played through the day after arriving at the crease early, following a double strike from debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy. He stitched two crucial stands — 109 with Ollie Pope and an unbeaten 79 with captain Ben Stokes — as England kept the scoreboard moving without taking risks.

India’s fielders and microphones caught a few digs at England’s slower approach. “Bazball! Come on, I want to see it,” Mohammed Siraj joked at Root. Shubman Gill, perhaps a little frustrated, told teammates, “Welcome back to boring Test cricket.”

Still, England stuck to their plan. After winning the toss, Stokes chose to bat, but a sluggish surface left little room for fireworks. England’s run rate — just a touch above three — marked their slowest full-day scoring effort since Brendon McCullum took over as coach.

India, meanwhile, had mixed fortunes. Jasprit Bumrah, returning to the XI, kept the pressure on with tight spells. Reddy dismissed both openers in the same over — Ben Duckett with a poorly pulled long-hop and Zak Crawley with a late outswinger that kissed the edge. Pope, dropped by Gill early, hung on until tea before edging to stand-in keeper Dhruv Jurel.

Harry Brook didn’t last long. Bumrah found a bit of seam movement to rattle his stumps not long after tea. That left Stokes and Root to steady the ship.

Stokes, although scoring freely at first, showed signs of discomfort. A possible groin issue limited his movement, and he needed on-field treatment during a long delay in the evening. He carried on, but the injury could become a talking point if it lingers into the match.

India had their own concern. Rishabh Pant, hit on the finger while collecting a delivery, left the field and didn’t return. Jurel, his replacement behind the stumps, held on to a sharp catch off Jadeja to remove Pope.

Root, meanwhile, kept doing Root things — rotating strike, finding gaps, and staying calm. He played one standout shot: a crisp slog-sweep off Jadeja. That aside, he was measured, rarely flashy.

When the day closed, Root was on 99. He looked unbothered by the milestone. There was no flurry of boundaries to get there. Just a quiet single.

It wasn’t a day of big moments. No collapse. No six-hitting spree. Just a methodical innings, anchored by one of England’s most dependable batters.

And maybe that was the point. For all the talk of “Bazball,” sometimes Test cricket still needs a bit of grit.

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