Lord's Test, Day 1: Root carries England to 251/4, batting overnight on 99*

Sports News: England finished the first day at 251/4. After opting to bat first in the third test, the hosts played a calm and composed innings of 251. A not-so-'bazball' innings by England, as they were constantly held back by the Indian bowlers. The three sessions went on at a traditional pace, with both teams having their moments in the day. Skipper Ben Stokes is at the crease, playing at 39*, alongside the former England skipper, Joe Root, who is batting overnight at 99*. The star batter is just one run short of getting his name put on the honors board at the iconic Lord's.

Root's composure

The right-handed no. 4 batter came in at the crease after England had both openers in the same over. Root hit a flurry of boundaries in his first 30 balls, quickly scoring 24 off 34, before heading back for lunch. In the second session, the batter gave utter respect to the Indian bowlers, who were bowling tight lines. Batting alongside Ollie Pope, the batter reached his half-century and stitched a 109-run partnership with England's No. 3.

After Pope got out on the first delivery post-lunch session, the batter was joined by Harry Brook. He did not last too long as well, as he was cleaned up by Jasprit Bumrah's special. Accompanied by Stokes overnight, the batter is one short of his century.

Reddy's two quick wickets

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who failed to impress in the second test, lifted India's hopes in the third. He came in to bowl the first change and scalped two quick wickets of the English openers in the same over. Bowling short to Ben Duckett, it was a nothing ball really, but the southpaw found himself knicking the ball down the leg side to the keeper. The last ball of Nitish's first over produced a real beauty. Ball came in with the angle and just nipped slightly away, getting Zak Crawley's edge on the way to Rishabh Pant.

Jadeja and Bumrah pick up one wicket each

Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Pope on the very first delivery of the second session. The ball turned and found the outside edge of Pope's bat before sticking into the substitute wicketkeeper, Dhruv Jurel's gloves. Just three overs later, Bumrah got the better of Brook and bowled him with a perfect nip-backer.