Sunshine and sopor as India force Stokes and England to change their gung-ho approach | Andy Bull

Ben Stokes chose to bat but conditions and the opposition led to hosts’ slowest Test run rate in a session for three yearsHigh summer can be hard going at Lord’s. It was tough enough on the spectators, who worked up a sweat just standing in the queues to get in in the morning. If you had seats in the open terraces at the bottom of the Edrich, Compton and Mound Stands, where you get slow-roasted by the sun as it makes its way slowly above the pavilion, your best bet was to make for the shade round by the Nursery Ground. It was too darn hot to sit and watch cricket and a lot of the cricket wasn’t worth watching anyway. The conditions meant the players seemed to be on a go-slow, England’s run rate was sickly and India’s over rate appeared, at one point, to have given up and died.It was one of those afternoons when no matter what was actually happening out in the middle, anytime you looked up to watch someone always seemed to be playing a forward defence against Nitish Kumar Reddy. He runs in so slowly that it’s like watching an optical illusion. He almost seems to be moving backwards, like a man losing ground on a treadmill. The mysteries of the Lord’s pitch made medium pace all but unplayable, and the best of England’s batsmen were entirely unable to find their timing so, on the occasions they actually managed to connect with the ball, it invariably clacked off the bat and dribbled into the outfield. Continue reading...

Comments

Cricket news

Zak Crawley may look confused and chaotic, but this England side are not for turning, writes OLIVER HOLT

England vs India: Joe Root sets unbeaten 99 as Three Lions dig in on opening day of third Test

How brilliant Jasprit Bumrah left Harry Brook baffled - and what the world's best bowler shares with true greats like Shane Warne and Jimmy Anderson, writes NASSER HUSSAIN

Ben Stokes' England batted with an open-mindedness that many thought beyond them, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH, with Joe Root unbeaten on 99 overnight

LADYBIRDS stop play! England cricket stars hit by a rare bug attack at Lord's against India - leaving Joe Root stranded

South Africa captain who sacrificed chance to beat Brian Lara's iconic Test record reveals what the West Indies great told him after bizarre declaration

Ben Stokes calls in bet from three years ago with ex-England star as Jofra Archer returns

England vs India: Nitish Kumar Reddy dismisses Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley on first morning in Third Test

Ben Stokes insists England are not 'stuck in their ways' ahead of crucial third Test against India at Lord's - with Jofra Archer set to return to Test cricket for the first time in four years

Jofra Archer returns as England name team for third Test vs India

Alastair Cook names the Bazball regular who ISN'T in England's strongest side - while Michael Vaughan reveals what 'frustrates' him about struggling opener Zak Crawley

Inside Jofra Archer's four-year England comeback: The gruelling sprinter's training regime he undertook to get 'ripped', what he's really like off the field and why he DOESN'T need to bowl 90mph

Bazball's nine biggest blunders: Where do Edgbaston, Shoaib Bashir and the reverse theory rank? And why should one controversial decision NOT be on the list?

Jofra Archer: Brendon McCullum confirms 'buzzing' bowler in England selection frame for third India Test

South Africa captain leaves cricket fans torn after refusing chance to surpass Brian Lara

Why South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder declared 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s Test record

England v India: Ben Stokes’ team have begun to resemble a worryingly predictable cult

South Africa cricket captain sacrifices chance to break Brian Lara's world record as he DECLARES just 33 short of 400 - and explains why he did it

The real problem with England's bowling attack as they make break unwanted records in India series, why they can't rely on pace battery to win back the Ashes and what they should do next

Wiaan Mulder declares 33 runs short of Brian Lara's iconic test record

Wiann Mulder declares 33 runs short of Brian Lara's iconic test record

Brendon McCullum issues Lord's plea as England reel from Edgbaston hammering by India - with wholesale changes mooted after sobering defeat

NASSER HUSSAIN: Ben Stokes' bowling attack were dead on their feet in the second Test... the Indians got so much more out of the Edgbaston pitch

Why England's bowlers weren't happy with the Edgbaston pitch and there are many better options than Shoaib Bashir: BUMBLE ON THE TEST

Brendon McCullum concedes wrong decision cost England during humiliating Edgbaston defeat by India

England vs India - PLAYER RATINGS: Who was on a different level and who came crashing back down to earth?

England vs India: Jamie Smith efforts not enough as Akash Deep seals second Test win

England slump to heavy defeat in second Test against India with Jamie Smith shining brightest in bid for an unlikely draw on day five at Edgbaston

India crush England to level Test series thanks to record-breaking captain Shubman Gill