Tilting point on cricket’s most famously sloped stage

Tilting point on cricket's most famously sloped stage

The second Test of the summer at Lord's carries a different weight, with the series level and momentum up for grabs. England are under watch, while India arrive with surer footing, having won more Tests at Lord's than anywhere else in England.

The Return of Jofra Archer

England turn to Jofra Archer, a high-ceiling option returning to a format that hasn't been kind to his body in the past. Archer's return comes at the venue of his sensational debut in 2019, when he floored Steve Smith.

Shubman Gill's Immovable Presence

England face another immovable presence at No.4, Shubman Gill, who displayed early signs of an insatiable appetite, making the opposition's batting coach, Marcus Trescothick, sick of watching him bat.

England's Load

England have fielded on eight of the last 10 days, and the physical strain is starting to show. The flat pitches they've backed have handed India's transitioning batting line-up a soft landing, allowing them to try a bit of anti-Bazball.

Lord's May Offer More to Bowlers

Lord's may offer a little more to the bowlers, but the balance between creating opportunity and inviting risk is one England have to get absolutely right at this delicate stage of the series.

The Dukes Ball Conundrum

The Dukes ball has become a defining feature of the series, going soft barely 30 overs in, and taking bite and carry with it. What follows is often survival mode: deep fields, defensive lines, and a holding pattern until the second new ball arrives.

The Heat is On

The heat will be on, literally and figuratively, as familiar patterns give way to fresh challenges. England's method hasn't faltered, but the series is evolving, and the side that adapts quickest, on pitch and beyond, may well set the tone for what's to come.

When and What to Expect

• When: England vs India, 3rd Test, July 10-14 2025, 15:30 IST, 11:00 Local
• What to expect: London's heatwave, with temperatures forecast to climb back up to 32 degrees during the Test. A livelier pitch at Lord's, with a tinge of green currently on the pitch.

Playing XI

• England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir
• India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj