England and India level after first two Tests 

Cricket summer is in full swing and after some white-ball action, England are now in the midst of a Test series with India. They’re looking to bounce back after being thrashed on their tour last winter and they got off to a flying start at Headingley. 

But India bounced back as they levelled the series with a complete performance in the second Test at Edgbaston. We’ve reached the midway point of the series, with the third Test getting underway at Lord’s today and England will be desperate to get back on track at the home of cricket. 

England start in style with incredible run chase 

In a thrilling end to the opening Test at Headingley, England secured their second highest-ever run chase to beat India. They needed a huge 371 to win, which is just shy of the 378 they secured to come back and shock India at Edgbaston back in 2022. 

India kicked the series off at the crease and stormed to a phenomenal 471, with centuries from Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But England were equal to their opponents, ending their first innings on 465, just six runs short of the target set by India. 

Ollie Pope and Harry Brook were in strong form and a big score was necessary, as India clearly weren’t interested in slowing down. The visitors came out firing again in their second innings, although they weren’t quite as formidable. 

Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue led the bowling charge for England and secured a hat-trick of wickets each to limit India to an impressive 364, with KL Rahul managing a big score of 137 to leave England with work to do. 

The hosts trailed by 371 but a phenomenal opening partnership from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set them on their way. Crawley scored a respectable 65, while Duckett put in one of the greatest England batting performances in history to finish with 149. 

Despite a strong start, quick dismissals for Pope and Brook piled the pressure on the hosts. But those lower down the order held firm and England ultimately won by five wickets. 

India bounce back at Edgbaston 

The story started in the same way in the second Test at Edgbaston, as England won the toss and chose to field. And once again, India took full advantage. This time, they were even more imperious, strolling to an incredible 587 before England managed to get them all out. 

Gill was the star of the show, knocking a mighty return of 269 to secure his best-ever Test score, 122 runs better than his previous best, which he recorded in the opening Test in Leeds. 

However, unlike the opening Test, England failed to match their opponents. Crawley, Duckett, Pope and Joe Root managed just 41 runs between them, with India delivering a masterclass of bowling. 

Brook and Jamie Smith played their part as they scored centuries but England ultimately fell at 407, 180 shy of India’s total. That gave the visitors some breathing room and Gill enjoyed yet another high score, this time securing 161 before being caught and bowled by Shoaib Bashir. 

India slowly increased their lead and reached 427-6 before declaring, giving England a mammoth chase of 604. While England likely knew that even this mission was one step too far for this free-flowing Bazball side, many would have been thinking they still had a shot. 

But that hope didn’t last long, with each of the top five all losing their wicket within 25 runs. 

Rain disrupted the final day, with fans desperately hoping the weather might put them out of their misery. And in a drab final few sessions for England, Akash Deep stole the show by ending the match with 10 wickets, as Stokes, Woakes, Smith, Tongue and Carse all fell as England ultimately lost by 336 runs. 

Who will win the series? 

With three Tests to go, it’s anyone’s game. India have batted first in both Tests and have shown they’re more than capable of building up a healthy lead. Yet as the first Test showed, England are able to chase them down on their day. 

But those days are rarer than we’d like, so Stokes and co. can’t rely on miraculous comebacks for the remainder of the series. They may consider batting first when the two sides meet again at Lord’s, although with India’s emphatic bowling at Edgbaston, that feels just as daunting as letting the visitors kick off proceedings. 

However, England may have no interest in switching up their tactics, with a few potential tricks up their sleeve. The good news for England is they could have some reinforcements coming in. 

Joffra Archer and Gus Atkinson haven’t featured so far, having missed the opening two Tests with injury. But both are in contention to make a return when the third Test gets underway at Lord’s today and they’ll add a different dynamic to England’s bowling attack. 

When are the final three Tests? 

Third Test: Lord’s – Thursday 10th to Monday 14th July 

Fourth Test: Old Trafford – Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th July 

Fifth Test: Kia Oval – Thursday 31st July to Monday 4th August 

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