England Opts to Bat at Lord’s as Pivotal Third Test Against India Commences

The highly anticipated third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series between England and India has commenced at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. On Thursday, July 10, 2025, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first, setting the stage for a crucial encounter in a series currently finely poised at 1-1. The match is expected to be a defining chapter in the five-Test series, with both teams making strategic adjustments and eyeing a decisive lead. (Times of India, News18)

Upon winning the toss, Stokes expressed confidence in his decision, noting the early assistance the Lord’s surface typically offers. “We are going to have a bat. Surface, there is something here early on, generally. It is a good, well-fought series, and we are up for this game,” he stated. Indian captain Shubman Gill, who admitted to being “confused what to do till this morning,” revealed he would have preferred to bowl first, anticipating early movement for his pacers. Gill highlighted the team’s collective effort in the previous Test and the bowlers’ renewed confidence. (Times of India, News18)

Both teams have made significant changes to their playing XIs. India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, returns to the squad, replacing Prasidh Krishna. England also welcomed back a key fast bowler, Jofra Archer, who is playing his first Test since 2021, coming in for Josh Tongue. The full playing XIs are:

• India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
• England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir. (Times of India, News18)

The Lord’s pitch is described as a “green top” with visible grass, anticipated to offer early assistance to fast bowlers. India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed expectations of a bowling-friendly surface, particularly in the first session. The ground’s unique eight-foot slope, running diagonally, is also expected to play a significant role, influencing both bowlers’ movement and batters’ stance. Despite recent mild weather, temperatures are forecast to rise to 32°C during the match, suggesting conditions might flatten out as the game progresses. (Times of India, News18)

India enters this Test with considerable momentum, having secured a commanding 336-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston, marking their first-ever Test win at that venue. Captain Shubman Gill was instrumental in this triumph, delivering exceptional innings of 269 and 161. Akash Deep bagged a ten-wicket match haul, and Mohammed Siraj picked up six wickets, showcasing India’s dominance with both bat and ball. England, on the other hand, will be keen to bounce back after their “Bazball” strategy faced a setback on a pitch they described as “subcontinent-like.” (Times of India, News18, BBC Sport)

Lord’s has hosted 19 Tests between India and England. Historically, England holds the advantage with 12 wins, compared to India’s three victories. However, India’s recent record at the venue is strong, having won two of their last three matches there during the 2014, 2018, and 2021 tours. (Times of India, News18)

Shubman Gill is also on the cusp of several batting records. He needs just 127 more runs to surpass Yashasvi Jaiswal’s record of 712 runs for the highest tally by an Indian batter in a Test series against England (set in 2024). Gill is also 18 runs shy of Rahul Dravid’s record of 602 runs in England (2002) and 91 runs away from Virat Kohli’s captaincy record of 655 runs against England at home (2016). Furthermore, Gill is chasing Don Bradman’s 88-year-old record for most runs by a captain in a single Test series (810 runs in the 1936-37 Ashes), needing 225 runs to break it. He is also eyeing Sunil Gavaskar’s Indian record of reaching 1,000 Test runs as captain in 14 innings. (Times of India)

Adding to the day’s significance, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar had the honor of ringing the five-minute bell at Lord’s, a cherished tradition since 2007, marking the start of the day’s play. (Times of India, News18)

In related news, the India Women’s team secured a historic T20I series win over England Women, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead after their victory in Manchester. (News18)

With the series perfectly poised and both teams making strategic changes, the Lord’s Test promises to be a captivating contest, potentially defining the direction of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.