Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill mocked Bazball |courtesy - screengrab
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- England's scoring rate was significantly slower
- Indian players trolled England
- The series is level 1-1
Following the humiliating 336-run defeat in the second Test at Edgbaston, England's distinct change of approach in the Lord's Test did not go unnoticed, and the Indian players were quick to mock England as the visitors' skipper Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj fired brutal digs at the home team.
For those unversed, since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum's appointment as the head coach of the Test team, England have seen a drastic change in their approach and adopted an aggressive style of batting with high-scoring rates. Since June 2022, when the English players played their first match in the Stokes-McCullum era, they have batted at an incredible run-rate of 4.60.
However, they have batted a run-rate of 3.02 on Day 1 with a more cautious approach evident. Another major change in approach was visible at the toss as England opted to bat first after bowling in the first two games. This marked only the second instance of them deciding to bat first after winning a toss in the 'Bazball era at home and the first since the opening Test of the 2023 Ashes at Birmingham. Their tally at stumps of 251/4 is their lowest score in a single day's play (batted 80+ overs) in teh Bazball over and the first instance of them making less than 300 runs.
Mohammed Siraj Trolls Joe Root
In the early stage of the second session, star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj decided to sledge English batting talisman Joe Root and hilariously called for the hosts to play 'Bazball.'
"Where is Bazball. Baz, Baz, Bazball. Play Bazball. I want to see," Siraj was heard saying by the stump-mic.
In the early stages of the second session, England played 28 dot balls in a row as Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj bowled an intense spell to Root and Ollie Pope.
Shubman Gill Trolls England
Indian skipper Gill did not stay as the Indian team tried to get under England's skin as he fired a brutal dig. At some point during the second session, when Pope left a delivery from Bumrah, Gill was heard taking a witty dig at Bazball.
"No more entertaining cricket, welcome back to boring Test cricket guys," Gill was heard saying.
The Lord's game is a crucial one in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with the five-match series level at 1-1. England won the first Test by five wickets after chasing 371 while India made a stunning comeback to level the series in Birmingham.
