Day one of the third test between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground concluded with a moment of playful drama, as Ravindra Jadeja teased Joe Root, who was left stranded on 99 not out. The incident occurred in the final over of the day, bowled by Akash Deep. Root, aiming for his 37th Test century, pushed a back-of-a-length delivery towards backward point, where Jadeja was fielding.
Root comfortably took a single, moving to 99, but Jadeja added a touch of humour to the situation. Known for his sharp fielding and strong throwing arm, Jadeja gestured invitingly for Root to take a second run. He even playfully placed the ball on the ground momentarily, seemingly daring Root to risk it. Root, with a smile, wisely declined the risky second run, remaining unbeaten as the umpires called stumps.
The light-hearted moment between Root and Jadeja delighted fans and provided a memorable end to a competitive day of Test cricket. However, some spectators at Lord's reacted negatively to the situation. As Jadeja seemingly stalled Root's progress towards his century, boos erupted from a section of the crowd. This reaction highlights the passion and anticipation surrounding Root's pursuit of his milestone.
Earlier in the day, England had won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put on a 43-run partnership before Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed both in the same over. Root then anchored the innings, sharing a 109-run partnership with Ollie Pope. Jadeja dismissed Pope for 44 with the first ball after the tea break. Harry Brook then fell cheaply to Jasprit Bumrah. Ben Stokes joined Root and the pair saw England through to the close of play. Root's composed innings, combined with Stokes' resilience, helped England reach 251 for 4 at the end of the day.
For India, Reddy was the standout bowler, taking two wickets. Bumrah and Jadeja each took one wicket. Jadeja also stood out for his economical bowling, conceding just 26 runs from his 10 overs. Beyond his bowling, Jadeja also contributed to a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Ollie Pope just after tea, ending a promising partnership.
Jadeja's playful moment with Root wasn't the only instance of his on-field banter. During the match, he was also caught on the stump mic teasing KL Rahul, reminding him to stay focused after a dropped catch in the previous Test. These instances showcase Jadeja's lively personality and his ability to maintain a sense of humour even in tense situations.
As play resumes on Day 2, Root will have the opportunity to complete his 37th Test century and his 11th against India. Meanwhile, England will look to build on their solid foundation and put further pressure on the Indian bowlers. The match is well poised, promising another exciting day of Test cricket at Lord's.
