The ‘Home of Cricket’ will be the home of an epic Test finish on Monday.
India need 135 more runs at Lord’s. England require six more wickets. One of these sides will soon be 2-1 up with two to play – but whom?
The tourists lost four wickets in a feisty final session on day four – the caveat that one of those was nightwatchman Akash Deep – with captain Shubman Gill pinned lbw by Brydon Carse.
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India captain Shubman Gill was trapped lbw by Brydon Carse for six late on the fourth evening
That means India will be without a man who has scored 607 runs in this series as they look to complete a successful chase of 193 but Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain feels the away side have their noses just in front, with KL Rahul still in and Rishabh Pant to come.
Rahul – who was dropped by Chris Woakes on five off his own bowling in what could turn out to be a huge moment – will resume unbeaten on 33, with Pant set to join him first thing after Ben Stokes took out Deep’s off stump with the final delivery on Sunday.
Hussain said: “I think it’s maybe 52-48 in India’s favour. England have to use the newish ball and hit those cracks hard. These 135 runs are going to be hard work – unless Pant starts going.
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England captain Ben Stokes bowled nightwatchman Akash Deep with the final delivery on Sunday
“It will be a sell-out crowd with lots of India fans in and every boundary will be cheered, so it will be about coping with that atmosphere and controlling your emotions.
“But Pant doesn’t bottle it, won’t be affected by pressure. He thrives off it. For India it will be Mr Cool in Rahul and Mr Chaos in Pant.”
Rahul scored a century in the first innings at Lord’s as well as a hundred at Headingley in the opening Test, while Pant notched twin tons in Leeds and has two further fifties.
England more confident than ‘negative’ India?
Hussain’s fellow pundit Kumar Sangakkara thinks England may have the edge right now, suggesting India were a bit “negative” as they began the chase, highlighting Karun Nair’s decision to leave a delivery from Carse that ended up trapping him lbw.
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Jofra Archer bounced out Yashasvi Jaiswal as India began their second innings
The former Sri Lanka batter said: “I think England will be more confident than India at the moment. The way I saw India bat, there were a few jitters. They seemed a bit negative.
“[India all-rounder] Washington Sundar told us they wanted to be one wicket down but I think they should have given themselves a target of runs.
“But if Rahul and Pant can stretch this partnership to beyond 100 for the team, then India are back in the driving seat.
“Pant will play his shots. You can’t go into your shell. If India do, England will be further in front. India must bat smart. Rahul can anchor but the rest have to score runs.”
England want crowd to be loud
Marcus Trescothick hopes the crowd are loud at Lord’s on Monday
England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick, who confirmed off-spinner Shoaib Bashir is ready to bowl if required after taking a blow to his non-bowling hand on day three:
“We are desperate to win. The buzz around the ground gave the boys the lift they needed and a couple of late wickets gives us hope that we are bang on the money.
“We love those situations where the crowd is really behind the team. Hopefully we get more of that and push on to win the game.
“We wanted 250-plus but it was difficult to judge what a good score was as there was variable bounce. I still feel we have a decent score on the board.”
‘India will win, probably just after lunch…’
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India off-spinner Washington Sundar’s four wickets included bowling Joe Root and Jamie Smith
India all-rounder Washington Sundar, who picked up 4-22 – including bowling Joe Root and Ben Stokes on the sweep – as England slumped from 154-4 to 192 all out:
“Definitely India winning, probably just after lunch…
“We are sitting pretty and we will come out positive. We have some solid batters in the dressing room.
“We have all day but there needs to be the perfect plan. It is exciting in every way. Winning the Lord’s Test would be amazing.”
Could Brook dismissal cost England?
If England do lose this game, then Harry Brook may come in for some criticism for his second-innings dismissal – he already has, to be fair.
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Harry Brook blasted three boundaries in a row off Deep before being bowled on the sweep in the India quick’s next over
Brook had ramped two fours and cracked a six over long-off in Deep’s previous over, yet suffered a brain-fade shortly after when he was cleaned up around his legs playing a conventional sweep, despite a fielder having just been moved fine on the leg-side.
Sangakkara said, reflecting on a wicket that had reduced England to 87-4: “I cannot understand for the life of me what Brook did.
“He was batting so well, the counterattack was so good, and he had Root going well at the other end.
“Without that moment England could have been so much further ahead. I know it’s Bazball but that is not smart.”
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Watch extended highlights from a gripping day four of the third Test at Lord’s
Hussain: Vital day in store
We will give Hussain the final word, though.
“I cannot tell you how important Monday is.
“If England win the Brook shot gets put to bed, if they lose you talk about it. If India lose you talk about their ball change in England’s first innings when they had one that was doing everything. If India win, that is all forgotten.
“It is such a vital day – either 2-1 up or 2-1 down going to Emirates Old Trafford.”
Watch day five of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am Monday (11am first ball) or stream without a contract.
England vs India – results and schedule
All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all on Sky Sports
