The third Test between England and India will begin on 10 July 2025 at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground. Both teams are tied at 1-1, so the contest is going to be a close one. After England lost the last Test by 336 runs, coach Brendon McCullum made it clear that he wants a pitch that has pace, bounce and helps the bowlers in every situation. Fast bowlers like Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson have returned, so the host team would like to take full advantage of the pitch.
The Lord's pitch is also known for its slope. There is a slope of about 2.5 meters from the Pavilion End towards the Nursery End, which gives extra movement to the fast bowlers initially. The bowlers test the batsmen on the technical test by taking the ball out and in on this slope. Especially from the Pavilion End, the ball often goes out for right-handed batsmen, while from the Nursery End it moves inwards. Reports say that there is a little green grass on the pitch, which will be cut a little before the match. If the weather is cloudy on the first day, the Dukes ball will swing more. In the last three years, fast bowlers have taken 172 wickets at Lord's while spinners have got only 23 wickets. It is clear from this that this pitch is considered beneficial for fast bowlers.
However, as the match progresses, the pitch becomes a bit flat. Due to this, the batsmen get a chance to score runs. The average score in the first innings has been 309, and in the second innings, 314. But the bounce is not always the same. In the World Test Championship final last month, it was seen that the bounce was uneven, which tested the batsmen as well as the slip fielders. The player standing in the slip may have to move a little forward to catch the ball. A dropped catch can turn the tables of the match. In such a situation, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill and Jamie Smith. Gill had scored two centuries at Edgbaston, while Smith's average in the series is 178. Both the speed and swing of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer can trouble the batsmen. Wickets can fall quickly in the initial sessions.
Cracks and roughness can be seen on the pitch from the third day. This will increase further in the heat of July. In such a situation, spinners like Ravindra Jadeja or Shoaib Bashir can get into the game. Spinners do not get much help at Lord's, but spin can be important while chasing the target in the fourth innings. The role of toss will be big. The captain will think whether to bowl first by taking advantage of the morning moisture, or it will be better to bat later on a dry pitch. In the last nine Test matches, the team playing the second innings has won five times. India won here in 2021, when the fast bowlers did wonders. This will increase the confidence of the visiting team.
Talking about the weather, there is no possibility of rain this time. The sun will shine and the temperature will be around 30 degrees. In such weather, as the day passes, the pitch will become favourable for the batsmen. However, the morning moisture and grass will give opportunities to the fast bowlers.
England's strategy is clear that the Indian batsmen should be put under pressure by adding pace and bounce to the pitch. But India also have bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj. Along with this, there are batsmen in form like Shubman Gill. The pitch and slope of the Lord's will make this Test more interesting. Who will survive, who will fall - everything will be decided by the first ball on the pitch. Both teams will put in their best efforts to win the series. Now it remains to be seen whose strategy will work.
