Bazball To Basicball

On a two-paced surface, England toil hard against India bowlers on Day 1 of the third Test

- Firoz Mirza @London

England were seemingly following a template ever since the five-match Test series started at Headingley. If the coin flipped their way, they didn't hesitate in putting their opponents in. Why not? The approach suits their style of play as even the surfaces in the country are being prepared keeping their aggressive approach with the bat in mind. It, however, has fetched mixed results so far in the ongoing series against India as they won the first Test and lost the next.

Drifting away from the tried and tested method was an option when Shubman Gill and Co outbatted them to level the series 1-1 at Edgbaston a few days ago. But it was highly unlikely for them to go for it, especially for the Lord's Test, where the strip was being touted to be more conducive for the bowlers in comparison to previous two surfaces.