Root at 99, England reach 251/4

Joe Root stitched together a dogged unbeaten 99 as England shed their usual aggressive ways, resorting to classical long format batting amid sustained pressure from the Indian bowlers to reach 251 for four day one of the Lord’s Test here Thursday.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

At stumps, Root was one run shy of his 37th Test hundred having negated 191 balls, and was batting alongside Ben Stokes (39 batting off 102).

They have put on 79 for the unfinished fifth wicket so far.

Opting to bat in a home game only for the second time in the Bazball era, England chose to bat with plenty of patience on a slow surface than being on the offensive — their usual mode of operation under Stokes.

The surface wore a greenish look on the eve of the game but looked flat before the toss as a sea of fans flocked to the iconic venue.

With the series locked at 111, the pitch had been a big talking point heading into the third Test.

India, having six bowling options, did not offer too many freebies though Edgbaston hero Akash Deep struggled to find his rhythm in his debut game here.