Ben Stokes remained unbeaten on 39 as England closed out Day 1 at 251/4 at Lord’s. Vice-captain Ollie Pope offered a positive update on captain Ben Stokes after the all-rounder gave England a brief injury scare on the opening day of the third Test against India, which began on July 10 at Lord’s. Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first — a rare move for England under his leadership.
Both teams made one change each: Jofra Archer returned to the England Test side for the first time since 2021, while India brought in Jasprit Bumrah in place of Prasidh Krishna.
England had a shaky start as openers Ben Duckett (23) and Zak Crawley (18) fell cheaply to Nitish Kumar Reddy. Abandoning their usual “Bazball” aggression, England shifted to a more cautious, risk-free approach. Ollie Pope and Joe Root helped steady the innings after the early blows.
Following Pope’s dismissal just before tea and the quick departure of Harry Brook, Root joined forces with Ben Stoke to rebuild. Ben Stoke played a watchful knock, finishing the day unbeaten on 39, while Root showcased his trademark composure with a fluent 99* off 191 deliveries.
“Fingers crossed…” – Ollie Pope on Ben Stokes’ Injury Scare at Lord’s
England are holding their breath over the fitness of captain Ben Stokes after he appeared to suffer a groin injury late on Day 1 of the third Test against India at Lord’s. Stokes, who was unbeaten on 39 at stumps, looked in visible pain after playing a shot off Nitish Reddy, clutching his right groin as he grimaced in discomfort.
Despite the pain, the England skipper resumed batting after treatment from the physio and limped through the remaining overs of the day.
Following the close of play, vice-captain Ollie Pope expressed hope that Ben Stokes would recover in time to play a key role in the remainder of the Test. “Fingers crossed he can do something magic and come back strong. I’ve not seen him since, so hopefully there’s nothing too serious,” Pope said.
“With a big Test ahead and two more coming up at Old Trafford and The Oval, it’s important we manage him well. Part of my role is making sure he doesn’t overdo it while dealing with whatever he’s going through right now. The medical staff will work out a plan, and I’ll help guide him accordingly,” he added.
Ben Stoke’ injury is a major concern for England, especially since he has taken on a heavier bowling load recently after multiple surgeries. In the previous Test at Leeds, he was one of England’s standout bowlers, claiming five wickets across two innings in 35 overs.
As Day 2 approaches, all eyes will be on whether the inspirational all-rounder is fit enough to continue leading from the front.
