England’s antics towards the end of the Old Trafford Test have drawn widespread reaction, with even rival fans pledging their support for Australia in the Ashes series which kicks off later this year.
Ben Stokes and his team have been criticised for their response to India deciding to bat on in the final hour. After offering to shake hands, which Stokes was completely entitled to do, India opted to allow Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to reach well deserved hundreds. However, it was England’s sheer surprise that their offer wasn’t taken up that rubbed people up the wrong way.
Bharat Sundaresan vocal about England after the Manchester Test
Even the usually calm Bharat Sundaresan had plenty to say. Speaking to SEN, Sundaresan said, “that was the most petulant behaviour I’ve seen from a bunch of adults. They [England] don’t know whether they are the good guys or the bad guys because in their world they seem to be making all the right calls, sticking to all the morals.
“But, the carry on from Ben Stokes and Harry Brook… and everyone got involved… [Zak] Crawley, [Jofra] Archer… to get Harry Brook to just toss some dollies at the Indians… and some of the language used as well which was just ridiculous.
“You have two guys batting on 89 and 80 who done an incredible job of saving the Test match for their country, and for you to say ‘no, no, but those extra 10 runs doesn’t matter’, then why did Ben Stokes carry on and make a hundred when England could have declared much earlier? Eventually, that came to haunt them; they ran out of time in the end.
“Everytime you want to get some grudging admiration for the way England are playing, they do something like this and you’re like ‘I hope they get smashed when they come here’.”
Rival fans call for Australia to beat England in the 2025/26 Ashes series
Along with Sundaresan, rival fans including Indians and South Africans have promised their support for Pat Cummins’ team.
“I’ve never wanted Australia to win an Ashes series this badly.” wrote on fan on X (formerly Twitter). “We’re all supporting Australia in the Ashes?” wrote another.
Here are some other reactions in the aftermath of the Manchester Test.
I've never wanted Australia to win an Ashes series this badly.
As Swann said, England are really getting their perfect warmup against India. A Crying warm-up before they go to Australia to Cry more during Ashes. https://t.co/YdsOwriI72
Ashes is going to be fun !! Indians are definitely not supporting England. With lot of Aussie players in IPL teams support would be there for Australia. https://t.co/8Tx29ZU5Dv
During late 90s & 2000s, everybody across all nations used to support anybody playing against Australia. Entire world celebrated Ashes 2005. But now these petulant crybabies self anointed keepers of spirt of the game has everybody rooting for Australia to batter them in Ashes.
I can only imagine the kind of boinking this English cricket team will cop in Australia during the Ashes later this year, after all that “spirit of cricket’ they showed against India.
England’s immediate priority is sealing a series win against India in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Ben Stokes and his team will travel to Australia in a few months’ time in the quest to regain the Ashes since relinquishing the urn in 2017/18.
India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group for the 2025 Asia Cup which is scheduled to begin on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates. The news comes as a disappointment to many fans amid the ongoing tension between the two nations this year.
In April 2025, the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 people and led to a war between the countries. Earlier this month, the World Championship of Legends match between India and Pakistan was called off after Indian players withdrew.
However, the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash, easily the most financially lucrative in the tournament, is pencilled in for September 14, and fans have voiced their displeasure.
Boycott Asia Cup trends online: Fans call for no India-Pakistan contest
“For BCCI Playing cricket with Pakistan in #Asiacup simply means cash cow and that’s what it has skilled in adjusting people’s patriotic sentiment for its commercial interests where as the wound of Pahalgam is still fresh,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
— Major Pawan Kumar, Shaurya Chakra (Retd) 🇮🇳 (@major_pawan) July 27, 2025
Dear @BCCI, if u do decide to send a team to #AsiaCup2025, at least please ensure they aren't branded as "India" cos they surely aren't representing any of us. Name them "BCCIMonies" or something. #BoycottAsiaCup
IND vs PAK is a massively overhyped clash. The broadcasters use people’s emotions & the nationalism card to overhype it & mint money. The onus is on the Indian public now. If you don’t watch it, this irrelevant clash will cease to exist soon.#BoycottAsiaCup#BoycottINDvPAKpic.twitter.com/mIOnPL2MHw
— Dr. Shubham Misra शुभम मिश्रा🧠⚛️🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@Shubham_Neuro) July 27, 2025
Why does every Indian have to shout for a basic ask — no cricket with Pakistan?
Pakistan bleeds India again and again. Yet our govt lets BCCI flirt with “Asia Cup” hype like nothing happened. Have we sold national pride for a few TRPs and trophies? #BoycottAsiaCup#IndiaFirst
Playing the Asia cup is not a problem for me, it's the shamelessness with which they always keep Ind and Pak in the same group, and the match is always scheduled on a weekend which clearly indicates they just want to make money from the hatred we have against Pakistan.#AsiaCup
So all of this drama is just to make Indians fool? Dear @BCCI if you are really proud of our Indian Army then Cancel that india-pakistan Match in Asia cup. Either cancel the match or Ready for mass boycott #AsiaCup2025pic.twitter.com/O9D3rX5yH8
The dates for the 2025 Asia Cup were announced by Mohsin Naqvi, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman. The tournament will be played in T20I format in preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Eight teams will take part, which is the most ever in a single edition. Group A features India, Pakistan, Oman and UAE. Group B has Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.
The tournament will take place from September 9 to September 28. India are the defending champions after winning the title in 2023 against Sri Lanka. The Lions are the winners of the last T20I edition, after beating Pakistan in 2022.
England captain Ben Stokes is strongly against the idea of an injury replacement in Test cricket. Speaking after the draw against India at Old Trafford, Stokes believes this rule can easily be manipulated and that injuries are part of the game.
During the Test, debates were rife as to whether injury replacements should be introduced after Rishabh Pant suffered a foot injury on day one. Pant bravely came out to bat on the second day, but that was his final involvement as Dhruv Jurel took the gloves and India lost just four wickets in the second innings.
The injury replacement is a rule coach Gautam Gambhir is behind. “Absolutely, I’m all for it,” he said. “If the umpires and the match referee sees and feels that is a major injury, I think it’s very important. It’s very important to have this rule where you can get a substitute – that is, if it’s very visible.
“There’s nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it’s been such a closely fought series in the previous three Test matches. Imagine if we would’ve had to play with ten men against 11. How unfortunate would this be for us.”
England captain Ben Stokes against “ridiculous” injury replacement idea
However, Stokes disagrees. The England captain believes there will be lots of loopholes that teams can exploit in a sport that is conditions based.
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that there’s a conversation around an injury replacement,” Stokes said. “I think that there would just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your XI for a game; injuries are part of the game. I completely understand the concussion replacement – player welfare, [and] player safety. But I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements because if you stick me in an MRI scanner, I could get someone else in straightaway.
“If you stick anyone else with an MRI scanner, a bowler is going to show, ‘oh yeah, you’ve got a bit of inflammation around your knee; oh sweet, we can get another fresh bowler in’. I just think that conversation should be shut down and stopped.”
India managed to save the fourth Test quite comfortably. It led to a tense final hour as the visitors chose to bat on. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both struck deserved hundreds as India finished 425/4.
The fifth and final Test at The Oval begins on Thursday. Rishabh Pant has already been ruled out. Dhruv Jurel set to take his place in the India XI.
India rallied to save the Manchester Test but not without incident. With an hour to play, Ben Stokes offered a handshake to call a draw. However, India, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both not out in the 80s, chose to play on in the quest to reach their respective hundreds.
However, Stokes and England were not happy with India deciding to bat on. The England captain and his fielders had plenty to say, with one fielder stating “if you wanted a 100, you should have batted like it earlier.” Stokes then approached Jadeja to ask “Jaddu, you want to get a Test 100 against Harry Brook and Ben Duckett?” Zak Crawley soon chimed in, stating “you can shake our hands and it’s done.”
England’s behaviour sparked widespread criticism, including from England fans themselves. Soon after, Harry Brook was lobbing up the friendliest of pies to speeden up proceedings, and the players agreed to call a draw once Washington Sundar reached a deserved maiden Test hundred.
When asked about the matter in the press conference, India coach Gautam Gambhir pondered whether England would do the same.
“Would they have walked off if someone from England was batting on 90 or 85 and someone has the opportunity to get his first Test hundred?” Gambhir said.
“Would you allow him to do it? It’s up to them, if they want to play that way, that’s up to them. I think both those guys deserved a hundred and fortunately they got it.”
Harry Brook is showing complete disrespect to cricket with bowling like this. Unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/tP71gG28FZ
Reactions: Ben Stokes, England criticised for conduct in final hour of Manchester Test
“England went into this righteous fit the moment their offer for the draw was not accepted,” wrote Sidharth Monga in his piece for ESPNcricinfo.
“There is no specific morally superior way of playing the game. The laws of the game clearly say you can’t consider a game over until the overs are bowled or both captains have agreed on ending the game prematurely.”
Yet, England seemed appalled. Both Jadeja and Sundar deserved their hundreds, batting through to stumps after they were still under great pressure at lunch.
Here are some of the reactions from fans on X (formerly Twitter).
Big England supporter obviously . but this evening's shenanigans exhibits nicely why we are the most disliked team in world cricket #ENGvIND
The last half an hour of this test proves something I have believed for a long time. The english are the most disgraceful bastards on planet earth. Bunch of pompous pricks who think that they get to decide what is right or wrong for the world
If I team has lost two wickets in the first over, chasing a mammoth first innings deficit, and then, incredibly, manages to bat out the next 135 odd overs losing just two more, I think they deserve to stay a couple more to reach their centuries. Churlish from England, probably…
Either way would have ended in a draw .. why is it farcical to ensure those two guys get their tons? Test tons are cherished landmarks .. and they have done the hard yards to earn it .. they are not obliged to give respite to English bowlers and fielders .. meaningless criticism… https://t.co/s8tHPJuuYF
Seeing more replays of England’s carry-on from Manchester last night and clearly their frustration soon turned into petulance & their exchanges with Jadeja alongside Harry Brook’s tossed-up full-tosses the height of the farce. Would rank quite low on the Test “moral compass”
Every time I think Ben Stokes has earned a fan in me with his all-round brilliance, he or England do something that reminds me exactly why I hesitate. That was utterly shameless from the English captain, not what you expect from a player, let alone a leader.
India were 0/2 in the first over of their second innings, trailing by 311 runs. They lost just two wickets in the remaining 142 overs. As a result, they now have the chance to level the series in the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting on Thursday.
Nathan Ellis has sent a strong reminder of his white-ball bowling prowess in Australia’s ongoing T20I series against the West Indies. In a high-scoring series, Ellis has more than held his own, providing Australia with important breathing space in matches where the ball has flown to the boundary at an incredibly high rate.
Across the first four T20Is, the overall run rate sits at 10.44. Ellis has conceded just 7.68. At the unforgiving Sabina Park and Warner Park where bowlers are greeted with flat pitches and small boundaries, one of Australia’s finest T20 assets has given away a mere 123 runs in 16 overs, executing his variations with superb effect.
Ellis’ defensive skills are magnificent as his arm speed doesn’t change too much regardless of the delivery type. With his bag of tricks including on-pace deliveries at varying lengths, back-of-the-hand slower balls, and cutters, he often strings together multiple deliveries without conceding a boundary. Such sequences make a big difference in high-scoring matches.
Ellis has also displayed those skills around the world, including the 2025 Champions Trophy. In a 350 vs 350 match against England, the seamer was operating under five an over for almost his entire spell on a flat Lahore pitch, until his final delivery was struck for four to take his tally to 50.
A few weeks earlier, Ellis led Hobart Hurricanes to their maiden Big Bash League (BBL) title. He conceded just 7.86 per over across ten matches.
The trio of Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins have been excellent across formats but Nathan Ellis is an absolute must in Australia's XI for the T20 World Cup.#WIvAUS
Fans believe Nathan Ellis is a must in Australia’s team for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India
On what are expected to be good batting surfaces in the T20 World Cup, fans have called for Ellis’ inclusion in Australia’s XI even if the big three of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are all fit and available.
“He is a master of his craft. Surely now, even when the big three are available, he has to play every game?” wrote ESPNcricinfo’s Andrew McGlashan on X (formerly Twitter).
Here are some of the reactions to Ellis’ performances, including calls for more opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In a series where the overall run-rate sits at 10.44, Nathan Ellis has conceded 7.68.
He is a master of his craft. Surely now, even when the big three are available, he has to play every game?#WIvAUS
Nathan Ellis in t20i cricket: 24 matches 36 wickets Avg:18.44 ER:7.66 Can bowl in all 3 phases- beginning,middle and death overs.✅️ Is brilliant at the death overs.✅️ Can bat ✅️ This man has to be a starter in the 🇦🇺11 for the t20 wc. It is their loss if he isn't picked. pic.twitter.com/R7fLYjrYa2
— Troll cricket unlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) July 27, 2025
Nathan Ellis 4-0-37-1 yesterday and 4-0-21-0 today against West Indies on an absolute belter of a pitch where WI ended up with 214 and 204. In my opinion should have been given a little more opportunities in IPL. Clever and skilled bowler #AusvsWI
He has to play regularly irrespective of whether the big three are available or not. He is a good thinking cricketer and has experience playing all over the world. A good thing to see the players from BBL are getting opportunities. Hazlewood, Bartlett, Ellis should be rotated in…
— Arpit Rastogi | Cricket (@arptrastogi) July 27, 2025
Nathan Ellis isn't guaranteed a spot in Australia's first choice XI but he is clearly a better bowler than every T20 pace bowler in our region.
— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) July 27, 2025
Nathan ellis giving just 21 runs in his 4 overs !! He just keeps performing for Australia in limited overs format…. Aaron hardie as well with figures for 2-24 in his spell!!!#AUSvWI
Australia have taken a 4-0 series lead with one T20I to play in the Caribbean. Along with Ellis, the visitors have had a number of star performers, most notably Tim David who smashed the fastest ever T20I century for Australia in the third T20I.
The fifth T20I will also be played at Warner Park in St Kitts on Monday (Tuesday morning Australian time).
Whether Test cricket should have an injury substitute has been a hot topic of debate after Rishabh Pant suffered a foot injury in the fourth Test against England. According to Indian Express, scans showed a fractured toe, and debates are rife as to whether Test cricket’s injury rules require adjusting.
Currently, if a player gets injured and is unable to partake in the remainder of the game, he or she will be replaced only by a substitute fielder. That replacement player cannot bat or bowl. It is a rule that former England captain Michael Vaughan is not a fan of.
Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook discuss injury replacement in Tests
“I don’t like the fact now that we’ve got four days left of the game [2025 Old Trafford Test]… over four days of action where we’ve had an incredible series where we’re going to have 10 vs 11. I prefer that you have a sub,” said Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special.
“Once they brought in concussion subs, I was crying out saying let’s have substitutions in the first innings of a game,” he continued. However, Vaughan was mindful that this change should happen only in the first innings.
“If it goes into the second innings of the game… I feel that teams might break the rules,” Vaughan said. “But a clear and obvious… when someone breaks a hand or they break a foot, or they rupture a calf.. so obvious that someone’s in absolute pain and can’t carry on, I think it’s very, very clear to me you should be allowed a sub.”
Alastair Cook presented a different argument. The former England opener and captain said there could be confusion as to what the threshold of injuries should be to allow for a substitute.
“I’m not sure I agree,” Cook said. “Just say [hypothetically]… we’ve seen Pant walk off there, looks in all kinds of pain, but it’s not broken. So there’s nothing on the X-Ray that says it’s broken. It’s just a bruise.
“Then he has to play on, but he says ‘I can’t walk, I can’t walk on it, I’ve got a bruise.’ If he’s broken his foot then it’s a different thing, but if you get hit on the arm… ‘I can’t move my hand, I’m bruised.’ So then you get replaced because it is discomfort and you can’t hold the bat the way you’d like, but you only have a bruise.”
Debates online as to whether there should be an injury substitute in Test cricket
Arguments for the injury substitute
Full Member countries recently agreed to trial like-for-like injury replacements in domestic First Class competitions from October 2025. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.
“Time has come to allow a fair injury replacement. Let a panel ascertain the extent of injury and give a go-ahead. This can’t be a tactical substitution,” wrote Cricket Producer and Analyst Sarang Bhalerao on X (formerly Twitter).
No injury substitute for Pant during the Manchester Test.
Had Pant fallen on the head after he copped the blow on the toe, then there was a possibility of getting a like-for-like concussion substitute.
Time has come to allow a fair injury replacement. Let a panel ascertain the…
This opens up the debate of whether injury replacements should be allowed.
Here's my suggestion: Let the medical staff of both teams evaluate a player. If both teams' medical professionals come to a consensus that a player cannot continue, they are granted a replacement.
There should be subs for cases like today or Lyon in Ashes 2023. Cases of on-field injury. Being too tired is not a reason for a substitute.
Could add a clause that an injury substitute will only be provided if it happens in the 1st inns/ first 3 days of the test or whatever. https://t.co/3r5GMWcnRg
An injury replacement (for external injury) is needed precisely because its a 5 day game. You can't have one team play with 10 players from day 1, that's an adv that'll get magnified over 5 days. Have independent physio assess it, for the integrity of the contest, have to allow… https://t.co/NboKceEgFC
If an injury is serious enough for a player to miss the remainder of the match including when their team bats, then you should be allowed to substitute that player like-for-like (eg a spinner would have to be replaced by another spinner with a similar betting record). https://t.co/uIi7tfFqPI
When a precedent is set for concussion substitute, demand for subs for external injury is not unjustified. As for exploitation, every rule has a loophole, be it concussion or retired hurt. So what’s different now? With right guidelines, external injury subs must be considered
Why would anyone want to see a lesser game because of serious and obvious injury? Can't understand that. There should be substitutes for clear and obvious injuries that lead to a player not being able to play.
Former England fast bowler Steven Finn believes an injury substitute can open a can of worms.
“There should not be injury substitutes in Test cricket. The game is played over 5 days for a reason. (Some) teams bat long in order to wear a bowling unit down. If you could substitute a fresh bowler in because of injury it would just be wrong,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Also, how on earth do you determine what an injury is? MRI scanners at every ground to check a muscle tear?”
There should not be injury substitutes in test cricket. The game is played over 5 days for a reason. (Some) teams bat long in order to wear a bowling unit down. If you could substitute a fresh bowler in because of injury it would just be wrong.
We can never quantify injuries, so there can’t be any threshold. This rule cannot be implemented unless we are ready to accept the subjectivity which comes along with it.
Still potential for abuse – What if a key player comes into a match with a minor niggle that the team keeps quiet about, but it flares up early and they can no longer play? Should they be allowed a sub? After all, the injury is real, but the safety net of substitution has allowed…
Agree. There should be no injury substitutes in Test cricket. It risks giving teams an unfair advantage, even if unintentional. Injuries are part and parcel of the game that’s the nature of five day game. No need to bring in substitutes and alter the course of a match https://t.co/IdLylcH7vw
Injury is part of the game and test cricket is a 5 day game so every players needs to keep that in mind. Concussion substitute rule already exploited by teams so it's better to not think about substitute for any other injuries. https://t.co/StSGDHuHN9
Rishabh Pant, who retired hurt on 38*, bravely came out to bat on day two. He struck a fighting 54, helping India reach 358 in conditions aiding swing and seam bowling.
Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets for the remainder of the Manchester Test.
Jake Weatherald has sent another timely reminder to Australian selectors as he struck a fluent century in the second four-day match against Sri Lanka A at Marrara Oval in Darwin. The left-hander brought up three figures in just 146 balls soon after lunch on the third day.
Weatherald also struck 54 off 98 balls in the first match last week on a surface where batting strike rates hovered in the 40s. His proactive style of play is something the selectors could favour moving forward, especially as coach Andrew McDonald all but confirmed Usman Khawaja will open in the Ashes.
“We see him [Khawaja] playing a part during the summer,” McDonald told SEN Radio, as reported by Sydney Morning Herald. “He’s got great experience [and] we still feel he’s moving well. It feels like I’m having a repeat conversation around David Warner. We know what we’re getting there. We feel that will match up well against England.”
Jake Weatherald continues strong form during Australia A series against Sri Lanka A
Weatherald’s performances for Australia A come off the back of an excellent 2024/25 Sheffield Shield campaign for Tasmania. The opener hit the most runs (906) at an average of 50.33 with three fifties and as many centuries. Also, his strike rate of 68.33 could tempt selectors to pick the 30-year-old as his attacking approach can better complement Khawaja.
Australia A opener Jake Weatherald, the leading run-scorer of last summer's Sheffield Shield campaign, brings up a century against Sri Lanka A in Darwin, his city of birth.#AUSAvSLA
However, the Marrara Oval track is excellent for batting and there is still plenty of cricket to be played before the first Ashes Test kicks off on November 21. After McDonald backed Khawaja, he said the first few rounds of the Sheffield Shield will be the deciding factor as to who makes the cut, including Sam Konstas.
Konstas endured a very difficult series in the West Indies, scoring just 50 runs at an average of 8.33. McDonald confirmed that the 19-year-old needs to go back to Shield and make runs for New South Wales in the leadup to the blockbuster five-match series.
“I think it was a difficult time for Sam. He’ll take away some information that will accelerate his growth. By him playing Test cricket I think has been a massive positive. I don’t think anyone is damaged by being exposed to Test cricket,” McDonald said.
“I think it leaves him where everyone else is in terms of Shield cricket at the start of the season. We’re not going to shy away from the fact that [competition] will be big for certain individuals to go about their work and put scores on the board and look at what we need for England.”
However, there is every chance Australia persists with the Khawaja-Konstas combination provided both – especially the latter – show enough form in the opening Shield rounds. McDonald was vocal about how difficult the conditions were in the West Indies, especially in the pink ball Test which had a swift end as Australia rolled the hosts for 27.
“That game [in Kingston] moved way too fast and at times didn’t even look like cricket. If you can give me a good form line on what that looks like for the first Test in Perth, you’re a better man than I,” McDonald said.
Weatherald will be fighting for a spot in Australia’s Ashes XI alongside a number of other contenders including Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Nathan McSweeney. The latter missed out as opener in the second four-day game against Sri Lanka A, bowled for 12 as offspinner Nishan Peiris spun one between bat and pad.
The 2025/26 Sheffield Shield season begins on October 10. Four rounds will be played before the first Ashes Test in Perth.
The five-match series between England and India is beautifully poised, but the Manchester weather could play spoilsport in the all-important fourth Test starting Wednesday 23rd July.
Old Trafford is known for its rain interruptions, and that could be the case again. Inclement weather is forecast throughout the match, but the silver lining is that no extended periods of heavy downpours are expected.
ENG vs IND 4th Test: Manchester weather could cause interruptions but a result is very much possible
Reliable weather app AccuWeather paints a relatively promising picture despite the fact that there is a decent chance of precipitation on three of the five days. The platform forecasts a 60% chance of precipitation on day one, with “a blend of sun and clouds with a passing shower or two in the afternoon.” Just 1.1mm of rain is forecast to fall.
Days two and three have just a 25% chance of precipitation.
ENG vs IND 4th Test: Manchester weather forecast for days 1-3.
ENG vs IND 4th Test: Manchester weather forecast for day 1 – just 1.1mm of rain is forecast to fall at Old Trafford.
Some rain is possible on day four (0.5mm) and five (2.6mm). The hope is there is enough breaks in the rain to allow for extended periods of play, especially considering wind gusts of around 40-50km/h will keep the clouds moving.
BBC forecasts similar conditions with “drizzle and a gentle breeze” on day one. There is the possibility of scattered and light rain showers for the remainder of the Test.
The last five Tests at Manchester has seen the team batting second win three times. Given the cloudy conditions for this Test, the captain who wins the toss may choose to bowl despite the good batting pitch that Old Trafford usually offers. England currently lead a closely-fought series 2-1.
The Manchester weather has been cause for attention among cricket fans in recent years. The 2019 World Cup showdown between India and Pakistan was under threat, before the rain stayed away for Rohit Sharma’s 140. Two years ago, heavy rain on days four and five confirmed Australia’s Ashes retention, much to the frustration of Piers Morgan and England.
India suffered heartbreak in England once again, losing the seesawing, fiery Lord’s Test by 22 runs. Like the series opener at Headingley, this was a match they had in their grasp on multiple occasions, but ultimately let it slip to fall 2-1 behind in the five-match series.
This defeat comes down to three crucial junctures in this game. India were on top on all three occasions, but unforced errors proved to be very costly. Here is a look at those in some detail.
Where India lost the Lord’s Test: 3 crucial parts of the game where they let things slip
1. England recovering from 271/7 to post 387
Much has been made of the combinations in India’s XI. Is there enough depth? Is there too much of a reliance on the main quicks? Are lower-order runs prioritised too much over wicket-taking?
However, India have picked up all 40 wickets since making the call to play both Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy at Edgbaston. They had England on the ropes at 271/7 in the first innings, but India allowed the hosts to get away and add a further 116.
KL Rahul dropping Jamie Smith on five was a vital moment. The in-form keeper-batsman went on to make 51. Also, India had no answers to Brydon Carse’s onslaught as he struck an 83-ball 56.
2. Rishabh Pant run out
Despite India’s less-than-ideal finish with the ball, they were in total control of proceedings in their first innings. On a hot day and flat pitch, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant had England sweating during their 141-run stand. At 248/3, India were just 139 runs behind England’s first innings total and had visions of taking a lead.
That is where arguably the biggest moment in the game took place. In the final over before lunch on day three, KL Rahul, batting on 97, hit a short, wide Shoaib Bashir delivery to deep cover point. He looked to the skies in disappointment, and Rishabh Pant gave a wry smile. Two balls later, they risked a quick single to get Rahul back on strike, and Ben Stokes produced a magnificent piece of fielding to catch Pant short.
It wasn’t a risk worth taking. Rahul would have been fine to wait an extra 40 minutes to reach his hundred. Ultimately, there was a bigger picture, and that was India bossing the game post-lunch.
The needless dismissal opened the door for England. Immediately after Rahul reached his century following the break, he was caught at slip off a flighted Bashir delivery. All of a sudden, India were 254/5, and the game was at an even keel once again.
The visitors then recovered to 376/6, only to lose their final four wickets for 11 runs to leave the game level after the first innings. With signs of uneven bounce, India had to bowl well in the second innings.
3. Five of India’s top six contribute 30 between them in the run chase
India bowled beautifully in the second innings to restrict England to 192. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were outstanding in extracting movement and uneven bounce off a wearing Lord’s surface. Then, Washington Sundar (4/22) produced a gem of a spell, bamboozling the English batsmen with subtle changes of pace and length.
Needing 193 to win, India were nicely placed at 44/1. However, they opened the door once again thanks to an unforced error. Karun Nair’s fatal misjudgement lifted England on the fourth evening, and by the time they had Edgbaston hero Shubman Gill and nightwatchman Akash Deep back in the pavilion, Ben Stokes’ side were the favourites heading into day five.
Karun Nair’s LBW that turned the match.
England’s dream start to day 5
Favouritism soon became almost certainties. Jofra Archer produced an inspired spell to start the fifth day, ripping through Rishabh Pant’s defence in another crucial moment in the game. He then dismissed Washington Sundar via a magnificent one-handed catch in his follow through. In between, Stokes had KL Rahul trapped LBW.
India, seven down, still needed 111. Ravindra Jadeja (61*), along with Nitish Kumar Reddy (crucially dismissed by Woakes on the stroke of lunch), Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, all defended stoutly as they edged India closer and closer. However, as the pitch had very little life in it once the ball softened, India would have loved for a recognised batsman to be there alongside Jadeja post-lunch on day five.
Jadeja tried his utmost. The surface wasn’t the easiest for strokeplay, and it became all the more trickier to score quickly with fielders riding the boundary. He hung in for as long as he could, but with the lack of run scoring capability that a specialist batsman would have provided at the other end, India were always climbing a steep mountain.
Like in 2018, India fans were left to wonder what may have been as Siraj was bowled in very unlucky fashion. Shubman Gill’s team now have to pick themselves up quickly for the Manchester Test which begins on July 23.
Defeat there means series over, and that would be a huge disappointment given the positions they have found themselves in this series.
2025 has been a year of uncertainties in the sporting world. Several teams long criticised for not delivering under pressure have finally broken through this year, either winning their first title or ending a trophy drought.
It started in January when the Hobart Hurricanes won their maiden Big Bash League (BBL) title. Post which, Paris St. Germain (PSG) won their maiden Champions League title. It didn’t stop there for football, as Spurs won their first trophy since 2008 after beating Manchester United in the Europa League Final. Also, the world of rugby saw Bath become champions for the first time.
In cricketing circles, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally won their maiden title after an 18-year wait. Soon after, South Africa entered the party and won their first ICC trophy since 1998 after stunning Australia in the World Test Championship 2025 Final.
South Africa ended a long wait for ICC silverware with victory over Australia in the 2025 WTC Final.
Melbourne Stars are another team that have been subject to criticism due to their lack of success. The green brigade is currently the only team in the BBL without a title. With the way 2025 has transpired, all eyes will be on the Marcus Stoinis-led side during the BBL 2025-26 season
During an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan, Melbourne Stars General Manager and spokesperson, Max Abbott, drew light on the same. He spoke about how the Stars will be taking inspiration from RCB’s triumph. Max drew parallels between Virat Kohli finally winning an IPL title and the possibility of Glenn Maxwell and Stoinis doing the same. He was hopeful of the stars being aligned for the Stars.
Abbott also expressed excitement over Haris Rauf returning. The sports marketing veteran is expecting the Pakistani pacer to be at his best. Rauf has enjoyed great moments in Stars colours. After impressing everyone with his yorkers in the 2019-20 season, the pacer went on to make his international debut and has since been a force to reckoned with.
Max Abbott interview: Melbourne Stars GM hoping the 2025 trend continues
Below is the entire conversation between Arvind Kalyana Krishnan and Max Abbott:
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: 2025 has been a year where many franchises have won…..Like Spurs in soccer and Bangalore in the IPL. So can we say that this is Melbourne Stars’ best time?
Max Abbott: (Smiles) “I’m very aware that this has been a year of firsts across world sport…..And with RCB you know breaking their drought, it feels only fitting that Kohli and RCB were able to sort of break their drought and I think it’ll only be fitting for Maxwell and Stoinis to sort of you know also have the same happen to them, for a number of years of you know, giving so much to Melbourne Stars. They’re super passionate about the club. I know all our fans have been starved. Had a long wait for the title but the omen’s are there, and hopefully we can use a bit of that as inspiration next season.”
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Yeah, and y’all managed to get Rauf back. So the prospect of Rauf playing back with his old mates, do you think he will now play better than what he was in the past?
Max Abbott: “I think so! He’s in career best form at the moment and I know that when we sat down in all the draft discussions and you’re talking about all the different things that go into picking a player, one of the big factors that Haris just fits in really well with the group, all the guys really love him.
I mean obviously you got a well-documented story that Stars sort of discovered him and put him on the world stage, so to kind of have him come back where he’s got so much of love and respect within the playing group, and I think clearly Haris loves coming to Melbourne and playing with us. I think was a big reason why you know we elected to go that way.”
