Siraj rattles England with twin strike, Root-Stokes gone

ENG vs IND 2nd Test, Day 3: Mohammed Siraj has rattled England with a twin strike, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes. England resumed Day 3 at 77/3 but within the first three overs, they fell prey to Siraj’s fiery spell. India, led by Shubman Gill, have dominated so far, posting a mammoth 587, thanks to Gill’s historic 269 and contributions from Ravindra Jadeja (89) and Washington Sundar (42). England’s reply started shakily, slumping to 25/3 before Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied the ship, ending Day 2 at 77/3 with a 510-run deficit. With no Jasprit Bumrah, Indian bowlers will have a tall task on hand on Day 3 to keep England batters at bay.

England vs India 2nd Test, Day 3

ENG vs IND Day 3 preview

India will aim to press their advantage on Day 3, while England fight to stay in the contest. India’s colossal 587, powered by Shubman Gill’s record-breaking 269, has put them in the driver’s seat. England’s top order crumbled to 25/3 before Root and Brook’s resilience. 

The hosts face a daunting task to avoid a follow-on, needing a big partnership to close the gap. Root, 73 runs shy of 3000 Test runs against India, and Brook, with his attacking flair, will be key to England’s hopes. India’s bowling, led by Akash Deep’s early breakthroughs, will rely on Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to exploit any morning swing. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar could find purchase if the pitch shows signs of wear. 

Gill’s tactical acumen will be tested as he balances aggression with control to counter England’s fearless batting. With ideal batting conditions expected, England will aim to capitalise, but India’s disciplined attack could dictate terms. The weather, promising minimal interruptions, sets the stage for a full day’s play, potentially shaping the match’s trajectory.

Edgbaston pitch report Day 3

The Edgbaston pitch, rated 3.1/10 for batting ease on Day 1, continues to favour batters on Day 3. With 11mm of grass and a dry base, the surface has flattened out. It will offer truer bounce and consistent carry, ideal for partnerships. Early cloud cover might provide a slight swing for pacers like Siraj and Akash Deep, but the pitch is unlikely to assist spinners significantly yet, with spinners averaging 44.45 at Edgbaston this decade. As the match progresses, cracks and footmarks may emerge, potentially bringing Jadeja and Sundar into play by Days 4-5. For now, batters who survive the initial new-ball threat can expect a surface conducive to big scores, with 340-350 being a competitive first-innings benchmark.

ENG vs IND Playing 11

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

ENG vs IND Live Streaming Details

The England vs India 2nd Test is live on Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports Ten 1, 3, 4, 5) in India, starting at 3:30 PM IST. Streaming is available on the JioHotstar app and website. In the UK, highlights air on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer from 7:00 PM BST. Radio coverage is on talkSPORT.

Birmingham Weather Report on July 4, 2025

Birmingham on July 4 is expected to offer warm conditions with sunny intervals, ideal for cricket. Temperatures will range between 11°C and 20°C, with a high of 18-20°C during play (11 AM to 6 PM local time). Cloud cover may build later, but with a low 20% chance of precipitation and 71% humidity, interruptions are unlikely. Winds at 13 km/h should have minimal impact, favouring batters as the pitch flattens under sunshine.