Stokes-Dawson extend England’s lead to 186, close day at 544/7

ENG vs IND, 4th Test, Day 3: England ended Day 3 at 544/7, extending lead to 186 runs after a dominating day. Ben Stokes remained unbeaten on 77 while Liam Dawson scored 21 not out. Resuming at 225/2, England added 390 runs with Joe Root scoring his 38th Test ton in the 2nd session. Ollie Pope scored 71. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd Siraj both struggled with niggles with Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja only bowlers to pick up two wickets each. Bumrah-Siraj and Anshul Kamboj picked up a wicket each.

ENG vs IND Live, Day 3

Day 3 Match Preview

As Day 3 dawns at Old Trafford, England are firmly in control at 225/2, trailing India’s first-innings total of 358 by just 133 runs. The foundation laid by Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley’s aggressive 166-run opening stand has put India on the back foot. Joe Root (11*) and Ollie Pope (20*) will look to consolidate, aiming to surpass India’s total and build a substantial lead. 

India will rely heavily on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to exploit any early movement on the pitch. Ravindra Jadeja, who dismissed Crawley, will be key in breaking partnerships. The absence of Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel substituting, adds pressure on India’s fielding unit. 

Shubman Gill’s captaincy will be tested as he seeks to rally his depleted bowling attack. With no rain forecast for Day 3, expect a full day’s play, which could be decisive. England will aim to bat India out of the game, while India need quick wickets to stay in contention. The battle between England’s deep batting line-up and India’s resilient bowlers promises an intense day.

Old Trafford Pitch Report Day 3

The Old Trafford pitch remains lively, offering pace and bounce, though it has slowed compared to its historically fiery reputation. Day 2 saw the Dukes ball moving under overcast conditions, aiding seamers like Ben Stokes, who claimed a five-for. On Day 3, the pitch is likely to assist fast bowlers early, especially with the morning moisture, but batting conditions should improve as the day progresses. Spinners like Ravindra Jadeja may find occasional turn, but pace will dominate. Teams can expect to score 350+ in the first innings, with fourth-innings chases around 200 feasible.

Playing 11

• England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
• India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk)/Dhruv Jurel (substitute wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj

ENG vs IND Live Streaming Details

• India: Live streaming on JioHotstar app and website; live telecast on Sony Sports Network
• UK: Live on Sky Sports Cricket
• Start Time: 3:30 PM IST (11:00 AM local time)

Manchester Weather Report

According to BBC Weather, Day 3 at Old Trafford is expected to be clear with no rain forecast, unlike the interruptions on Day 2. Temperatures will hover below 20°C, starting around 14°C at 11:00 AM local time (3:30 PM IST), with cloudy intervals and a light breeze. These conditions should allow a full day’s play, favouring batters as the day progresses but offering early assistance to seamers.