Day 1 of the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s saw a surprising turn of events as England, known for its aggressive Bazball style, played at an unusually slow pace. They managed only 251 runs in a full day’s play, with a run rate of just 3.02 — the slowest since Brendon McCullum took over as head coach in 2022.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra didn’t hold back. In his YouTube analysis, Chopra mocked Ben Stokes and the English team, saying Bazball has gone “missing” from St. John’s Wood.
“Where is the Bazball, sir? There used to be a thing called Bazball—where is it nowadays? It’s lost somewhere in St. John’s Wood because you played the entire day and scored only 250 runs,” Chopra said with sarcasm.
One of the main targets of Chopra’s critique was Joe Root, who hit his slowest half-century in the Bazball era — reaching 50 runs in 157 balls. Known for his aggressive stroke play, Root seemed unusually cautious.
“This was Joe Root’s slowest fifty in the Bazball era. He’s usually in a hurry, but after not scoring in the first two Tests, he’s trying to bat more respectfully now,” Chopra added.
Adding to England’s worries, captain Ben Stokes was seen limping due to a suspected groin issue. He remained unbeaten on 39 at stumps, but concerns about his fitness overshadowed the day’s play.
Ollie Pope, England’s vice-captain, expressed hope for Stokes’ recovery.
“Fingers crossed he can do something magic and come back strong. It’s important we manage him well. I’ll help guide him while the medical team lays out a plan,” Pope said in the post-day press conference.
With the series tied 1-1, the outcome of this Test could be crucial. Whether Bazball makes a comeback or continues to fade remains to be seen.
