ENG vs IND | Lord's Day 5 Talking Points - England’s poor tactics, India's wagging tail and the relentless fast-bowling intensity

Emotions get better of England 

From there on, the hosts adopted the hideous tactic of short-pitched bowling with men around the boundary against Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, less known for their batting. The slip fielders were out, there was no gully with easy singles on offer. All England needed were a few full-pitched straight deliveries, instead, they were keen on the chin-music practice. It allowed Shami and Bumrah to settle in, the former getting to his second Test fifty during an epic ninth-wicket stand worth 89. India were now in with a genuine chance.

India's vulnerable tail has been causing headaches since time immemorial. They were averaging a poor 12.35 coming into the series since the start of 2020, the worst amongst teams with a minimum of 10 Tests. 

“Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Umesh and Ishant are putting in the effort in the nets and we're hoping for some contributions from our tail-enders," vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane had remarked before the start of the ongoing series. In theory, the expectations appeared a bit outlandish, but the lower order has surely exceeded them.

They went even better at Lord’s, more importantly, when the situation demanded resistance. Shami and Bumrah rescued the hosts from a delicate 209/8 to add 89 further, extending India’s lead beyond 270. Shami became India's first half-centurion at No.9 in two years. After weathering the storm against a bouncer barrage and some heated verbal exchanges, the duo nailed straight drives and a few through covers, with a few perfect blocks in between. It was, in every way, reminiscent of India's fighting spirit Down Under. 

As per CricViz, Shami and Bumrah played 30% and 33% false shots respectively during the first 30-balls they faced. But, more than anything else it was their application and immense grit that stood out. The Shami of the old would have possibly gone for the agricultural slog and perhaps thrown it away. Not the case anymore! There has been a tectonic shift in the lower order's approach and attitude, and India won’t mind if the trend continues.

“Not again” - was the collective outcry from the English fans when their openers exposed Joe Root to the new ball yet again. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, known for their defensive play, had an opportunity to make a mark during a tricky period on the final day’s play.

Burns, the most reliable of the two, was bamboozled by Bumrah's awkward pace and bounce, falling in the first over of the innings for the second time in four outings. Sibley, who was hard to dislodge in his first three outings of the series, couldn't last long either, edging one behind off Shami. The pair ended up with a forgettable stat against their name - it was the first instance ever when two English openers bagged a duck in a home Test innings. 

In fact, both the openers have been guilty of exposing England's middle-order time and again. This year alone, they have bagged nine ducks collectively, certainly below par for any opening pair in Tests. Haseeb Hameed, who was slotted in at No.3 for Zak Crawley, failed to carry his county cricket form onto the biggest stage, following his first-innings golden duck with a struggling 9.

India’s four-pronged pace attack too-hot to handle

Bumrah and Shami's great batting alliance left just two possibilities - either an India win or a drawn game. The former looked a massive challenge given that Kohli's men had to fold out England in two sessions. But Kohli meant business, and he made it apparent by opening the bowling with Shami, perhaps a more attacking bowling option than Ishant Sharma.

With a pace heavy attack, India were never short on energy or relentlessness. As Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali showed resistance, Siraj broke through to remove Moeen and Sam Curran off successive balls, to make it 90-7. The intensity continued till the very last, to keep the Home Of Cricket crowd on their toes throughout.