ENG vs IND | Would be difficult for England to come back in the series, opines Ramiz Raja 

With five losses and two draws in the last seven Tests, England have been woeful in the longer version of the game. The ongoing Test series against India has extended their poor run and after getting saved by rain gods in the opening Test, a magnificent Indian side bulldozed them at Lord's. All that England needed to do in the final few hours of the fifth day's play was to bat time. But they even failed to survive 60 overs against a relentless Indian pace-attack as the fragile batting proved costly for the hosts.

“England’s top order is extremely ordinary. Their openers, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, are of no use. Haseeb Hameed, who was making a comeback, also looked nervous. Against a strong India bowling line-up, if you are not mentally and technically sound, you will be exposed,” said Raja.

"They should have drawn this game, but India forced them into a corner with their aggression, and made life difficult for them. England did not play their natural game because of India's exemplary bowling, and the innings became stagnant," he said.

One of the most crucial points in the game was in the first session of the final day at Lord's when Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah combined in a brilliant partnership. Shami ended up becoming India's first No.9 in two years to score a fifty. The former Pakistan opener further added that Shami's knock flattened England.