EDGBASTON — When this second Test ends on Sunday, a wounded and weary England squad will head to London for the next match of the series that starts at Lord’s on Thursday.
Set 608 to win, England were left 72 for 3 at stumps after losing Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Joe Root during the final 16 overs of a chastening day.
Bazball has created some miracles over the years, including the chase of 371 at Headingley in the first Test of this series.
A NIGHTMARE start for England as Zak Crawley falls for a duck! pic.twitter.com/L8ziKPGt8i
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 5, 2025Even those hardy souls in the Hollies Stand who rose to their feet to sing “stand up if you still believe” after Akash Deep had just emphatically bowled Duckett to leave England 30 for 2 must know the game is up.
That is not just because they must be in a state of exhaustion having also played the first Test at Headingley.
It is also because the combination of Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have been made to look toothless as a collective across the opening two Tests in which England have shipped a combined 1,849 runs.
Akash Deep with an absolute beauty to remove Ben Duckett pic.twitter.com/Phqavrnkdh
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 5, 2025The 1,014 scored by India in Birmingham is not only their highest-ever match aggregate in a single Test but the most England have conceded in 91 years and second on the all-time only to the 1,028 shipped against Australia at The Oval in 1934.
That match, you may remember, was famous for James Anderson scoring 81 from No 11.
India’s seamers have managed to make the new ball talk, as evidenced by the chaos that ensued on this fourth evening.
In contrast, other than Woakes on the first morning, England have wasted it.
Akash Deep crashes through Joe Root's defence and England are THREE down! pic.twitter.com/Tw1qBGt0sG
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 5, 2025It seems inevitable that Carse will be rested for Lord’s, as England need to look after one of their best bowlers, one who will be integral to their Ashes chances in Australia this winter.
Tongue, meanwhile, did pick up seven wickets at Headingley having twice mopped up India’s tail.
The good news is both Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer should be available for Lord’s.
square CRICKET Ben Stokes has had an absolute stinker
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Fresh legs are required and the buzz of Archer’s long-awaited Test return, plus the addition of Atkinson, the find of last summer who twice excelled at Lord’s in 2024, would be a major boost for England.
The 36-year-old averages 12 with the ball at Lord’s but England may decide to replace him in the XI anyway with either Jamie Overton or Sam Cook.
India’s new captain averaged 29.50 away from home before this series but he now has 585 runs so far across these first two Tests.
England know they need to stem that avalanche of runs or the series could get away from them.
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