It’s said that Test matches can turn within a session. On 16th August 2021, Joe Root’s England learnt it the hard way as India registered a mind-boggling come-from-behind win in the second Test at Lord’s. Notably, India came into the last Day on 181/6 leading England by 154 runs in the second innings. The onus of taking India’s lead past 250 relied on their new-found overseas hero Rishabh Pant.
However, much to their dismay, the wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed within four overs as Ollie Robinson found his edge which carried straight to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. Ishant Sharma also departed after scoring 16 (24) with a couple of boundaries. As a result, India were staring down the barrel at 209/8 leading by 182 runs with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah at the crease.
Sensing the game firmly in their grasp, Mark Wood decided to give Bumrah a taste of his own medicine as he launched barrage of bouncers at the Indian speedster, who had earlier given James Anderson the same treatment late on Day 3. The adrenaline rush led to verbal duels in the middle as India captain Virat Kohli also watched intently from the famous Lord’s balcony.
The Shami-Bumrah Fightback
The crowd, fans and players from both teams were left engrossed in the ‘battle of bouncers’ serving the spiciest recipe of the old age dish called ‘Test cricket.’ The Indian tailenders were left with no choice but to attack and find their way out of the massacre England had planned. Bumrah gave the first punch by whacking Wood towards point for a boundary which ignited the emotions in the Indian dressing room as captain Kohli applauded the fight back with his teammates.
Shami also didn’t hold back and awakened the sleeping batter inside of him which took down Moeen Ali. In no time, England lost the plot and found themselves in a compromising situation with the lead growing dangerous with every run from the Indian tailenders’ bat.
It seemed as if Shami and Bumrah were possessed by Dravid and Tendulkar who re-paid England’s hostile hospitality with interest. The duo forged together an unbeaten stand of 89 runs taking India’s lead to an unsurmountable high for England who were not yet aware of the term ‘Bazball’. Indian skipper Virat Kohli was already licking his lips at the prospect of unleashing his hungry wolves onto England who were smelling blood.
“For 60 overs they should feel like hell”
Shami and Bumrah walked back to the pavilion amid a rapturous applause from the crowd and the Indian team, which had come down all the way to the long room to receive their saviours who had dug England’s grave.
It was now turn to introduce the home team to a ‘hell’ they had never seen before. Virat Kohli martialled his troops on the boundary line and got them into a huddle to deliver the line which would go on to describe his legacy for the years to come. “For 60 overs, they should feel like hell,” said a determined Kohli and his men heard him to deliver a carnage at the home of cricket.
Mohammed Siraj (4/32), Jasprit Bumrah (3/33), Ishant Sharma (2/13) and Mohammed Shami (1/13) reminded fans of the famous West Indies pace quartet as they charged at England batters and forced them to kneel at their sanctum abode. Kohli and his men had conquered Lord’s and gave a strong statement to England that they’re here humble them.