Manchester: England have surged to a position of overwhelming strength by stumps on Day 3 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, thanks to a historic 150 from Joe Root and a gritty unbeaten 77 from Ben Stokes. India, despite a brave fifty from Rishabh Pant earlier, now face a daunting task to save the match as England posted 544/7, leading by 186 runs heading into Day 4.
Day 3 Summary: Root, Stokes Power England’s Charge
England resumed play in a dominant mood and never looked back. Root’s masterful knock propelled him past legends into second place on the all-time Test run-scorers list, while Stokes anchored the lower middle order after briefly retiring hurt. For India, Pant’s courageous effort with the bat—despite a fractured foot—provided a bright spot in their first innings.
“Joe Root’s 38th Test hundred, his 12th against India, was a clinic in composure and shot selection.”
Key Highlights
- Joe Root: Scored a flawless 150, broke records, and stabilized England’s innings throughout the day. He shared vital partnerships with Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes.
- Ben Stokes: Took a five-wicket haul to restrict India before his unbeaten 77 with the bat further extended England’s dominance.
- Rishabh Pant: Scored 54 for India, heroically batting through pain from a foot fracture, but India’s bowling couldn’t match his resolve.
Scorecard Tables
India – 1st Innings
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sai Sudharsan | 61 | 133 | 7 | 1 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 58 | 88 | 9 | 1 |
| Rishabh Pant | 54 | 101 | 5 | 1 |
| Shardul Thakur | 41 | 79 | 5 | 0 |
| Washington Sundar | 27 | 62 | 2 | 0 |
| Extras | 37 | |||
| Total | 358 |
England Bowling: Ben Stokes 5/72, Jofra Archer 3/73
England – 1st Innings (at stumps Day 3)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zak Crawley | 84 | 113 | 12 | 1 |
| Ben Duckett | 94 | 100 | 14 | 0 |
| Ollie Pope | 71 | 128 | 10 | 0 |
| Joe Root | 150 | 248 | 18 | 1 |
| Ben Stokes* | 77* | 148 | 9 | 0 |
| Dawson* | 21* | 37 | 2 | 0 |
| Others | 46 | |||
| Extras | 7 | |||
| Total (stumps) | 544/7 |
*Not out at stumps
India Bowling: Washington Sundar 2/57, Ravindra Jadeja 2/117, Jasprit Bumrah 1/95, Mohammed Siraj 1/113
Talking Points
- Root’s Record-Breaking Feat: Surpassed legends like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become the world’s second-highest Test run-scorer.
- Stokes’ All-Round Brilliance: Picked up his first five-wicket haul in eight years and led from the front in the batting department.
- Pant’s Bravery: Rishabh Pant’s willingness to bat through pain lifted India’s spirits, but was ultimately overshadowed by England’s dominance.
- India’s Struggles: Questionable bowling changes, lack of penetration, and fielding lapses allowed England to run up a huge lead.
With England leading by 186 runs and just three wickets in hand, they are poised to put India under immense pressure on Day 4. The hosts have their eyes set on a series-clinching win, while India must bat out of their skins—likely again looking to Pant for inspiration—to avoid defeat.