By Trisha Ghosal in London
Six wickets. That’s what stands between England and a 2-1 series lead. The fourth evening at Lord’s ended in a blaze of noise and momentum, the kind of late-session chaos that shifts entire Test matches. India, chasing 193, finished nervy on 58/4 — still 135 runs away. But nothing comes easy against this Indian side. Not here. Not in this series.
To close this out, England’s bowlers will need more than just skill. They’ll need control, clarity, and the cauldron of a full Lord’s crowd behind them.
Hit early, hit hard
The first hour today will shape the rest of the day. England know KL Rahul is still out there — calm, composed, and in the form of his life. He’s been India’s bulwark across this series, and if they don’t dislodge him early, the game could slip. The ball is just 18 overs old. There’s still some zip in it.
Expect Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer to take the new day’s first crack, looking to make the most of early movement and uneven bounce. The margin may be only 135, but one wicket could open the floodgates. Two? It could be game.
Use the slope, play the angles
From where we sit at the ground, it’s impossible to ignore how Lord’s plays tricks with your depth perception and with your footwork. The slope here isn’t a myth. It’s method. Bowling from the Nursery End offers steeper bounce, and from the Pavilion End, the ball curves back in. That’s where the wobble seam becomes lethal — as it has all match.
England’s seamers have weaponised this angle beautifully. Carse, Stokes, and Archer have bowled with control and cleverness. The plan tomorrow? Keep it simple. Hit the seam. Let the surface and the slope do the talking.
Feed off the crowd
You could feel the shift in energy on Sunday evening. The roar after each wicket. The Root-induced surge in the final over. That half-hour felt like Headingley 2019 in flashes — and it’ll carry into Day 5. This crowd is ready to erupt. The sun is expected to shine. It’s Lord’s on a final day, with a match on the line. It doesn’t get better.
Ben Stokes knows how to channel that noise — expect him to use himself or Woakes early to keep things buzzing.
Stay relentless, not reckless
This won’t be about magic deliveries. It will be about partnerships with the ball, dot pressure, and asking the same questions till the batters crack. The margin for error is small, but the prize is massive.
Day 5 at Lord’s is ready to deliver a finish for the ages. If England hold their nerve, this could be the moment they script a new movie in this already entertaining Test series.
Check out how the third game has turned into a riveting contest.
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