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England edged past India by 22 runs in a gripping third Test at Lord’s to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The contest went down to the wire on Day 5, with India’s lower order putting up a brave fight before eventually falling short. Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj’s resistance gave the visitors hope, but the disciplined English attack sealed the deal, sending the home crowd into jubilation.
Jofra Archer marks a magical return to red-ball cricket
After a prolonged injury layoff, Jofra Archer made a roaring comeback to the Test arena and played a pivotal role in England’s narrow win. Bowling from the iconic Nursery End, Archer struck early by dismissing India’s in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, a breakthrough that he later admitted gave him a much-needed confidence boost.
Speaking after the match on Sky Sports, Archer said, “It felt really good to start from the Nursery End and get Jaiswal. That wicket really settled my nerves and gave me the belief that I still belong here.”
The fast bowler bowled with pace and hostility throughout the Test, often engaging in animated exchanges with the Indian batters. He also shed light on England’s new approach to sledging, noting that the team agreed to be more aggressive on the field.
“We came together as a group yesterday and said, sometimes we’re too nice. We go to other places and some teams aren’t as nice to us as we are to them, so we decided to change that mindset a bit,” added Archer.
Archer opens up on heated send-off to Pant and what he whispered
One of the standout moments of Day 5 came when Archer dismissed Rishabh Pant for just 9 runs and gave the Indian vice-captain a fiery send-off. The incident stirred reactions from fans and pundits alike. After the game, Archer, in chat with Stuart Broad and Nasser Hussain, addressed the incident and revealed what he exactly told Pant.
Despite the intensity of the moment, Archer acknowledged the emotional nature of the game and emphasized that it was driven more by competitive spirit than personal animosity.
“It wasn’t a proud moment. I just told him (Pant) to charge that. He came down the track and that annoyed me a little bit, so when the ball nipped down the slope, I was so grateful for that,” revealed Archer.
