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Just as I get done writing up the birthday post…
Mohammad Shami sneaks one between Burns’ bat and pad and rattles off stump. He’s gone for 61 off 153 – the opening stand worth 135. This nipped back to beat the shot, and Burns had to play at that really. Could maybe have done better to leave less of a gap, but that’s a tad harsh. Excellent reward for much better bowling this morning, from india. Dawid Malan is the new guy.
Birthday boy Burns
India have started pretty well, giving away just 14 runs in the first half-hour, but one of the men out there holding firm is turning 31 today. Here’s the Barmy Army bugler dusting off a happy birthday.
Getting a jinx in nice and early
India have opened the bowling with Ishant again for some reason (he wasn’t especially good first up yesterday), so let’s help India out and talk about where this partnership could potentially go. What if, for example, they put on 200 for no loss? It’s been 31 years since England last had a double-hundred opening stand – when Michael Atherton and Graham Gooch made 225 together, also against India, at Old Trafford.
Projectiles from the stands
10:50am
My favourite part of Sidharth Monga’s story on this, though, is the background on the ‘Home of Cricket’ and how flying champagne corks are a genuine concern there. Never change, Lord’s.
It’s alive
Like England in this series, we’re back. Yesterday could not have possibly gone better for England. James Anderson dominated the morning with his big swinging superpowers, before sidekicks Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson and Sam Curran scythed through the India middle and lower orders like machetes through elephant grass. Four wickets fell for zero runs at one point, and India faceplanted into a mildly humiliating 78 all out.
To make matters worse for the visitors, Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns then took advantage of some indisciplined India bowling to put on 120 for no loss by stumps. All of which means that England have this match by the nads, and it will probably take something dramatic for India to get themselves back into it.
Some awful news from off the field to start the day though. The great Ted Dexter, legendary savager of fast bowling, has died at the age of 86. RIP.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf