England collapsed from 198-5 to 225 all out, with Ishant Sharma taking a seven-wicket haul as India won the second test at Lord’s on the final day by 95 runs for a 1-0 lead in the five test series.
Resuming after lunch on 173-5, Matt Prior made 12 before he was caught by Murali Vijay at deep midwicket off the bowling of Sharma.
Prior later withdrew for the rest of the series with the 32-year-old wicketkeeper saying he expects to undergo an operation to sort out his Achilles tendon. England’s one day wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is a likely replacement.
Ben Stokes followed for his third consecutive duck when he toe-ended Sharma to Cheteshwar Pujara, before Joe Root ended his brilliant 66 in indisciplined style, finding Stuart Binny at deep backward square leg, again off Sharma.
All three dismissals came off short deliveries. Broad then gloved Sharma behind to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, before India completed the win when Ravindra Jadeja ran out James Anderson with a direct hit.
Anderson ran for a single when one was never available, and it ended a farcical second session for England.
Career-best figures
Sharma, who was man of the match with figures of 7-74, is the first India player to take seven wickets in a test match in England. It is only India’s second win in test cricket at Lord’s but for England, Sharma’s removal of Prior was particularly concerning.
Speaking before Prior’s later withdrawal, England captain Alastair Cook backed his wicketkeeper but understood those who feel it is time for change.
“Matt has a serious amount of talent,” Cook said. “I think he is the best wicketkeeper batsman in the country. When you lose games of cricket, there are always possibilities for people to come in and freshen things up. That’s obviously the first thing you start looking at when you lose games. If the selectors feel we’re playing the wrong team, they are meeting tomorrow to decide.”
Cook also said he would not stand down as captain.
I think we did all the right things. There are not many players who have played much cricket outside the sub continent and their approach was fantastic
“I think we did all the right things. There are not many players who have played much cricket outside the sub continent and their approach was fantastic,” Dhoni said. “It was very important to stay in the game until the end of third day (after losing the toss) because that brings our spinners into action.”
Starting day five on 105-4, England had enjoyed a positive opening session, managing to stifle India’s momentum until Moeen Ali was caught out on the final ball.
Ali fended a fierce Sharma bouncer upwards off his glove, where Pujara took his first catch of the day at short leg, having made 39 runs.
For England, it was a disastrous end to an otherwise ideal first session.
Root reached his fifth test 50 in a knock that included three fours in one over off Sharma. He took 122 balls to bring up the milestone.
The third test match starts Sunday in Southampton.
