England vs India Lords Test | England strikes quick wickets; India in deep trouble

The first day's play of the second Test was washed out without a ball being bowled.

August 10, 2018 03:11 pm | Updated 10:54 pm IST

England's James Anderson celebrates the wicket of Murali Vijay on day 2 of the second Test against India at Lords in London on August 10, 2018.

England's James Anderson celebrates the wicket of Murali Vijay on day 2 of the second Test against India at Lords in London on August 10, 2018.

England has won the toss and chose to bowl first against India on a wicket with a green tinge at Lord’s in the second cricket test of a five-match series.

The toss was delayed by 24 hours as the opening day’s play was wiped out by persistent rain. The rain is expected to return later on Friday.

Despite winning the series opener at Edgbaston, England has made two changes. Twenty-year-old Ollie Pope makes his test debut replacing Dawid Malan at No. 4 in the host’s batting lineup. Chris Woakes was preferred to Moeen Ali as a replacement for Ben Stokes, who is in court in Bristol.

Alec Stewart hands over first cap to debutant England batsman Oliie Pope during Day two of the second Test agianst India at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on August 10, 2018.

Alec Stewart hands over first cap to debutant England batsman Oliie Pope during Day two of the second Test agianst India at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on August 10, 2018.

 

India also made two changes. The experienced Cheteshwar Pujara replaces Shikhar Dhawan in India’s top order, while left-arm bowler Kuldeep Yadav gives the team an extra spin option in place of paceman Umesh Yadav.

England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series on Saturday with a 31-run victory in Birmingham.

Day 1

What is a day out at an English cricket ground without some rain? After weeks of insufferably hot weather, London awoke to a persistent, infuriating drizzle, which washed out the first day of the second Test at Lord’s.

A near-full-house watched and waited in hope as the rain started early in the morning and simply did not relent. More than an hour before the scheduled start of play, the MCC’s members queued up by the Grace Gate, in their prim suits and bacon-and-egg ties. Sachin Tendulkar, it was announced, would ring the five-minute bell before the start of play; Sunil Gavaskar, M.A.K. Pataudi, Dilip Vengsarkar, Rahul Dravid, Kapil Dev and Sourav Ganguly are the other Indian internationals to have been accorded the honour.

All was in readiness but it was just another cold, soggy, miserable English mornings: summer as they know it here. Some spectators paid a visit to the MCC museum, which was open for free to those inside the ground; others headed to the library; while some others partook of a cold beverage or two, undeterred by the weather.

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