The second Test match between India and England started on the second day of the schedule and the English team still wrapped it with a day to spare.
Such was the dominance of the host pacers at the Lord’s that England bowled out the Indian side twice within a span of three days — first at the score of 107 and then at the score of 130. Before the start of the match, the condition of the Lord’s was largely in favour of the Indian side. However, after the rain, the behaviour of the pitch changed drastically as the conditions turned typical English.
Taking advantage of the situation, English pacers made it a one-sided affair as India lost the match by an innings and 159 runs. England have now taken a lead of 2-0 in the series.
The two sides will once again face each other at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, for the third Test match in 5 days from now.
Here are The Statesman’s player ratings from the second Test match:
India
Murali Vijay
Two ducks in two innings, Murali Vijay could have done a better job. In the second Test, Murali Vijay faced 13 deliveries (5 balls in first innings and 8 balls in second innings) before he became James Anderson’s first victim in both the innings.
Rating: 1/10
KL Rahul
KL Rahul was preferred over Shikhar Dhawan in the second Test, but he failed to justify the selection as he was dismissed at the score of 8 and 10 runs, respectively.
Rating: 2/10
Cheteshwar Pujara
Test specialist Chesteshwar Puajara was unlucky in the first innings as he was run out after a mix-up with his skipper Virat Kohli. He did show some resistance to English pace attack in the second innings.
Ratings: 4/10
Virat Kohli
Though as a skipper Virat Kohli made the bizarre decision to play two spinners on the pace-friendly pitch, he looked comfortable while batting at the crease. Virat Kohli (23 & 17 runs) failed to make his mark at the Lord’s, but one can always blame it on his back strain.
Rating:4 /10
Ajinkya Rahane
Mr Dependable Ajinkya Rahane was not so dependable in the second Test as he was removed at the score of 18 and 13 by James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Rating: 4/10
Dinesh Karthik
Though he did do a good job in keeping the wicket as he took a flying catch of Jonny Bairstow in the first innings, as a wicket-keeper batsman he failed to make an impact.
Rating 1/10
Hardik Pandya
All-rounder Hardik Pandya bagged three wickets, but disappointed with the bat in the first innings. In the second innings, however, he showed some resistance as he scored a fighting 26 off 43 balls.
Rating: 6/10
Ravichandran Ashwin
Though Ravichandran Ashwin is known for his magical spin bowling, in the second Test match he was the most impressive with the bat from Indian camp. Ashwin (29 &33) was the highest run-scorer in both the innings for India. Ashwin was wicket-less at the pace-friendly pitch of the Lord’s.
Rating: 6/10
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav was preferred over pacer Umesh Yadav and he failed to justify the selection as he ended the match wicket-less.
Ratings: 2/10
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami once again excelled with the new balls as he dismantled England’s upper order. Shami bagged three wickets in the second Test.
Rating: 7/10
Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma failed to make an impact even though the pitch was assisting the pace bowlers. Ishant took just one wicket and conceded 101 runs in 22 overs.
Rating: 2/10
England:
Alastair Cook
Alastair Cook started the innings on a positive note hitting a few drives but he once again failed to score big.
Rating: 4/10
Keaton Jennings
Keaton Jennings failed to give England a good start as he was removed at the score of 11 by Mohammed Shami.
Rating: 2/10
Joe Root
English skipper Joe Root tried to stabilise the English innings after their openers were sent back but even he was not able to do much. Root was Shami’s second victim.
Rating: 4/10
Ollie Pope
The young English batsman impressed the audience with his batting. Pope scored 28 runs on his debut before he became Hardik Pandya’s first victim.
Rating: 5/10
Jonny Bairstow
English wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow was magical and the way he batted it was breathtaking. Though Bairstow missed a Lord’s Test century, he played an important role in England’s win.
Rating: 9/10
Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler started good but failed to make an impact.
Ratings: 3/10
Chris Woakes
English all-rounder Chris Woakes was included in England’s squad in place of Ben Stokes and now after his splendid performance that earned him Man of the Match Trophy, he has increased Joe Root’s headache for the next match’s team selection when Stokes will return.
Woakes scored his maiden Test century at Lord’s and remained unbeaten at the score of 137. Woakes also bagged four wickets including the precious scalp of Virat Kohli in the first innings.
Rating: 10/10
Sam Curran
The 20-year-old English all-rounder once again entertained the spectators with his explosive batting. Curran also bagged one wicket in the first innings.
Rating: 7/10
Stuart Broad
Star English pacer Stuart Broad rattled India’s middle order in the second innings by removing captain Virat Kohli, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Test specialist Chesteshwar Pujara from the attack. Broad bagged five wickets overall in the second Test match.
Rating: 8/10
James Anderson
James Anderson was phenomenal with the bowl as he single-handedly destroyed the visitors’ strong batting line-up in both the innings. In the first innings, James Anderson took a fifer and bagged four wickets in the next.
Rating 10/10
Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid did not bowl, did not bat.
Rating: N/A