After defeating India by a small margin in the 1st Test, England trounced the visitors by an innings and 159 runs in the 2nd Test at Lord’s, to go 2-0 up in the 5 match series.
It was a Test match that lasted 107.2 overs, much in England’s favour from the word go. After having won the toss and opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, the hosts were in the ascendancy pretty much from the time they won the toss and chose to bowl. They never looked back after they dismantled India cheaply in the first innings and then further pressed home their advantage with the bat on the back of some fine batting from Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes.
“Not very proud of the way we played, to be honest. First time in the last five Test matches that we've been outplayed. Credit must go to England. They were clinical. When a team plays like that they deserve to be on the winning side. (I) can't really think about those things (conditions not in favour). You have to counter the conditions as and when they come to you. Can't crib about these things. Sometimes the rub of the green will go your way too but I won't sit around and say that we didn't have the best of conditions. Their bowlers were relentless with the ball,” said the Indian skipper after the match.
While Day 1 of the play was washed out to rain, Day 2 was a delight for the likes of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Talking about the conditions, Virat added, “The weather was unpredictable. It was different when we started then it changed suddenly, [but] I think we got the combination a bit off before the game. We have a chance to correct that in the next game. Two-nil down, the only option is to come out positive, make it 2-1 and make it an exciting series from there.”
Kohli’s back stiffness was a concern throughout in the second innings as he trudged while taking singles and called for the physio for treatment. Elaborating on the same, he added, “The good thing is I have five days before the next Test. We are confident with rehab and strengthening and I should be ready for the next game although not (with) the same intensity in the field but I should be good enough to hold a position in the field and be 100% with the bat. Again, I will have to look at the running bit of things, which was difficult today. As of now, it is sore."
