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Test Match Breakfast takes a look at some of the biggest issues around cricket during England's huge third Test against India at Lord's.
Before the second day of the third Test, RICHARD GIBSON discusses a tough day behind the stumps for Rishabh Pant, Jonny Bairstow's Bazball legacy and how the ladybird attack on Lord's brought back memories for two former England captains.
The ladybirds - and the bees!
The loveliness of ladybirds that stopped play for several minutes, denying Joe Root the chance to get to a 37th Test hundred before the close on day one, would have brought back memories for two ex-England players now working in the media.
Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook were both members of the Test team forced to hit the deck and stay down until a swarm of bees passed over the ground in Kandy in December 2007.
That particular insect interruption provided England with some respite, delaying Sri Lanka’s declaration in the first Test of the series.
Joe Root finished day one at Lord's on 99 not out after a loveliness of ladybirds delayed play
The ladybirds denied Root his 37th Test hundred - at least until the start of play on day two
Michael Vaughan (right) and Sir Alastair Cook (left) were both members of the Test team forced to hit the deck and stay down until a swarm of bees passed over the ground in Kandy in 2007
Jonny Bairstow was yesterday presented with a commemorative silver cap for making 100 Test appearances - despite the match in question being held last March.
Bairstow enjoyed a similar ceremony in Dharamsala, and the timing of this take two - the framed silver cap handed over by ECB chairman Richard Thompson - made it feel more like a thank you than a celebration.
There are now less than three months left on the Yorkshire captain’s central contract and as he turns 36 in September, it is unlikely he will add to his 287 appearances across all formats for England.
No one has done more to promote the merits of Bazball, however - in the heart of the 2022 summer, it was Bairstow’s four hundreds in five innings that showed the uber attacking style could prosper in the traditional form of the game.
Another century honoured
England's media manager Danny Reuben’s own century was honoured on the Father Time Wall at Lord’s ahead of this match.
This is actually the 114th Test that the popular Reuben - who worked under Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers and in rugby league before moving into cricket, initially with Yorkshire - has overseen since being placed in charge of the England men’s team’s press affairs.
His brick in the wall reads: ‘WELL DONE DANNY REUBEN ON 100 TESTS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT MCC.’
Jonny Bairstow (pictured with Yorkshire) was yesterday given a commemorative silver cap for making 100 Test appearances - despite the match in question being held last March
India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was clunked painfully on his left index finger after lunch
Pant peril behind the stumps
Rishabh Pant foresaw the jeopardy of keeping wicket to Jasprit Bumrah at Lord’s well ahead of being clunked on the left index finger after lunch.
In the build-up to the match, when asked of the challenges of facing Bumrah, the world’s premier Test bowler, India vice-captain Pant made the point that his ability to move the ball prodigiously at high pace made it harder for those standing behind the stumps than in front.
‘I think it's more difficult for the wicketkeeper behind the wicket than for a batsman, I guess, especially in England,’ Pant said.
As if to prove the point, the third ball of Bumrah’s return - following his resting in Birmingham - swung viciously once it had passed the stumps, dying on Pant before it reached his outstretched right glove.
Next ball, after the England openers stole a bye, an edge down the slope from Ben Duckett also dropped short off his grasp.
By mid-afternoon, Pant was having a blow to his hand iced - with Dhruv Jurel deputising in the middle - after parrying a Bumrah delivery that veered down the leg side.
More legends in the Long Room
Sachin Tendulkar rang the five-minute bell ahead of play, on the day that his portrait was unveiled in the Lord’s museum.
The canvas will be moved to the Long Room in due course, placing it alongside other greats of yesteryear like Sir Viv Richards. The 52-year-old Indian legend, Test cricket’s most prolific run scorer, now lives in St John’s Wood, so won’t have to wander far to admire the artwork.
Sachin Tendulkar rang the bell ahead of play, before his portrait was unveiled in the Long Room
Test Match Special steps up
On air rivalries were put aside yesterday when Test Match Special stepped in to enhance the experience of talkSPORT listeners.
As non-rights holders, TalkSPORT were given a radio box without an effects microphone for this match.
However, TMS producer Adam Mountford intervened, providing one on loan so that the broadcast could capture the atmosphere and famous Lord’s hum.
