While it was England that started Day 2 with a celebration of Joe Root’s gritty ton at Lord’s, the scales quickly tipped India’s way thanks to none other than Jasprit Bumrah. Returning to the playing XI after being rested for the second Test, the premier pacer claimed the wicket of Harry Brook on Day 1 at Lord’s. While he added to his tally with the dismissals of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes, Mohammed Siraj too could have added to his wicket tally, if it wasn’t for a fielding error.IND vs ENG 3rd Test Day 2 Live ScoreWhile India did not make many mistakes in comparison to the first Test, one particular moment in the 87th over on Day 2 stood out. Siraj came mightily close to dismissing Jamie Smith, but ended up seeing the ball slip out of KL Rahul’s hands.Sending in a back of a length delivery outside off stump, Smith looked to punch from the crease, but the ball nipped away and headed towards KL Rahul at second slip. After taking a significant edge off the bat, Rahul was unable to take the catch at shoulder level. Despite using both hands for the catch, the ball hit him on the fingertips and went out of his grasp.
Siraj, frustrated with the error, could only watch on in agony. The ‘butterfingers’ on display from the Indian fielders, especially those positioned at the slip cordon have come to haunt the side. In the first Test as well, Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped multiple catches from similar chances.
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Do you think India’s fielding errors will affect their chances in the series?
Analysing what Indian fielders have been doing wrong, former India batter and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik highlighted what Karun Nair has been doing better in comparison to the likes of Rahul and Jaiswal. Karthik cited Nair’s reverse cup approach as opposed to the traditional technique used by Jaiswal and Rahul. With dropped catches becoming more of a problem for the visitors, it remains to be seen what the side will do to bring down the errors in this regard.The series is delicately poised at 1-1, with both sides looking to gain an advantage heading into the penultimate Test.
