Edgbaston Eruption: Siraj's Double Blow Leaves England Reeling

Day three of the pivotal second Test between England and India at Edgbaston began with an air of anticipation, but for the home side, it quickly descended into a nightmare. Resuming their first innings in a precarious position, England needed stability and big partnerships. Instead, they were rocked by a sensational double strike from India's fiery pace spearhead, Mohammed Siraj, who dismantled the heart of their batting lineup within two devastating deliveries. The swift removal of England's two most influential batsmen, Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes, sent shockwaves through the Edgbaston faithful and left the host nation staring down the barrel of a significant deficit.

The drama unfolded just moments into the morning session. With the score delicately poised, Joe Root, fresh from a prolific run of form, was the first to succumb. A sharp, full delivery from Siraj found the edge, and the former captain departed, adding to the mounting pressure. Before the crowd could fully process the loss of their talisman, Siraj delivered an even more telling blow. The very next ball saw England's aggressive new skipper, Ben Stokes, attempting to counter-attack but only managing to guide another well-directed delivery into the hands of the fielders. In the blink of an eye, England had plummeted to a dire 84 for 5, their top order decimated and their hopes of a competitive first-innings total severely dented.