England v India: third men’s cricket Test, day three – live

The hallowed turf of Lord’s awakens this Saturday, July 12, 2025, to the palpable tension of a Test series poised on a knife-edge. With the scoreline locked at 1-1, the third Test between England and India isn't just another fixture; it's the fulcrum upon which the entire series equilibrium rests. As former England captain and astute analyst Michael Atherton famously articulated in 2021, a lengthy Test series can be likened to an arm wrestle: "You have a struggle for a short while but it often ends with one team completely flattened." On the cusp of day three, both cricketing giants find themselves at the peak of that struggle, each able to present a compelling argument for holding a slender advantage. The stakes, therefore, could not be higher as the morning session beckons.

The memory of an unyielding second day’s play, one that will undoubtedly bring a broad smile to Jofra Archer’s face for years to come, saw England post a competitive 387 in their first innings. Archer, in particular, delivered a spell of searing pace and unerring accuracy, making life supremely uncomfortable for India’s top order. His relentless pressure, combined with superb control, was instrumental in setting the tone. India, in reply, managed to navigate the challenging conditions and England’s sustained attack to reach 145 for 3 by stumps. While still a considerable distance from England’s total, the presence of relatively set batsmen at the crease offers a glimmer of hope for the tourists, providing a foundation from which to launch a significant counter-attack. The battle for the first innings lead remains intensely competitive, with neither side willing to concede an inch.

As the players take to the field for day three, the tactical chess match will intensify. India’s immediate objective will be to consolidate their position, building substantial partnerships to not only overhaul England’s first innings total but to establish a commanding lead. The morning session, often the most crucial in Test cricket, will demand immense concentration and resilience from their middle order against a refreshed English bowling attack eager for early breakthroughs. For England, the mission is clear: exploit any early morning swing and seam, target the stumps, and break the partnerships before they blossom. Every run scored, every wicket taken, will carry immense weight. This pivotal day has the potential to shift the momentum decisively, determining which team begins to exert their dominance and, perhaps, start the process of "flattening" their opponent in this enthralling arm wrestle of a series. The cricketing world watches on, eager to see which way the pendulum swings.