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 fourth day of the third Test, AADAM PATEL discusses the controversy surrounding the Dukes ball, India having an invitation from King Charles and Jofra Archer’s favoured mode of transport.
Jofra Archer gets a taste for Limes
A familiar site across London this week has been England players on their way to Lord’s on Lime bikes, with several using the E-Bikes as their preferred mode of transport.
The day before the Test, Mail Sport spotted Jofra Archer on a Lime bike and the players have had permission approved from team management to use the bikes which can easily be hired via an app for the three-mile commute from the team hotel in Kensington to Lord’s.
Brendon McCullum and members of the coaching staff have regularly opted to walk in on a morning, which takes around an hour, meaning that the team bus from the hotel has been half empty.
Jofra Archer has been using a Lime bike to reach Lord’s before each day’s play
Gill and Jaiswal netting up
Within the first hour of the morning session yesterday, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were in the nets on the Nursery Ground instead of watching their teammates bat from the pavilion.
It is no secret that they love batting but both fell cheaply on Friday in the first innings and such was the determination that the pair were down to work early on.
Gill averages a hefty 120.20 in the series while Jaiswal averages 46.60, though his overall record against England sees him average 72.69.
Dukes manufacturer addresses controversy
Given all the talk about the Dukes ball, it was intriguing to hear the owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, who manufacture the ball, address the controversy.
Dilip Jajodia was asked by RevSportz what he thought about Stuart Broad’s comments calling the situation ‘unacceptable’.
‘All I can say to Mr Broad is that he did take a lot of wickets with the Dukes ball,’ Jajodia responded.
‘I take what he says on board. I must reassure people that we don’t set out to make a ball that fails… we are not negligent.
‘My responsibility is to produce a ball that fits through the ring when it’s new. Not when it’s old.’
The Dukes ball manufacturer has responded to the controversy surrounding the series after both sides repeatedly complained about its condition at various points
An invite from King Charles
Both teams will have a bit of time off after this Test with the fourth Test starting on July 23 in Manchester and India have received an invite from King Charles.
The King will welcome the India team to Clarence House, with the engagement scheduled for Tuesday, the day after this Test concludes. The special audience will be held in the King’s capacity as Head of the Commonwealth.
Last year, the West Indies team met the monarch at Old Trafford and King Charles was taught a new handshake by the cricketers.
Day five tickets sold out
With this Test Match set to go into a fifth day, tickets at Lord’s have officially sold out for Monday.
They were priced at £25 for adults and £5 for juniors – considerably cheaper than the rate for the first three days, where general admission tickets were priced between £120 for £175 for adults.
With great weather forecast throughout the match, sales rocketed after the game started on Thursday and officially sold out on Saturday.
The Indian team have been invited to meet King Charles after the third Test
Nasser Hussain endured an unfortunate mishap during the third day’s play
Nasser Hussain sent to Baker Street
Mail Sport’s Nasser Hussain was the subject of some fun by his Sky Sports colleagues after heading to the wrong end of Lord’s for a lunchtime interview with Ajinkya Rahane.
Hussain thought the interview would take place in the Coronation Garden, which is behind the pavilion. The former England captain made his way across the pitch, only to be forced all the way back.
It led to Dinesh Karthik exclaiming, ‘Who told you to walk to Baker Street Station?’
