Day three of the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester promises to be a crucial one, with England in a strong position after dominating day two.
England closed day two at 225/2, trailing India by only 133 runs. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley set the stage with a commanding 166-run partnership, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers. Although both fell short of centuries, Ollie Pope and Joe Root ensured England remained in control. India's bowlers will need to improve their performance after conceding over four runs per over on the second day.
India will be looking to bounce back, needing early wickets to put pressure on England and prevent a significant first-innings lead. Jasprit Bumrah's performance will be key, though he'll need support from the other bowlers. India will also need to avoid fielding errors. Ravindra Jadeja created some problems for the English batters on day two and will be looking to do the same on day three.
The pitch conditions are expected to favor batting on day three, with the ball becoming softer. Spin is expected to play a more significant role later in the match on days four and five. Debutant Anshul Kamboj noted that the conditions changed as the sun came out, requiring adjustments to his bowling strategy.
England will aim to build on their strong start and dominate with the bat. Zak Crawley expressed his high standards and desire for more significant contributions, while acknowledging the competitive nature of the series.
