Stuart Broad, the former England fast bowler, thinks India struggled with the pressure of Test match cricket. This came after they lost four wickets during the morning session of Monday’s Lord’s Test.
Jofra Archer removed Rishabh Pant, and soon after, KL Rahul and Washington Sundar were also out. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja started cautiously, but things got worse for India when Reddy was dismissed by Chris Woakes just before lunch.
Later, Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj put up a tough fight that people will remember. Still, India ended up 22 runs short of the 193-run goal.
Broad said on Sky Sports that England played very well, noting the passion and energy led by Stokes and Archer. He said that it’s the kind of Test match cricket everyone enjoys, but India couldn’t handle it. Broad added that Archer looked great and must be feeling fantastic for bowling spells like that.
Broad also praised Archer, who is playing his first Test match in four years, for his important wickets. He took Yashasvi Jaiswal’s wicket on Day 4, and then Pant and Sundar on the final day.
Broad said that Test match cricket is about excitement. Archer brought that, especially since this Test was led by someone who has missed a lot of Test cricket. Broad said that Archer clearly loves playing for England and was even talking to the batters, which might get him fined.