England Coach Brendon McCullum has called for a seam-friendly pitch at Lord's after India thrashed England on a surface resembling subcontinent conditions at Edgbaston.
India defeated England by 336 runs to level the series in the second Test held in Birmingham. Indian batters, led by Shubman Gill, dominated with the bat from Day 1, while England had no answers to the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. Both claimed six-wicket hauls across two innings, setting up a famous win for India at Edgbaston.
McCullum Criticizes Flat Edgbaston Pitch
McCullum was unhappy with the nature of the surface, saying it was flatter than they had anticipated. While he acknowledged India’s excellent all-round performance, he still felt the pitch gave the visitors an edge, as it played more like one found in the subcontinent.
“We were thinking the pitch would get better as the game went on. We saw that it was more of a subcontinent-type pitch, and I thought India were exceptional. You don’t always get every decision right. You go on what you feel and what you think is going to work. If we’ve been honest, we’ve probably got it wrong.”
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McCullum Calls for Pacy and Bouncy Lord’s Pitch
Looking ahead to the third Test, McCullum expects a livelier surface at Lord’s.
“Something with a bit more pace, a bit more bounce, and maybe a little bit of sideways. It'll be a blockbuster either way, but I think it's going to set up for a cracker—especially if there's plenty of life in it [the pitch],” McCullum said.
Meanwhile, he hinted at a fresh pace line-up for the next match, with Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer both likely to return to the playing XI. Archer was added to the squad ahead of the second Test, leading many to believe he would play, but England stuck with the same team from the first Test. Reports suggest Archer was not picked due to lacking match fitness.
Archer and Atkinson in Line for Return as England Consider Pace Reinforcements
Now, with a pace-friendly surface expected, McCullum has hinted that Archer known for consistently high speeds could feature. Gus Atkinson, a proven match-winner for England, is also set to return.
"He'll certainly be available for selection (Jofra Archer),"Our seamers have gone two Tests on the spin, and we've got a short turnaround before we head down to HQ. McCullum said.
We'll let the dust settle on this one, but Jofra is looking fit, he's looking strong, he's looking ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting," he added.
England will now look to reset ahead of the third Test and are expected to unleash a new-look pace attack to challenge India at Lord’s. The match begins Thursday, July 10. Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025.
Also read: MCC states Akash Deep's delivery to Castle Joe Root was legal
