If you win the toss on a pitch that looks more suited for grazing sheep than opening the batting in Test cricket, you must ensure that the opposition struggles to put bat to ball. To everyone’s surprise, nothing of that sort happened in the first and, perhaps, the most crucial session of the Test match at Lord’s.


A frustrated Stuart Broad on Day Three of the second Test at Lord's. Pic/Getty Images 

That was enough for me to harbour thoughts of an India win while most treaded cautiously. The pitch was unusually green and it was imperative for the English bowlers to reduce India to a paltry score for a couple of reasons — 1. Seizing the advantage of winning the toss and 2.