Brendon McCullum hopes the pitch at Lord’s will offer plenty of life for the bowlers. The England coach has shared his preference for a lively surface as the England and India cricket teams prepare for the third Test, starting on July 10.
In contrast to the first two matches at Headingley and Edgbaston, where the pitches heavily favored the batsmen, McCullum wants a pitch that gives bowlers more assistance. Both teams posted massive scores in those games, with England chasing down a challenging 371-run target to win the first Test, and multiple centuries scored by players from both sides.
The second Test saw Shubman Gill dominate with a double century and a century in the two innings, as India set a mammoth target of 608 runs and secured a 336-run victory. Despite the batter-friendly surfaces, bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep managed to make an impact. The five-match series is now evenly poised at 1-1 heading into the Lord’s Test.
Brendon McCullum Wants More Pace and Bounce at Lord’s
In a recent chat with the Telegraph, Brendon McCullum called for a livelier Lord’s pitch. “I’d love to see something with a bit more pace, a bit more bounce, and maybe a touch of sideways movement. It’s going to be a blockbuster either way, but if there’s plenty of life in the pitch, it’s setting up for a real cracker,” he said.
McCullum also dropped a hint that Jofra Archer could return for the third Test. “He’s definitely in contention. Our seamers have played two Tests back-to-back, and with a quick turnaround before heading to HQ, we’ll see how things settle. But Jofra looks fit, strong, and ready to go — it’s hugely exciting.”
McCullum: Notably, the pitch at Lord’s during last month’s ICC World Test Championship final was a pacer’s paradise, with Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins thriving under the conditions.
On the England side, pace bowler Gus Atkinson is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, India’s skipper Shubman Gill confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will make his return to the playing XI for the upcoming Test.