Test Match Special - Buttler blasts England to victory & India pile on pressure in Test

Episode Date: July 11, 2026

Simon Mann is alongside former England batter Michael Carberry and former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta for reaction to England’s 4-0 thrashing of India in the five match T20 series. Hear from Jos Buttler who scored 131 for England, as well as England captain Harry Brook who hit an unbeaten 95. Plus, India captain Shreyas Iyer reflects on a tough series for the tourists.Also, Alison Mitchell is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley and Indian cricket journalist Annesha Ghosh, and TMS statistician Phil Long to discuss the second day of the four-day Test between England and India at Lord’s. Amy Jones gives her reaction to a long day for England, despite the wicketkeeper hitting a half-century. India bowler Sneh Rana looks back on a great day for her side.

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That's a good bad billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. So England have won this series by four matches to nil. Another big win. They won by 56 runs in Southampton, England 257 for 3. India 201 for 8, with Butler making 131 and Brooke 95,

sharing a double-century partnership, a record partnership for England in T-20 cricket. And India are well-beaten again, as they were at Trent Bridge, as they were at Bristol. Michael Carberry has been with us today. And so to Deep Dasgupta, who's been with us throughout the series. So how would you sum it up, Deep? Yeah, a series to forget for India. But then obviously try and learn from it, because I think one of the things, that I guess the team has spoken about and we've kind of spoken about as well as the

inexperience of this side, especially playing in these conditions. So just hope that they've learned from this series, but definitely a series to forget. Because if you look back, not too many positives to kind of take forward, so to say. So yeah, apart from maybe shares his innings in the last game and maybe earnings here and innings there, not much positives out of the series. So yeah, just hopefully that a lot of these guys. would have learned from this experience and would only make them better players in the future. Michael, England look quite a good T20 side at the moment, don't they?

And they're top of the rankings now thanks to this victory, despite the fact that India won the T20 World Cup earlier in the year. So top of the rankings and it's a clean sweep by England and also it continues their excellent recent record where I mean they've barely lost the game. I think they lost that semi-final to India which is a significant defeat of course but they've been so successful. in a way that you don't often get runs like England that have managed in T20 cricket where you win a really high proportion of the games, high percentage of your games. Yeah, I mean, they're a team in very good form.

And I think really the turnaround was sort of that World Cup. You know, I thought they say from a sticky start against Nepal, I think they, you know, they built nicely through that tournament. They've said, I think continuity of selections as well has played a part. I think this group has now been together. little while they understand you know we've got a good nucleus of players and I said

look you know England over the last ten years let's be honest you know we've been very fortunate to be in a good run of producing some very very good white ball players who've come in and done well for England I think the the brand of cricket they generally played as suited them well they've had a lot of success So, you know, and I think with the other formats not going so well I think this was sort of needed from England's point of view they needed, you know, the summer wasn't going

particularly well and I think this is sort of given optimism. Well, we can hear from the player of the match, Josh Butler, who's been speaking to Nick Eshragani. Josh, congratulations. It looked like you had fun out there. Yeah, a lot of fun. It's obviously brilliant to spend that time in the crease and score those runs. I mean it's been a little bit of a time coming I mean T20 is such a fickle game

but 18 innings between getting past that half century Did you ever feel out of Nick or did you feel like it was just a matter of time Because I thought the way you were hitting it in Bristol There were just signs there that you're in good form But it's just not quite going for you Yeah definitely I think in the World Cup I did feel out of form I was fighting my game and fighting myself a little bit But went to the IPL and felt really good about my cricket again

But I think it felt some pressure coming back into this year and wanting to perform. You mentioned how many innings that had been since I passed 50s. So I think just getting up my own way and allowing it to happen and trusting, like you said, I am in good form and I'm hitting the ball well and just commit to that. And how easy is it when you've got somebody like Harry Brook at the other end? Yeah, amazing.

He's playing a different game to the rest of us at the moment. I think he's got the best mindset of any batter that I've played with. It's fantastic to see him go about his business. Obviously, he's got the talent and all that. But that fearlessness that he plays with. as captain as well, where he leads from the front with that is incredible. Coming into this series, you came up against a side that's won back-to-back, T20 World Cups, big reputations, a lot of talent as you've seen close up in the IPL year after year.

How satisfying is it that you've now leapfrogged India to go to number one in the world, and where does that leave this side? Yeah, I think immensely satisfying. I think, you know, Harry and Brendan got an incredible record so far as a coach and captain partnership. And in this format, I think they've been brilliant. brilliant and led the team so, so well. And as you mentioned, to beat India 4-0, who the back-to-back world champions is a fantastic achievement from everyone.

And it's been a really complete series. I think with the bat ball and in the field, we've been exceptional. Just finally, a lot's been made about India's strength in depth. England seemed to have a bit of that as well. I mean, you can afford to drop somebody like a Saki of Mahmood or rest him after taking three wickets in the first game. Josh Tung comes in, takes wickets, troubles the Indian batters. How much does that sort of,

inspire you going into the next couple of years with this T20 side? Yeah, there's a lot of depth really across the board. And I think that's really healthy, that competition. And it's within the side. Everyone's pushing each other and wanting to improve their games and get better and better. So that's really healthy for us as a squad as well. So, yeah, Future's Brighton. You mentioned getting to number one.

Now you've got that target on your back and everyone wants to knock you off that spot. So there's plenty more to go. Congratulations. Well played. Thank you. We've won 20 there last 23. T20 matches. Can we draw any conclusions at all from this T20 series as far as the test captains is concerned? I mean Harry Brooke has led the team and they won by four matches to nil and of course he's the vice captain of the test team and

you know the hierarchy you've got to make a decision about the next England test captain. What are your thoughts on that? Well look I think the obvious choice should be Harry Brooke. I mean he look he's a fine player he's the obvious sort of player who's going to play in all three forms. So you think, you know, he's almost being groomed for that role a little bit for his recent performance. Well, since he's coming in the England side. But I suppose it's whether there's enough trust built back.

I think that's probably the one thing that needs to be ticked off. Does he, has he built back enough trust through this and and through the test series recently? to be considered in the shakeup for captaincy. I mean, you kind of feel you're comparing apples and oranges, trying to compare how he's captain in a T20 to how he would compare to being a test captain. I think for me, yeah, I'm not quite sure if I'll be honest. Until he's actually done the job, I think there isn't too many other candidates. You can look around that set up at the moment.

You think maybe Beth is probably in the conversation, but I think for me that would be a mistake. I think Beth was too young. I think he should be concentrating on just getting runs and cementing his place there. I don't want to burden him with captaincy right now. So would you give it back to Joe Root? Would Joe Root want to do it this close to greatness?

I'm not so sure. So I think, yeah, you're not blessed with candidates. No, I think that's a good point, isn't it? Do you think that you can do all three jobs? I think it'd be very tough. In the modern calendar, I think he'd be very tough. I mean, even doing two out of the three is very tough.

But as I said, there isn't who's the other candidates. That's more the concern. Well, what you could do, I mean, it seems counterintuitive, actually. Have you just won a T20 series 4-0 against the world champions? What you could do is you could give Harry Brooke the test captaincy and you could give the whiteball captaincy to someone else. Say Sam Curran, for example, that might be an option. If you just think it's too much for one person to do.

Yeah, well, that is an option. And I'm sure England will be looking at it. Remember, there was a type with Jacob Baffle was given the T20 captaincy for a short series, wasn't he? So as I say, I'm sure his name would be coming up. Would they give it to a bowler? Potentially, you know, with injuries, potentially, I don't know if they'll look that way. But Tarragherin, for me, would be a good shout.

I think experience pro been around the block long enough, played a lot of international cricket. As I said, you know, we're just not blessed with a lot of options. So I'd say that's probably a good one to look at. England captain Harry Brooke also spoke to Nick Esch. Well, Harry, congratulations. Another comprehensive victory. Must be really satisfying.

Very satisfying. Yeah, we're extremely happy with that. And we got what we came for. We said after the second game, if we win the next two, we're going to be world number one. and we're all ecstatic that we are and we're absolutely buzzing. That partnership with Joss as well. Look like you're both really enjoying yourself out there.

Record-breaking knock and how good is it to bat with somebody like that who's sort of been there and done it all around the world? Joss has been a phenomenal player for so many years now and he's struggled over the last little while but the way he's played tonight and the way that he showed the world how good he is just sums the blow cup really.

He's stuck in there. He's graphic. worked hard, worked hard on his game and he's paid dividends tonight so he's really happy with that performance and as I am I as his captain and as are all the other players and the coaches. Now this India side came here with big reputations, double World Cup winners over the last two editions of that tournament. You've now leapfrogged them to number one in the world. Looking at your side and how it coped against the world champions, how do you see it? Are you the finished article?

There's never such thing as a finished article in cricket or in any sport, to be honest, but we're just happy that the India have come here and we've managed to beat them and beat them fairly convincingly in a few games. So just the things that we've done throughout this series have been awesome. The communication's been spot on. The execution's been exceptional. And just the little chats that we've been having around the squad and trying to play the surface as much as we can

has been outstanding and that's all that me and Baz have been asking for. No time to rest into the ODIs now. You're going to come up against a very different looking India side there, like Sir Virak Kali, Shubman, Gilroy, Sharma, Jasprit, Bumra. So there will be some changes. How do you see that challenge? We'll face that tomorrow.

I think we've got the opportunity to enjoy that series win tonight and celebrating going the world number one as well. I think the one day is in a few days. So we'll have conversations about that in tomorrow and the day after. And yeah, I think it's just worth celebrating what we've just done. Congratulations. Really well played. Thank you.

How do you see it from an Indian perspective? Just looking in. See, how I see it is, I think, Harry Brooke for me in test match cricket. Because, listen, as far as, again, we can't really be talking about this format being obviously totally different. But then what is? been pretty clear in these last four or five games that he can lead and there are a lot of senior players in this D20 setup who are happy to play under him so I don't think

Harry Brooke the player in test match cricket is is under any scrutiny he's a gun player there's so we'll keep it separately I think the question is whether he can lead and I think from that perspective the series was important he's won he's led the side well you had senior players who are happy to play under him so I think For me, he's stick to a lot of those boxes, but again, that's a valid question, all three formats. And for me, I think D20, England has options, like you rightly said. There are quite a few options you can go for as T20 captain. But I think Harry Brooke and also the off-field and all of that stuff,

the first thing that comes to my mind is obviously Ricky Ponting. When he first came into test match cricket, there's a lot of stuff which happened. But then he ended up being one of the most decorated captain. the game has ever seen. So, you know, there is a saying in India as well, you know, we have class monitors. So make the naughtiest guy the class monitor. So, you know, it can go easy. Either everyone's going to turn to like him or he will change.

So I think there's a good chance that he will change and he will kind of, you know, and lead the side well. So for me, my vote for test match cricket goes to high books to be fair. Right. Okay. Well, the way they do it is they have Shubman Gill as their one-day captain and Shreya as their test captain and Shreya now as their T-20 captain. But it hasn't gone that well for Shreysire as I in his first outing. You know, they won the T-20 World Cup under a different captain.

Shreysir has been very successful in the IPL, hasn't he? He's won the tournament, he's got to the final and now he's taken over the India side and bang, suddenly they've lost two in Ireland and they've lost four in England. And also as well with Punjab Kings, he lost six. his last seven as well. True. I completely get that. But yeah, on paper it looks pretty bad, very bad rather. Still not a win under his belt as India T-20-I captain.

But then a captain can only do as much as his team, right? He's only as good as his team. And trust, I mean, I personally don't think this team there needs to make a few changes in terms of combination, in terms of personal, positioning and all of that. And you've got to give him some time because, honestly, I mean, I would not put this loss onto him completely. Yes, he obviously is the leader of the side.

He will have to take some responsibility. But it's not on him completely. That's how I see it. So I think there are bigger questions to be answered. And like I said, I mean, India needs to go back to that drawing board and look at and try and follow the template which has made India successful over the last four, five years. And I'm not saying the same personnel.

For example, okay, you need wicket-taking bowl in the middle. Find a personal. find that. So you just figure out what you need and what has made you so successful and then try and look for those personnel you think would fit into those slots and not not reinvent the wheel if you don't need to which India doesn't need to. Here's the India captain Shreyes Ayah. Shreis, another comprehensive defeat. How do you assess that performance? I think they were sensational in terms of their execution. The way they batted shows a lot of character and determination that it possess. and we on the other hand

definitely couldn't execute according to our plans we dropped a couple of catches which cost us in the later half of the game I think there was a phase where they got around 20 runs and consecutive three overs there was I think that was the changing point in the game I mean it certainly looked like a good batting track

in terms of the way you sort of applied yourselves on the tour started off disappointingly in Ireland and sort of carried on in that fashion clean swept to 4-0. In terms of the state of this side at the moment, how do you see things? Is it a transitional phase? Is it just the fact that you guys have played a lot of cricket

from the World Cup to the IPL and then straight over here? What do you put it down to? I think it's the combination of almost everything. We've been playing continuous cricket, and that's what we are here for. Being professionals, we can't complain about that. But on the contrary, I would say that we need to work a lot on our fitness and especially in terms of a fielding.

If you see the movement of our team compared to their team, it was a massive difference. And fielding, I feel that it plays a key role, especially in saving runs and also building that sort of energy around the team. So definitely that is one aspect we need to work.

In terms of T20, Zimbabwe is the next challenge. What lessons can you take from here and apply there? Well, honestly, I'm not thinking much about that. Next thing for me is the only one. which I need to focus on and that's what I would be applying my mind. Best luck in the idea. Cheers. There was a lot of hype around Vibav Suri Avanshi coming into this series inevitably as well because he tore up the IPL, scored all those runs and he's

forced his way in. What are our conclusions from this series about Surreyavanchi and what he's achieved or his struggles actually to come to terms of conditions here? Well, look, I'm a great believer. Look, what goes up must come down at some point. So, yeah, look, whenever you see a young talent like that and the way he's burst on the scene, look, everybody's going to be excited. I get that. But I agree with the points Deep has just made there. I think maybe India got a little bit caught up in the whole excitement train of it all

and forgot what they were good at. And, you know, just a leap on a point deep has just made it. You know, the good thing is those players you talk about that set that template are still around for a period of time. So you're talking about Roe Hit, you know, talking about Virac Koli. You know, I think you've got to lean into those guys' experience. Not necessarily pick them in squads, but I think you've got a great template of what you are actually looking for. Because I think for me, they need players that complement. You know, if I'm looking at this India-India batting line up, it's all a little bit the same.

You need those players to come in, you know, work the ball around. still have the power, which Beirat and Roe hit did very, very successfully. But to back on to your point with Siravanchi, look, I think he's a phenomenal, he will be, and he is a phenomenal talent. I mean, to take to franchise cricket in the way he has, the way he strikes the ball,

he's got his own unique way. Will he have to develop? Of course, there's more analysis in the game now. People, you've seen it already. I think in the execute their plans very well. They went short. at the body into the rib cage and at this moment in time

he didn't really have the answers for it but look I'm sure India will look at how he's gone they will straight away they'll be trying to develop that area of his game I think Abashachsham is the same a little bit guilty of always coming forward you know you have to develop a back foot game

especially at this level because quick bowlers especially the pace of Archer Tong well England had the ammunition didn't they that's the thing with Archer and Tong they had the ammunition to cause some problems at the start. But then if the idea is to build this team for the next World Cup, which is in Australia,

so we're going to find bouncy pitches there as well. So you have to find those players who can play off the back foot, horizontal and all of that and play big fields, not 60, 65 yards. In Australia, there's nothing less than 70 unless they change it for the World Cup. That's a different thing.

But generally, there are big, big fields there. So you've got to find those players. You've got to find the right balance there as well. And just quickly on Weber, I think he's a generational talent. One or two games, I don't think will change anything. If anything at all, this might help him to develop because everything right now, right through his under 19 or whatever, he's only seen the highs and now I believe there's the first time he's actually seen a low.

So this will only make him a better player in the long term, whether technically, temperamentally. So I think it's not a bad thing. That's how I see it, that he's started. his career, international career the way he has. This will only make him better as far as I'm concerned. So no doubt he's a generational tanneled. He's going to go on to play for number of years.

And this start is not going to change anything. Yeah, you're going to have setbacks. It's tough. It's tough. It's hard. It's international sport. Well, I mean, just leap on deep point now. I mean, we've seen one of our greatest Josh Butler. I mean, he's had a massive dip, hasn't it? I mean, 15 games without a 50. Today he turns up and he gets 130 or 60.

You can see, you know, no one, everyone can have a dip in form. You know, that's the game of cricket. He's in the 30s now. There must be, it must happen to play. You must start to doubt yourself a bit, don't you think, is it gone? Why, how does it go? Is it going? And yet you see something like that today.

And, wow, fantastic. But you mentioned the age. I think age also kind of, because you're also matured, and someone like Josh Butler, this is not the first time he's gone through a dip. if you've played international credit for as long as he has, they've been ups and ups, and downs. You know how to come back. I think you also have that maturity

to understand how you're going to make that comeback, because you've done that in the past as well. As far as I think, I believe as a player, you know physically you're there, and mentally you still have that hunger in you. Because after so many years and achieving what he has, I think the other important thing is, are you still hungry enough?

Do you still want to wake up in the morning and do those things, and you still want to control diet and all of that and go to the gym are you still do you are you still hungry enough for that and I believe if Josh Butler still thinks he has it in him and he still wants to go and play I think with that kind of experience and skill set that he still has he's got a few years left in him how is um Harry Brooke perceived in India that deep because he because he pulled out the IPL didn't he had he had an IPL season we didn't do very well at all he looked a bit all at

sea actually he had that one big innings he played he opened that innings. And the rest he batted at four. And the rest he's kind of struggled, didn't he? And but you know against this Indian side he has I mean batted brilliantly in Bristol 79 not out and then 95 not out today. And he's made a few millions there as well so let's not forget that. Yeah I mean he can he can say a few things about IPL but he hasn't returned the money though but keep that aside. Yeah I mean listen you know IPL happens to be the a favorite whipping boy of a lot of people, but a lot of people have benefited for it

from the IPA. England cricket for that matter. You compare England whiteball cricket before players were allowed to play in the IPL and after that there's a huge difference. So yeah, I mean a lot of people they just need a reason to get stuck into IPL but then IPL has helped world cricket in a lot of ways. So I'm just going to leave that aside. Harry Brooke is a gun player. He is a super player but unfortunately for whatever reasons he decided not to that's his choice his call fair enough but that does not change the fact that he's a very very good player yeah I agree I mean look he plays some very very eye-catching shots you know you think back to a similar player of yesterday you can only think of

someone like Peterson he was able to have that fear factor I mean look there's times where I would like Harry Brooke to just engage a little bit more brain in the way that he goes about things because he has so many options, so many shots, and there's times where he has bowling attacks, you know, under his spell. And then for some unknown reason, we'll just give it away from, you know, just for no reason. And I'll say I'll just like that maturity to come through a little bit more, particularly if he's going to start to lead, as we talked about, you know, he's going to be potential captain. I think I'd like to see that come through in his game.

We move on to the one day series now, three-match one-day series. Now, this has been England's strong suit. This is England's strong suit, T20. One-day series coming up. And very different India team we're going to see, or certainly personnel in the squad. And we talked actually about Coley coming back and Bumra coming back and Gila coming back. Also, Kaya Rahul, it's easy to forget Kail Raul is coming back as well. What do you want to see from India?

And what do you expect to see from India that one day series? I guess obviously win the series because like I said, I mean the focus has been on this format because of the World Cup and I don't think India are playing too many ODIs before the World Cup. I think they're playing another nine or ten ODIs. So there's not a lot of game time before the World Cup. So every game is very very important. It's also in South Africa where it would be very similar kind of conditions there. and also with the likes of someone like Virad and Rohit

because they aren't playing the other formats, it's important that they are game fit and game ready. Well, are they going to be game ready? That's the thing, isn't it? Because, you know, okay, I know Indian crickets has played a lot of cricket, but how much, it's all in sync would they be? I mean, you're coming right in the middle of the English season

where all the England players are kind of like primed and ready. Listen, with Verat, obviously that's not even a question. and he's because he's still one of the fittest cricketers around. He does his stuff really, really well. He prepares himself very well. Rohit again, I mean, yeah, that's a big question. I mean, with Rohit and can he hit the ground running? That's the big challenge.

I mean, because even if you look at ever since he's retired from the other formats, in a three series game, let's say, he scores in the last game, but that's not good enough, right? you've got to start well you've got to you know be at your best from game one but you know but he's been around he's been practicing so boomer's back shubman gil's back so looking forward to that series to be fair yeah different sort of different vibe as well yeah different vibe definitely final thought from you on that mich yeah i expect england to have a tougher fight in that series simply because you've got some absolute legends greats coming back in that india team to complement the young players that

they've got some of these will be involved no doubt as well so i expect i expect a much tougher fight a bit more india feel will feel they have a little bit more artillery to hit england back with but say take nothing away england in good form too in good serious okay thanks to michael and to deep next up we can travel north to lords where the second day of the women's test between england and india has been taking place we can join alison mitchell the tms podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. He's widely recognised as one of the greatest footballers in history. He's won the prestigious Ballandour Award five times.

He's the all-time leading goalscorer in professional football. And according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he's the first active footballer in history to achieve billionaire status. Guess who we're talking about yet? That's right. Good Bad Billionaire is exploring the life and fortune of football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts. So a second day of this historic test match at Lords where India's women have taken full control.

And the 22-year-old pacer from Madhya Pradesh and UP Warriors at Krantigurd. Became the first woman to get on the test honours board at Lords, taking five for 37, as England were bundled out for 170 and 59.1 over, giving India a first innings lead of 115. They're then duly built on that lead through the arms. afternoon, an evening session, an opening stand of 88, broken eventually by Sophie Eccleston, Shafali firmer, offering a catch to Emma Lam, the substitute fielder for 33, but Mandana moving to 69 not out at the close alongside Yastika Bata on 39 and India 154 for one. So a commanding, commanding position going into day three of this match and a

whopping lead of 269 with two. Two days to go. World Cup winner Alex Hartley alongside me and Anashe Ghosh, India cricket writer and broadcaster. Alex, let's talk about England's batting to begin with. The stand of 84 for the fifth wicket between Amy Jones, who top scored with 52 and that's suburbunt 44. It was the only partnership of notes for England. How good was India's bowling? How did you evaluate England's batting performance? Yeah, I think England will be disappointed with their batting performance. I know that states the obvious, but You know, when you're, when India only at 285, you sort of think what great opening to get yourselves back into the game, potentially get a lead. Can you try and get up and around that score?

And, you know, when they just kept losing wickets in clusters. And I don't know if there's a little bit of a World Cup hangover there for England, maybe, with obviously the World Cup final only being Sunday. They only came together Wednesday, trained, Wednesday, Thursday, play Friday. It just felt like, I don't know, it felt like at stages England had to sit in so you can understand last night, Maya Boucher, Heather Knight, having to bat out till the end of the day. And then Nat Siverbrunt having to stick in because she kept losing wickets around her. Cranty Gowd bowled amazingly well. You know, that wobble ball from this end, she was getting the ball to go both ways. She was getting the ball to talk really nicely.

And what India did that England didn't do in the first things was just attack the stumps and keep things very, very. simple. I know it's two different bowling attacks. They've got more spinners and their seamers aren't as quick and they are just more dibley doublers. But they just attack the stumps and they use the facilities much better than England. Anisha, Cranticle got things underway pretty quickly this morning. It didn't take long for her to get what was the second wicket of the innings. The first of the day, my Abushio's wicket. Tell us about her and her rise because it's been quite a story and she will now have her name etched onto the honours board in that away dressing. Incredible. I mean, for a 22-year-old woman to come from a village called Gwara in Bundenkundkund, located in Madhya Pradesh, Central India, and to achieve this piece of history and edge her name onto the coveted lords on a spot. I think it's an incredible day for her family, including her mother, Neelam, her elder brother, Mayank,

who've all made a truckload of sacrifices to make sure that this young woman is a very much of a child. out there playing first for Madhya Pradesh. She's gone on to win domestic titles, went on to be picked up by UP Warriors, did really well under the watch of former England coach John Lewis, no less, and subsequently was picked for the tri-series in Sri Lanka held in the middle of last year

with an eye on the 2025 ODI World Cup. And come that World Cup, she literally shoved Renukhasing out of contention and was all of a sudden opening the bowling, Herman Preetko realized Amor Muzumdar, the head coach, realized that there is Asima who can move the ball both ways, as Alex Hartley touched upon. And she was one of the standout performers sharing the new ball with the likes of Renuka at times and several others.

But today, I think it's about her living up to her name, which in English translates to Revolution, Kranty. And she's delivered one here at Lodz. And what a day to achieve this feat on, because Lod's also scripting a world, on over 15,000 people and here is one person from a country of 1.4 plus billion people doing what no other woman on this planet has done before to get herself on the Lord's Honors Board, as you rightly mentioned and she'll be sharing that space with a host of men. Wow, what a story. Yeah, the first female name to feature on any Lord's Honors Board whether a female name in this test match will get onto the home dressing, the board in the home dressing room remains to be

seen but at the moment it's India very much in the driving seat you mentioned the crowd 15,243 in attendance on day two that is a world record for a single day attendance of any woman's test match anywhere in the world so it beats the record that was set in Australia during the last ashes series so that is certainly a huge philip and still tickets available for people if they want to come to jump on the lord's website and buy tickets to come on day three tomorrow Sunday there was a healthy indian contingent in today who are making their voices heard. Alex, it wasn't just about Kranty God. She was well backed up as well, wasn't she by the other bowlers? Yeah, she really was. You know, I think Snairana, Deepty Sharma, she involved two

others yet didn't go for a run, picked up a wicket. But yeah, she was really backed up and look, it was a brave decision going into this test match with only two seamers, but backing your spinners, backing, you know, Snairana, Deepty Sharma, Shray Charony, who is on test debut to do the bulk of the work for you. And then when you've got the spinners that are holding up an end and bowling really nicely, Crancy Gowd able to just then bowling spells and keep taking wickets. There's much more the batters could have done. Or let's go down to Melissa Story.

She's with Amy Jones. Amy, thank you for speaking to us. First of all, a tough day out there. How do you assess it? Yeah, it was tough. Obviously, we didn't get as many runs as we would have liked. And then I think India, very brilliantly all day really. Some, yeah, big partnerships.

Yeah, made it hard for us. 52 runs for yourself, your first half century hit at Lords. And it looked like you were playing fluently in your just natural aggressive game out there. So assessed as a good pitch for batting. Yeah, it was good. I guess just tried to be relaxed and we don't play a huge amount of test cricket. So I guess trying to stick to to my usual strengths. And yeah, I was happy with the partnership and then shame that couldn't make it a really big one.

But yeah, the pitch is good. There's a little bits happening, like the odd one, sort of from a keeping perspective, the odd one jumps up for us. So, yeah, there's still something to work with. Cranty Gowd, she bowled wonderful this morning for India. What made her so difficult to play on this surface? Yeah, I think it was just her length. I think she really held her length well, and then she got a little bit of nip as well. So, yeah, I guess just her consistency.

We've seen it in the white ball stuff as well. So, yeah, she did brilliantly today and, yeah, very well deserved. It took a little while to get that first wicket of Sheffali Verma. We saw Izzy Wong on the boundary clapping along, getting the crowd going. But what were the plans between the bowlers in order to get out there and get that wicket? Yeah, I think just, you know, bowling their best ball for as long as possible, finding the length on the wicket. And yeah, we had to wait a bit for it. Thankfully, we've got, yeah, lots of energy in Izie Wong.

And it was, yeah, she was great to see out there. Obviously having the best time, which is, yeah, quite contagious. So yeah, we got that wicket in the end. anybody to take a little while. India lead by 269, but there is a lot of time left in this test match. I appreciate we've grabbed you straight away from being in the dressing room. But what do you think the discussions are going to be about how do England stay in this game tomorrow? I guess it's wickets, isn't it? I think, you know, we've got to put pressure on and take as many wickets as we can as quickly as possible. And then when we get a chance to bat, it would be

big partnerships, sort of executing our skills for as long as possible. And I guess that's the challenge of test cricket and yeah still two days to go so we're yeah definitely up for it it's been a long day in the heat a bit of chance to rest this evening are you all going to be tuning in to the england game tonight against norway um yeah well hopefully if i can stay awake 10 pm feels a long way off at the moment but yeah if i'm awake i'll be watching thank you for speaking to us amy thanks Melissa and thank you to amy jones i'm sure they'll be hoping if they do settle down to watch it there doesn't end up being extra time penalties and a super super long night we will see.

A disappointing particular aspect of the England innings was how quickly, Alex, it did fall away once Natsiva Brunt was dismissed for 44. England lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs. The moment of the day then being Lauren Bell's wicket, the ninth to fall, that gave Gowell her fifer and she's able to hold the ball aloft. It was quite a fun catch in a way for people to view back on the BBC Sporter website and see the clips because it was a parry, wasn't it, from second slip? but then juggled up and Shafali Verme was there to stretch out one hand to grab the ball.

I mentioned Senei Rana, she's with Melissa Story now as well. Oh here I'm thank you for speaking to us. A really good day for India. You must be so pleased and you've got yourselves into a really strong position. Yes definitely we are so happy with the performance and the way our bowlers did, they did a great job today including me. So yes fantastic team effort. I'm very glad you mentioned your two wickets there. A big, one including Amy Jones who was going along nicely as well what were your bowling plans it was quite simple to give the revolutions in the ball and it quite

simple to hit that good length and we knew that if we bowl with patience we'll get that we get to and it was a crucial partnership between those two I'm glad that I took that Amy Jones's wicket and you were involved in the catch which got Kranty Goward her five wicket hall the first woman to to be on the honors board here at Lords. Just how well did she bowl today? She bowed brilliantly. It's someone's honor to get that name on that honor board at Lords.

I mean, it's a big, big thing for her. And I mean, exceptionally bold. I'm so happy for her. And finally, with that lead of 269 runs, I mean, at this stage, is the aim for India just to bat England out of this game? I think so, we'll bat. We will bat a little longer tomorrow and give a good score and we are ready up, ready for the challenge.

So thank you so much for speaking to us. Rest up well. Thank you so much. Thank you. I love that, Snei Rana. The bowlers did a good job, including me. I think more cricketers should heat praise on themselves, but she did bowl wonderfully, didn't she? Two for 41. Of course, the role in the catch to help Crantygaard get her five wickets. So yeah, wonderful performance. Yeah, one of the best moments of the day because my world, what a catch, one-handed. grab that was from Shavali Verma eventually. You know, she has had a quiet sort of math so far, but that was something that will go down as

absolutely historic in the history of not just women's cricket, but Indian cricket because so much has gone into making this occasion come to life, making this a reality on the part of the ECB, the BCCA and of course the Indian men's team have not quite given a good account of themselves on their tour of Ireland and England, and here it is a day that belongs to the

Indian women's cricket team, such a well-rounded effort all around with bat and ball alike. And every single member of the squad and team kind of putting their hand up, even Deepi Sharma for that batter. She did a terrific holding job by Feld with the ball in hand. And subsequently, Smriti Mandana stroking her second half century and nicely supported by Yastika Bhatya. And Smithy Mandana, by the way, must mention has become one of the rare Indian women to score half century in each inch. Sunday Agarwal, one of the icons and pioneers of women's cricket in India, right up the top of the list. And Shafali Verma herself was one of those people who have done that in the past and that Bristol test in 2021.

So all around, it's one of the most memorable days, I think, in women's cricket history in India. And Harman Prith Kor, who has been doing a few throwdowns in the far end of the field of play, would be mighty pleased because this has been a long, utterly protracted tour for India. This is their 49th day in England. They lost that bilateral T20I Series 2-1, got knocked out in the group stages in the T20 World Cup. And here they have really put themselves in a very, very strong position to not only draw, but go on to win this. And hey, it veers reminding that India have never lost a test match in England in women's tests.

Thanks for that reminder. That is true. They do have that record at stake and they're in a great position to protect it as well. Alex, what more could England have done with the board? because it took a long time for that opening partnership to be broken. Also took quite a long time for Eccleston to come back and really get into a spell. Yeah, I felt like Eccleston could have and should have been brought into the attack a little bit earlier. If not, Maddie Villiers, I think the Seamers bowled for a little bit too long.

And the inconsistency of the Seamas was, was quite frustrating to watch at times. Because we were talking about how little of the percentage of balls hitting the stumps there was in the first innings. England had to improve that leading into this innings and it went down. It went from 20% to 19%. And I know very different bowlers, but I still think hitting the top of off is always the plan A and trying to keep the stumps in play. So England just ultimately not attacking the stumps as much as they could have or should of. And yeah, ultimately, Sophie Eccleston being held back.

And obviously she has been quite expensive. I think she's got at four and over. She's brought it back a little bit now, just less than four and over. So yeah, I think everybody, everybody has been expensive. It just shows the lack of the percentage of the balls hitting the stumps because when India was bowling and hitting the stumps and felt like they were hitting the stumps time and time again, it was quite difficult to score. Some improvement from Lauren Bell though up front, she managed five maidens and probably what was the most economical of the bowler. So pleased to have seen an improvement from her first innings to second innings. Yeah, definitely. And 11 overs today for Lauren Bell and look back back to, you know,

consistently doing what she does well, swinging, swinging the ball away from the right hand now and occasionally getting that ball to nip. So yeah, it's good to see her back and hopefully she can come back firing tomorrow and be as consistent. But notably that India seemed to up the tempo after the drinks break, didn't they? And England again weren't able to to keep control in that moment? I think there was a real chat at the drinks break of not allowing or like not giving England too much and not letting them settle into their spells as much and Lauren Bell obviously settled into hers and bowled really nicely but then it was like change of bowlers Lauren Lauren Wong nearly just said is it what a bowler yeah

absolutely rips norther of a bowler Lauren Wong would be um she'd have everything wouldn't she um Izzy Wong came back on with it with the pit uh seam with a spin oh it's been a long day Sophie Eccleston and just managed to get a boundary every every over it felt like and and rotate the strike maddie villiers came on from the nursery ground then and kept getting cut to the deep and was wasn't quite as consistent as yesterday. So yeah, it did feel like post drinks, there was a real, okay, let's just accelerate for,

it only felt like it was like half an hour, but they did the damage then, don't they? Yeah, and you can only really recall one sort of chance where the edge of the bat was found. That was easy one, wasn't it? And then the ball just went wide of Nativa brunt with an outstretched hand at slip, and then it ran away down to the boundary for force.

A very few chances even created today. Yeah, I think that's been the impressive thing from India and their discipline out there in the middle is they know they've got time. So Mandana, who's first 124 balls for her 69, is able just to take time out the game. There's so much time left in this game. So she isn't in a rush to go anywhere or do anything that you can just wait for a ball with your name on. So it was pretty chanceless from India, wasn't it? Projecting forward then, Aneshire. India's plan and

their projection through tomorrow, how long at the moment, how long they will bat for is in their hands, you would imagine, given they've still got all these wickets hand only one down overnight. If it stays that way and a declaration is in their hands, how long would they want to bat for and how long to them try and bowl England out? Well, Smithy Mandana, in her last conversation with our colleague Melissa's story, had mentioned how she ruled the fact that India had lost out on the opportunity to put on 400 in the first innings. And make no mistake, they have the record for one of the highest totals in women's tests, 604 against South Africa. They scored on home soil in 20.

So here the target would be Ali to just bat England out of the contest and make sure that India are inching closer towards what would be a memorable victory. I wouldn't mind if India go on to battle T for that matter because you have the whole of the fourth day and England battles have looked a fair bit tentative, you know, against Sali Sadgharay, the other seaman. Krantigar of course, but also the spinners and perhaps that speaks to the disparity between red ball preparation. India have a red ball four-day women's tournament domestically, England, unfortunately, do not. So I'm sure the performance of England will be seen or perceived and then subsequently scrutinized to the dirt of that domestic competition at some point, and especially if they do go on to lose this one.

But yeah, in England should, India should in fact look to bat deep. Harmon Preet Corville also, as we saw her prepping for tomorrow's bout out there, expected at number four or five. well, Jimmy Ma will be in at four. And all of these batters themselves are very hungry because they want a slice of history here. They want to score that 50 or 100, a quick-fire one. Smriti Mandana should not miss out on a second opportunity. She had gotten herself out on 83.

Today she has done well to play a knock of high composure. And if you remember, her first innings, 50 came off a runner ball. Today she got to that landmark of 87 odd deliveries, if I'm not mistaken. So she understood the assignment and she's been guiding Yastika Bhatea really well. So she will look to hold anchor at one end and make sure that Yastika plays with freedom and both of them get to as many milestones as they can and get close to that 450 mark this time around perhaps. Phil along some stats for the day in particular I guess fourth innings. Well that's exactly yes. Stats for tomorrow really and stats for day four.

Yeah, fourth innings of women's test matches. The highest score. ever made in the fourth innings, 245 for nine. That was for England versus Australian 2020. The most number of runs made to win a women's test match. 109 to 8 for 3. Nobody's ever made more than 200 to win a women's test. That was for Australia versus England in Sydney in 2011. Here's one.

The most over has ever batted out in the fourth innings to draw a test, 137. Now, if India were to declare about tea time tomorrow, it would be that kind of number we'd be looking at. And I'll just repeat what Anisha said. But I'll spin it the other way. England have never beaten India at home. For them to make history, what turnaround that would be? Thank you for listening.

That is it for this episode. Make sure you're subscribed so that you never miss a thing. TMS is on air daily at 10.30 a.m. for the duration of this women's test at Lords. And you can watch daily highlights on BBC Eye Player. This song, when he gets to a bit, the whole place goes. So good, so good, so good.

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