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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Andy Bull at Edgbaston

India bat England into submission as Stokes’ threadbare attack drags its feet

Harry Brook on his haunches in the field.
Harry Brook on his haunches after another ball slips by England. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

The sun shone, the wind blew, the grass grew, and India batted. And batted. And batted. They batted on so long that summer’s roses had budded, bloomed and withered again before they were finished. Excited little kids who had taken seats in the family stand first thing in the morning left it as jaded pensioners in the evening.

It was even rumoured that a man who had come up from London to catch the end of the innings was able to use the newly finished HS2. Among all their other achievements India’s batsmen even silenced the Barmy Army, so that by the very end the volume in the Hollies Stand was reduced to the sort of somnolent hum usually heard at Lord’s.

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