Ind vs Eng Day 1 gets weird: Ben Stokes swats ladybirds as Joe Root nears hundred

Day one of the third England-India Test at Lord’s took an unusual turn when a swarm of ladybirds forced play to stop briefly. Joe Root anchored England with an unbeaten 99 as Ben Stokes battled a groin strain and swatted away insects between balls. India’s disciplined bowling pinned England back despite clear skies. With Root’s calm resistance and England’s injury concerns, the Test sits on a knife-edge after a day that mixed steady cricket with an unexpected insect invasion.