India's batting in the Test match was so prolonged that attendees experienced a dramatic shift in perspective, with even the children losing excitement by day’s end. England's bowlers visibly struggled and aged during the innings, displaying fatigue and resignation as the match progressed. India's innings was the longest against England in their home country since Ben Stokes's captaincy began. The game's slow pace contrasted with previous matches, reminding observers of a different era of Test cricket.
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.
India's was the longest team innings anyone has played against England in this country since Stokes took over as captain.
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