Sunday, 28 June 2026 · LondonIndependent British Journalism
Cricket

England's stunning collapse on the final day leaves a series in tatters

Seven wickets in a session as the visitors snatch an unlikely series win at Lord's.

By George Atkinson · 27 June 2026 · Sports
England's stunning collapse on the final day leaves a series in tatters

England's morning began with quiet optimism and ended in disbelief, as the home side collapsed from a position of apparent safety to lose the series in front of a sold-out Lord's crowd.

Seven wickets fell in a single session, with the visiting attack producing one of the most disciplined bowling displays seen at the ground in living memory.

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Captain Ben Stokes admitted afterwards that the loss was 'one of the hardest to take' of his career, and accepted full responsibility for shot selection in the final hour.

Selectors are now expected to come under significant pressure to make changes ahead of the autumn tour, with three batting positions widely seen as up for grabs.

The post-mortem starts immediately — and is unlikely to be brief.

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