England’s men’s and women’s cricket teams experienced contrasting fortunes in separate contests against India this weekend, with the women’s team struggling in a Test match at Lord’s while the men's side secured a dominant T20 victory.

In the first women’s Test at Lord’s, England found themselves in a difficult position after day two, trailing India by 269 runs. India’s Kranti Gaud made history by becoming the first woman to be inscribed on the Lord’s Test honours board, taking five wickets for 37 runs. Gaud’s incisive bowling dismantled England’s top order, reducing the hosts to 47-4 early in their innings. Although Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones combined to add 84 runs for the fifth wicket and briefly steadied England’s innings, the team collapsed late, losing their final five wickets for 28 runs to be all out for 170. This left India with a first-innings lead of 115 runs.

India capitalized on this advantage, ending day two on 154-1 in their second innings, with Smriti Mandhana unbeaten on 69. England’s task now is formidable, requiring what would be a record fourth-innings chase to avoid defeat.

England’s innings saw early wickets fall again on the second day, with Gaud quickly dismissing Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, and Alice Capsey. Sciver-Brunt scored 44 and Jones made 52, but after their dismissals, England’s lower order was unable to resist. The innings concluded with Lauren Filer trapped lbw by Deepti Sharma for a duck. India’s openers, Pooja Verma and Mandhana, responded strongly, forging an 88-run partnership before Verma was caught by a substitute fielder. Despite this breakthrough, India dominated the proceedings, frustrating England in warm summer conditions.

Meanwhile, the England men’s team produced a commanding performance in the Vitality T20 series at the Utilita Bowl to clinch a 56-run win over India and claim the top spot in the T20 International rankings. Jos Buttler played a pivotal role, scoring his first international century in three years, blasting 131 runs off 51 balls, including eight sixes. His innings ended after a remarkable partnership of 233 runs with captain Harry Brook, who remained unbeaten on 95. England posted 257 for three, registering their second-highest T20 total.

India struggled to keep pace despite a half-century from Ishan Kishan (56) and notable contributions from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma. Sam Curran was the pick of England’s bowlers with three wickets for 36 runs. India’s chase faltered, finishing at 201 for eight.

Buttler acknowledged his return to form after a lean period, crediting his recent IPL performances and renewed confidence in the England setup. He played aggressively from the outset, combining powerful drives and inventive shots, including a reverse scoop, to keep the scoreboard moving. Brook complemented Buttler’s fluency, reaching his half-century off 19 balls.

In the field, Buttler also contributed by taking three catches, helping to stifle the Indian innings. The series victory sealed a 4-0 whitewash for England, demonstrating a stark contrast to the women’s team’s ongoing challenge at Lord’s.