‘Red for Ruth’ Day Marks Day Two of Lord’s Test Between England and India. The second day of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s has taken on a vibrant hue, as the iconic ground turns red in support of the seventh annual ‘Red for Ruth’ Day. The initiative, which raises awareness and funds for the Ruth Strauss Foundation, sees players, fans, and officials donning red in memory of Sir Andrew Strauss’s late wife, Ruth.
The match began on July 10 with England captain Ben Stokes winning the toss and opting to bat first. Both sides made one change to their playing XIs — England welcomed back Jofra Archer for his first Test since 2021, while India brought in Jasprit Bumrah in place of Prasidh Krishna.
England’s openers, Zak Crawley (18) and Ben Duckett (23), were both dismissed in a single over by Nitish Kumar Reddy, giving India an early breakthrough. However, Ollie Pope (44) and Joe Root steadied the innings, sharing a crucial 100-plus run stand for the third wicket. Pope eventually fell to Ravindra Jadeja, courtesy of a sharp catch behind the stumps by Dhruv Jurel, who replaced the injured Rishabh Pant.
Harry Brook added just 11 before being dismissed, but Root remained solid at the other end. At stumps on Day 1, England were 251/4, with Joe Root unbeaten on 99 and Ben Stokes on 34.
Day 2 at Lord’s Dedicated to Ruth Strauss, Honoring Her Legacy
The second day of the Lord’s Test was a heartfelt tribute to Ruth Strauss, the late wife of former England captain Andrew Strauss, who tragically lost her life to cancer. The iconic Lord’s ground was awash in red as a symbol of remembrance, with players from both India and England forming a heart-shaped pattern on the field.
To mark the beginning of the day, children rang the ceremonial bell, joined by Andrew Strauss, match officials, and young supporters at the center of the field. The crowd responded with a wave of applause, paying their respects in a powerful moment of unity.
This day, now a cornerstone of England’s home summer cricket calendar, celebrates Ruth Strauss’s life and legacy, while also raising awareness for the Ruth Strauss Foundation and its work supporting families facing terminal illness.
It's #RedForRuth Day at the @HomeOfCricket! 🔴
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 11, 2025
Please donate if you can to this amazing cause: https://t.co/kcvssvakyP#RedForRuth2025 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/FUpAvm0Bjy
Ruth Strauss passed away in December 2018 at the age of 46 after battling a rare form of non-smoking lung cancer. In her memory, the Ruth Strauss Foundation was established to fund research into these less common types of lung cancer and to support families coping with the emotional impact of losing a parent.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters over the past six years, the Foundation has already helped more than 3,500 family members through their grief and trained over 1,000 cancer care professionals in bereavement support.
“The first year after Ruth’s passing was an incredibly emotional time for me and our boys,” said Andrew Strauss. “Now, seeing how far the Foundation has come fills me with pride. It warms my heart to know we’re offering real support to people during one of the hardest times in their lives. Cricket has always been my home, and I hope it always will be.
Bringing cricket and the cause together makes for a powerful day, but the real heart of it is the impact we’re making. What moves me even more is hearing about schools and clubs organizing their own Red For Ruth events. Many of them never knew me or Ruth, yet they feel deeply connected to what we stand for,” he added, ahead of this year’s commemorative day.