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With the third Test between India and England set to begin at Lord’s on July 10, the spotlight has now shifted to the pitch—and it’s making headlines even before a ball is bowled. Following their massive 336-run loss to India at Edgbaston, England appears to have taken a defensive route by preparing a green-top wicket at Lord’s, sparking debate among fans and cricket experts alike.

Photos of the pitch show a thick layer of grass, indicating a surface that is likely to assist fast bowlers from the very beginning. While there are still two days left before the toss, the early look at the pitch suggests England may leave significant grass to make full use of home conditions.

Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, along with his support staff, visited Lord’s on Tuesday to inspect the pitch. The expressions and reactions hinted that India was well aware of England’s tactic—and unbothered by it.

Typically, Lord’s offers a batting-friendly wicket, but this time, the green grass tells a different story. The decision to leave so much grass on the surface seems to be a clear attempt to counter the Indian batting lineup that scored more than 1000 runs in the Edgbaston Test. Shubman Gill’s historic double century and century in the same match exposed England’s bowling attack, prompting what many are calling a “fear-based pitch strategy.”

However, this move could backfire. India’s pace attack—featuring Siraj, Akash Deep, and the returning Jasprit Bumrah—is in peak form. Siraj and Akash Deep dismantled the English batting line-up in the last Test, and on a green pitch, they are expected to be even more dangerous. If anything, the surface might end up playing right into India’s strengths rather than England’s.

Though England may have hoped for a pitch that troubles Indian batters, their own batting order—already under pressure—could suffer the same fate. With the ball expected to seam and swing throughout, both teams are likely to face a tough time at the crease.

In preparing a pitch that caters to fast bowling, England might be inviting even more trouble from an Indian pace unit that is arguably one of the best in world cricket today. The pitch at Lord’s may have been designed to intimidate—but it may just end up empowering the visitors.