Rarely has a Test match got so many historic tags as this one between world’s top two teams. Apart from being 2000th Test, this happens to be the 100th Test between the sides. But the real hype and tremendous excitement in Duncan Fletcher’s 100th Test as coach is because Tendulkar stands on 99 international hundreds, one short of a ton of tons.
The match started about half an hour late due to early morning drizzle. Crucially, M S Dhoni won the toss and opted to field under the gloom. Zaheer Khan returned to the side but Yuvraj Singh could not make it, in-form Suresh Raina being preferred over him. Gautam Gambhir returned to partner with Abhinav Mukund at the top, as Sehwag has been ruled out for first two Tests. For England, despite doubts over his form Stuart Broad kept his place over Tim Bresnan.
Openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook started tentatively against Indian new ball pair, Zaheer and Praveen Kumar, who both swung the ball both ways appreciably. In-form Cook was first to go when Zaheer caught him on the back foot. Jonathan Trott and Strauss took the score to 39 when Dravid dropped Trott in the slips, denying Harbhajan a wicket first ball. England went to lunch at 43 for one in 21 overs.
After Lunch, Zaheer had Strauss caught at backward square leg to make it 62 for 2, as he tried to pull a short ball but top edged it high in the air. Kevin Pietersen and Trott negotiated the bowling nicely putting together a vital partnership. Trott had another moment of luck when he nicked a Zaheer peach right between keeper and the slip. Despite giving chances on the off side, Trott was untroubled whenever he got opportunity to play on his favourite leg side. Praveen was luckless despite beating the bat on a number of occasions. His lack of pace also accounted for his lack of breakthroughs.
Zaheer scared Indians when he had to go off midway after sustaining a hamstring pull. Indians will watch his recovery closely and expectedly. Trott was now set in his customary role as he showed this by caressing Harbhajan beautifully through covers. He brought up his 50 with 7 fours, continuing amazing run of form at Lords. At 127/2, bad light stopped play and tea was taken prematurely as the heavens opened once again.
Stumps were called as recurrent rain cut short the day. The much-hyped first day of a landmark Test proved to be a disappointing anticlimax.
Scores Day 1: England 127/2 (Trott 58*, Pietersen 22*; Zaheer 2/18)
Published in sportpulse on 21 Jul 2011
ReplyDelete- http://sportpulse.net/content/rain-waters-down-hype-first-day-lords-1294
England has done well
ReplyDelete