.jpg)
JAMES Anderson’s reverse-swing masterclass left India tottering on 87 for four wickets in reply to Engand’s 330 on day two of the fourth Test at Nagpur. Anderson removed Virender Sehwag’s middle stump with the third ball of the innings then came back later in the afternoon to outfox Sachin Tendulkar (two) and Gautam Gambhir (37) as the tourists took control of the Test.
England had inched their way through to a competitive first-innings score thanks to a patient 73 from debutant Joe Root, and half-centuries from Matt Prior and Graeme Swann.
Question marks still hovered over their efforts: had they scored too slowly, or laboured on a slow, low track on which their opponents would be more comfortable batting?
That was soon answered, as India toiled through 41 overs to score 87 runs – slower still than England’s innings.
India are still 243 runs adrift of England’s total with much of their batting gone, and have plenty to do if they are to deny the tourists a famous series victory.
Prior and Root picked up where they had left off the previous day, extending their partnership from 60 runs to 103 as both men reached fifties. MS Dhoni shuffled his spin attack with regularity, but it was seamer Ishant Sharma who posed the biggest threat with his late swing.
It looked as if they could carry on all day until Prior inexplicably left a straight ball from Ravi Ashwin with 57 runs to his name. Tim Bresnan lasted just two balls as Sharma trapped him plumb in front, but Swann provided handy support for Root and steered England through to lunch.
Root’s judgement and patience belied his 21 years, as he eased through 228 balls for his 73, recording just four boundaries all innings long. It was a remarkable adjustment to the conditions, because the opening batsman has typically far more shots at his disposal when batting in home conditions.
He looked livid with himself to spoon a leading edge back to leg-spinner Piyush Chawla with a century just starting to loom on the horizon, but he did enough for the selectors to persist with him.
Swann, who had batted patiently with Root, stepped up his strike rate and posted his first half-century in three years for his country before falling to Chawla on 56. Chawla also accounted for Anderson (four) to tidy his figures and end with a flattering return of four for 69.
Sehwag’s feet barely moved as Anderson blasted through his defences, marking the seventh duck the opener has scored in 17 Tests against England, and batting was tough from every angle.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Gambhir survived disciplined spin bowling from Monty Panesar and Swann with minimal turn, and short, sharp bursts from the seamers to reach the tea break with just one wicket down.
It took a stroke of good fortune for England to break through – Pujara was given out caught to a brilliant snaffle from Ian Bell at short leg, but replays showed that Swann’s delivery had missed bat, glove and grazed elbow instead.
Having got a start, it was a bitter blow for the home side to see their best batsman in the series ousted for 26.
And with Anderson then brought back in the final hour, the damage was compounded.
Tendulkar’s barren run continued after Anderson swung a ball in through his defences to take out middle stump. It was the ninth time he had claimed Tendulkar’s wicket in Tests – no other bowler can boast as many dismissals.
And in Anderson’s next over he found Gambhir’s outside edge with a ball that went across the left-hander. Another start cut short on 37 means that Gambhir’s three-year stretch without a Test century continues.
Dhoni came in a place higher than usual at six, ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. It was a surprising move, but in partnership with Virat Kohli the pair made it to the close of play without further loss.
They will need to bat a lot longer today if they are to get back into the contest. (Eurosport)
England had inched their way through to a competitive first-innings score thanks to a patient 73 from debutant Joe Root, and half-centuries from Matt Prior and Graeme Swann.
Question marks still hovered over their efforts: had they scored too slowly, or laboured on a slow, low track on which their opponents would be more comfortable batting?
That was soon answered, as India toiled through 41 overs to score 87 runs – slower still than England’s innings.
India are still 243 runs adrift of England’s total with much of their batting gone, and have plenty to do if they are to deny the tourists a famous series victory.
Prior and Root picked up where they had left off the previous day, extending their partnership from 60 runs to 103 as both men reached fifties. MS Dhoni shuffled his spin attack with regularity, but it was seamer Ishant Sharma who posed the biggest threat with his late swing.
It looked as if they could carry on all day until Prior inexplicably left a straight ball from Ravi Ashwin with 57 runs to his name. Tim Bresnan lasted just two balls as Sharma trapped him plumb in front, but Swann provided handy support for Root and steered England through to lunch.
Root’s judgement and patience belied his 21 years, as he eased through 228 balls for his 73, recording just four boundaries all innings long. It was a remarkable adjustment to the conditions, because the opening batsman has typically far more shots at his disposal when batting in home conditions.
He looked livid with himself to spoon a leading edge back to leg-spinner Piyush Chawla with a century just starting to loom on the horizon, but he did enough for the selectors to persist with him.
Swann, who had batted patiently with Root, stepped up his strike rate and posted his first half-century in three years for his country before falling to Chawla on 56. Chawla also accounted for Anderson (four) to tidy his figures and end with a flattering return of four for 69.
Sehwag’s feet barely moved as Anderson blasted through his defences, marking the seventh duck the opener has scored in 17 Tests against England, and batting was tough from every angle.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Gambhir survived disciplined spin bowling from Monty Panesar and Swann with minimal turn, and short, sharp bursts from the seamers to reach the tea break with just one wicket down.
It took a stroke of good fortune for England to break through – Pujara was given out caught to a brilliant snaffle from Ian Bell at short leg, but replays showed that Swann’s delivery had missed bat, glove and grazed elbow instead.
Having got a start, it was a bitter blow for the home side to see their best batsman in the series ousted for 26.
And with Anderson then brought back in the final hour, the damage was compounded.
Tendulkar’s barren run continued after Anderson swung a ball in through his defences to take out middle stump. It was the ninth time he had claimed Tendulkar’s wicket in Tests – no other bowler can boast as many dismissals.
And in Anderson’s next over he found Gambhir’s outside edge with a ball that went across the left-hander. Another start cut short on 37 means that Gambhir’s three-year stretch without a Test century continues.
Dhoni came in a place higher than usual at six, ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. It was a surprising move, but in partnership with Virat Kohli the pair made it to the close of play without further loss.
They will need to bat a lot longer today if they are to get back into the contest. (Eurosport)
ENGLAND 1st innings (o/n 199 for 5)
A. Cook lbw B Sharma 1
N. Compton c Dhoni b Sharma 3
J. Trott b Jadeja 44
K. Pietersen c Ojha b Jadeja 73
I. Bell c Kohli b Chawla 1
J. Root c & b Chawla 73
M. Prior b Ashwin 57
T. Bresnan lbw b Sharma 0
G. Swann lbw b Chawla 56
J. Anderson c Pujara b Chawla 4
M. Panesar not out 1
Extras: (b-5, lb-12) 17
Total: (all out, off 97 overs) 330
Fall of wickets 1-3, 2-16, 3-102, 4-119, 5-139,6-242, 7-242, 8-302, 9-325.
Bowling: Sharma 28-9-49-3, Ojha 35-12 71-0, Jadeja 37-17-58-2, Chawla 21.5-1-69-4, Ashwin 24-3-66-1.
INDIA 1st innings
G. Gambhir c Prior b Anderson 37
V. Sehwag b Anderson 0
C. Pujara c Bell b Swann 26
S. Tendulkar b Anderson 2
V. Kohli not out 11
MS Dhoni 8
Extras: (b-1, lb-2) 3
Total: (for 4 wickets, off 41 overs) 87
Fall of wickets: 1-01, 2-59, 3-64, 4-71.
Bowling: Anderson 9-2-24-3, Bresnan 10-1-25-0, Panesar 14-4-24-0, Swann 7-3-9-1, Trott 1-0-2-0.
