Story Mission 'Invincible India', [CC07], [IND vs. ENG 1st ODI Complete]

[Harrypotter_fan]

Breaking News: BCCI appoints new Coach

The BCCI has decided to appoint a low profile but efficient young Australian, James Fudge as the new Indian Cricket coach. Mr. Fudge completed his contract as a coach (South Australia) last month. He said, "I am pleased that the BCCI has chosen me for this job. I know it is a tough one but I am up for it." However he refused to speak on how he would handle the Indian players. When asked what his target is he responded, "My target is to create 'Invincible India'. I will strive to make the players play to their potential."

Mr. Fudge has signed a contract till World Cup 2011. It remains to be seen how the team will get going with the new coach and how will the coach meet his goals. The BCCI however has maintained its silence on the topic. Mr. Fudge will be thoroughly tested in India's tour of England which begins shortly.

The BCCI has also decided to give the coach total authority in team selection. And it looks that the new coach has been working with team India for a while as he also announced the the test squad for the series against England.

India Squad: V. Sehwag, G. Gambhir, R. Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, S. Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, VVS Laxman, S. Ganguly, MS Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, A. Kumble (c), Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, S. Sreesanth.

Mr. Fudge also stated that a rotation policy will be followed. And the big batting four too, will be rotated and only three will play in each match. The warm-up match against Leicestershire will feature some youngsters. He also tipped that five bowlers may play in test matches.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

good start mate...will keep an close eye on this one

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

India vs. Leicestershire (Day 1/3)
Sehwag stars as India declare on 300 (Scorecard)

Indian openers gave a solid start with an opening partnership of of 84 runs. Virender Sehwag was in ominous form as he tore the Leicestershire bowling apart as he scored 80 (103b, 13x4, 3x6). Everyone except Rohit Sharma who got a duck got a start but threw their wickets away. Particularly Rahul Dravid who was quite at the start blasted his way to 51 of 63 balls. Kumble showed some resistance with the tail and India reached 300. Four overs were lost due to rain.

Leicestershire were left to play out 3 overs at the end of the day. Zaheer Khan got the wicket of Robinson to give India the edge at stumps on Day 1.

Interestingly, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman were rested. This weakened the Indian batting line up considerably.

 

[SciD]

Another young coach for Indian team. Good luck with your mission.

 

[jarl]

Nice start mate, love the name Mr Fudge

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

India vs. Leicestershire (Day 2/3)
Zaheer and Sehwag put India in a winning position (scorecard)

Zaheer Khan took 4 for 61 as India bowled Leicestershire for 192 as India took a 108 run 1st inning lead. Only Ackerman and Rosenberg showed some resistance scoring 53 and 45 runs respectively. Leicestershire lost wickets at regular intervals leading to this small total. They lost most of their wickets playing forceful shots and getting caught on the off side. They however maintained a healthy run-rate while scoring these runs.

Virender Sehwag again scored heavily continuing his good form from the 1st inning. He scored an unbeaten 148 off 222 balls as stumps were drawn on day 2. India again got a solid opening stand of 89 runs before Gambhir threw his wicket trying to pull Henderson out of the ground. Rohit Sharma promoted to the 3rd spot looked in good touch as he scored a solid 75 not out. India finished day 2 on 273/1 stretching their overall lead upto 381.

India is in a great position to win the match as they have a whole day to get Leicestershire's 10 wickets. On the other hand Leicestershire will require more than 381 runs which looks impossible.

Day 2 Highlights:

* Ackerman 50: 50 balls, 70 minutes (5 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* Lunch: Leicestershire 179/7 after 45.0 overs (Walker 0, Rosenberg 45)

* India 2nd innings

* 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 57 balls (Sehwag 24, Gambhir 28, Extras 1)

* Sehwag 50: 71 balls, 69 minutes (12 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* Tea: India 126/1 after 31.0 overs (Sehwag 65, Sharma 15)

* 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 96 balls (Sehwag 24, Sharma 26, Extras 1)

* 2nd Wicket: 100 runs in 159 balls (Sehwag 57, Sharma 40, Extras 3)

* Sehwag 100: 144 balls, 137 minutes (20 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* Sharma 50: 112 balls, 109 minutes (3 x 4's, 1 x 6's)

* 2nd Wicket: 150 runs in 253 balls (Sehwag 94, Sharma 53, Extras 4)

* End of Day: India 273/1 after 72.0 overs (Sehwag 148, Sharma 75)

 

[SciD]

Breezy knock by Sehwag. And sending Rohit at number 3 is good idea since Dravid will retire soon.

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

Breezy knock by Sehwag. And sending Rohit at number 3 is good idea since Dravid will retire soon.

The aim in promoting Rohit up the order was to give him an opportunity to find some sort of form before the 1st Test. And everyone else was in good nick. Thankfully Rohit found some form while scoring 75*.

England Announces Test Squad​

Today England announced its squad for the Test Series against India. James Foster has been named wicket keeper. Also, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones make a comeback. Interestingly Monty Penesar was not picked, he is said to have a finger injury to his index finger of his bowling hand.

England Squad: M. Trescothick, M. Vaughan, I. Bell, Alastair Cook, K. Pietersen, A. Flintoff, James Foster, A. Giles, M. Hoggard, J. Anderson, S. Harmison, Simon Jones.

 

[Left_Hander]

India have done well to get themselves into this position. Interesting to see that England have gone with Giles instead of Panesar, shame he has that injury. I guess England just hasn't learned yet

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

India vs. Leicestershire (Day 3/3)
Pathan's 5 for gets India a victory (scorecard)

​

Irfan Pathan took 5 wickets for 70 runs as India won the 3 day warm up match against Leicestershire by 156 runs. Leicestershire's 2nd wicket stand between Robinson and Ackerman threatened to take the game away from India. Robinson was the star of the day for Leicestershire as he scored 108 runs from just 136 balls. Leicestershire's batting collapsed when Anil Kumble got Ackerman's wicket and Pathan ran through the middle and lower order before Zaheer Khan cleaned up the tail. Leicestershire managed to score only 263 runs.

Earlier in the day India declared after Rohit Sharma got his century stretching their overall lead up to 419.

India's only concern was that Ishant Sharma and RP Singh were not in any sort of form. So the bulk of the bowling was done by Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble. Ishant and RP only bowled 13 overs between them and didn't pick up a single wicket. Indian captain for this match MS Dhoni hinted that the 1st test against England may see the inclusion of Harbhajan Singh. Even though MS Dhoni was the skipper for this match, Anil Kumble will captain the side in all the Tests against England.

Man of the Match: Virender Sehwag.

Highlights:

* Sehwag 150: 225 balls, 220 minutes (26 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* 2nd Wicket: 200 runs in 336 balls (Sehwag 107, Sharma 87, Extras 6)

* Sharma 100: 184 balls, 176 minutes (9 x 4's, 1 x 6's)

* New Ball Taken: India 311/1 after 80.0 overs (Sehwag 154, Sharma 105)

* Leicestershire 2nd innings

* 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 74 balls (Ackerman 25, Robinson 25, Extras 0)

* Robinson 50: 57 balls, 78 minutes (10 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* 2nd Wicket: 100 runs in 136 balls (Ackerman 47, Robinson 52, Extras 1)

* Ackerman 50: 77 balls, 78 minutes (9 x 4's, 1 x 6's)

* Lunch: Leicestershire 151/1 after 31.0 overs (Ackerman 59, Robinson 77)

* Robinson 100: 127 balls, 152 minutes (22 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* Tea: Leicestershire 205/4 after 48.0 overs (Snape 2, Robinson 108)

 

[Hellgood]

Good so far short and sharp

 

[freddiw]

good start great story KUTGW

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

India vs. England 1st Test (Day 1/5)
Both teams share honours on day 1

Marcus Trescothick scored a brilliant 125 off just 135 balls as England's inning ended on 338 on day 1. Kevin Pietersen also contributed heavily as he scored an unbeaten 102. England could have scored much more had their tail not got out cheaply. Apart from them Cook, Vaughan and Foster 31, 30 and 27 runs respectively.

Sreesanth took the key wickets of Trescothick, Cook and Flintoff providing breakthroughs at the right time. Harbhajan Singh saw that the tail couldn't help much taking 4 quick wickets at the end.

India were left to play out just 2 overs before stumps on Day 1. Sehwag continued his aggressive style scoring 9* off 7 balls which included a massive six. His other partner was MS Dhoni. Dhoni who opened the inning is yet to open his account. Sachin Tendulkar has been rested, and Gambhir lost his place in the team after throwing his wicket on both occasions in the warm up match.

Highlights:

* England 1st innings

* 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 70 balls (Trescothick 20, Cook 30, Extras 2)

* Trescothick 50: 77 balls, 117 minutes (9 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* Lunch: England 113/2 after 26.0 overs (Trescothick 57, Vaughan 20)

* 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 54 balls (Trescothick 28, Vaughan 21, Extras 1)

* Trescothick 100: 115 balls, 181 minutes (20 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 50 balls (Trescothick 25, Pietersen 25, Extras 1)

* Tea: England 236/5 after 54.0 overs (Foster 0, Pietersen 42)

* Pietersen 50: 68 balls, 100 minutes (9 x 4's, 2 x 6's)

* 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 94 balls (Foster 2, Pietersen 46, Extras 5)

* 6th Wicket: 100 runs in 141 balls (Foster 27, Pietersen 67, Extras 6)

* Pietersen 100: 135 balls, 204 minutes (18 x 4's, 3 x 6's)

* India 1st innings

* End of Day: India 11/0 after 2.0 overs (Sehwag 9, Dhoni 0)

 

[SciD]

Good for India to get home team out on first day. Now make 500 and win.

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

India vs. England 1st Test (Day 2/5)
Hoggard and Laxman keep hopes alive (scorecard)

Matthew Hoggard wrecked havoc picking up 4 wickets as India were reduced to 308/8 at stumps on day 2. Hoggard picked up the wicket of in form Dravid and important wickets of Ganguly and Pathan. England did not let partnerships develop and tied down the batsmen. Sehwag who was is ominous form got out trying to blast out as things started to become quiet. Flintoff chipped in with 2 wickets while Anderson and Giles got a wicket each.

VVS Laxman defied the charged up English attack as he scored a valiant 99 off 159 balls with 12 hits to the fence and two massive sixes. Rohit Sharma showed some resistance as he scored 49 runs off 61 balls. Lower down the order, Irfan Pathan made a terrific 65 in which he showed determination and patience. India now trail by 30 runs, with 2 wickets in hand. The batsmen at the crease are Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

Highlights:

* 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 58 balls (Laxman 16, Sharma 35, Extras 1)

* Lunch: India 119/4 after 28.0 overs (Laxman 16, Ganguly 0)

* Laxman 50: 69 balls, 113 minutes (6 x 4's, 2 x 6's)

* 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 87 balls (Laxman 26, Pathan 23, Extras 1)

* Tea: India 224/5 after 55.0 overs (Laxman 81, Pathan 23)

* Pathan 50: 86 balls, 118 minutes (6 x 4's, 0 x 6's)

* 6th Wicket: 100 runs in 167 balls (Laxman 43, Pathan 55, Extras 2)

* New Ball Taken: India 291/7 after 80.0 overs (Kumble 4, Khan 1)

* End of Day: India 308/8 after 87.0 overs (Kumble 15, Singh 2)