Story (England in India, 2006) 1st Test, Thrilling end to final day!

[timmy94]

England surprised everyone with their amazing performance at home to win back the Ashes from Australia in 2005. Now, they start their journey towards retain the Ashes down-under, in 18 months time. However, their journey didn't start well in Pakistan, a 2-0 test series defeat, where they did not look a smidge of the team of just a few months ago.

Now, they're in India, for a long tour which should be a cracker. Join us for day by day highlights of the test series, commencing very soon!

Take care.

sorry for the short intro.

 

[hedger_14]

What happened to the Formula 1 story, mate. It was awesome. And anyway, good luck with this.

 

[timmy94]

my computer completely died on me. now I have a new one, although I'm trying desperately to get it working on Windows 7. Once I do, I'll start another.

 

[Gorro_124]

Good luck with this one mate!

 

[timmy94]

Two late wickets give India the edge after Day 1

It's always a great spectacle when England and India meet. Last time out over here, England were beaten 1-0 in the 3 match series, with Tendulkar being the star of the matches. 5 years later, the teams are here again, in Nagpur, for what should be, a thrilling tour. England won the toss, and on a perfect pitch, decided to bat first.

England included 2 debutants in their team, Alastair Cook, a left hand opening batsmen, and Monty Panesar, a left arm spinner, who's looking to replace the ageing Ashley Giles. Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan were the two opening bowlers for India, who went with only 2 pacemen and 2 spinners, with Tendulkar and Sehwag the likely back up bowlers. Cook got England off the mark in the second over, his first runs in test cricket. Next ball he edged one past second slip for another four. His first stay in tests did not last long however, as he defended a yorker from Khan, which bouced off his boot, and into the hands for short leg, he was gone for 10. 3 balls later and Ian Bell was also gone, Khan finding some good bounce and another catch was taken at short leg. In the last ball of that over, Pietersen got off the mark with a boundary.

It went from bad to worse for England as their other opening batsmen Strauss then edged one to 3rd slip for 12, England struggling at 28-3. Collingwood steadied the ship with Pietersen, although not with a scare as Collingwood edged one off Pathan for four. In Tendulkar's first over, Pietersen cut the ball to square and got a run, however, his mind was set on two, and when Collingwood rejected the call, Pietersen was already half way down the track. He tried desperately to get back in, but was run out for 31. Flintoff defended out 8 balls before England ended the morning 96-4.

Not long after the lunch break, Collingwood went to his 50 off just 65 balls. After 14 dot balls, Flintoff was finally off the mark, and in the best way, with a slog sweep 6 off Harbajhan Singh. Both players settled, but a chance was never too far away as Collingwood looped one up off Singh, and Flintoff edging past the slips off Pathan. A partnership of 70 was made, until a wide one from Khan was miss timed by Collingwood, and he was caught in the covers for an entertaining 67. This was just a few overs before tea, and England paused on 168-5, with Flintoff on 40.

Freddie continued where he left off and went to a valuable 50. Jones provided good support, and another partnership started. However, more chances were missed as another two edges went astray. Jones was then cleaned up by Kumble, who hardly bowled throughout the day, and a few overs into his spell, he got rid of the England wicket-keeper with a quick full delivery. Flintoff then powered in to the 90's with a huge six off Pathan, which went straight back over his head. India took the new ball, and England looked to just see their way through to the end. But then, in the last over of the day, Pathan got one back on Flintoff, and the new ball bounce stuck again as Freddie defended a short ball which hit his glove, and short leg took his third catch off the day. It was a disappointing end to the day for England, 249-7, with Flintoff gone for a gutsy 97, but they have two tail end batsmen on strike.

It was a great end to the day for India, taking two late wickets, and also breaking partnerships at important times. They will be looking to restrict England to below 300, but it already seems as if they have the upper hand, as it is a wonderful pitch. Join us for more action tomorrow!

Flintoff rescued England, but fell 3 short of a century

Day 1 highlights

 

[rosewt02]

Really well writen and all the best for England despite the late wickets and a mediocre day! Good luck

 

[Roofrom50]

Gee Flintoff played well. A wonderful 97 and was unlucky not to crack the ton. India are lucky they picked up those last 2 wickets before the close of play. I guess it was a good idea taking the new ball towards the end.


Good stuff mate, liking the update, keep up the good work

 

[timmy94]

England rocked by food poisening

On the morning of the second day, the England players woke up to find that 5 of their team were seriously ill with what seemed to be food poisening. The team have been relocated to another hotel in Mumbai, and 4 of the players have been rushed to hospital, with no chance of playing in the remaining days.

Anxious talks between all parties involved in this test series began. They concluded that England be allowed to replace those players that were ill. This was certainly not what the touring party wanted, and there already disappointing start to the test match, only got worse.

The team is now as follows:

Trescothick
Vaughan
Flintoff
Bell
Solanki
Jones
Gough
Harmison
Panesar
Hoggard
Anderson

England used this opportunity to include an extra bowler, taking their tally to 6, with the ageing Darren Gough, who took 13 wickets in the tour match before this test, and is still as rapid as ever. Panesar is one of the players who has the poisening, but at the moment, is well enough to play. Shaun Udal is on stand by to be allowed to replace him if he cannot continue. Join us later for an update on the days play.

Note: this is all because the Line Up bug struck, as I forgot to install Sam's.exe. It wont happen again

 

[Roofrom50]

Food poisoning ey. I've never heard that one before, but that's unlucky for the England squad.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Ha ha, nice one.

 

[Dutchmen]

Food poisoning ey. I've never heard that one before

Ha-ha! didn't even seen that sense in any story.

 

[timmy94]

Sachin and India show their intent

Not in the way they wanted, England started Day 2 on 249-7. This bout of bad luck that swept through the camp would clearly have a serious blow on their performance. Nevertheless, Hoggard and Harmison came to the crease, in the hope of trying to boost England past 300. India started with Kumble and Tendulkar, two wrist spinners. They didn't generate much spin, considering the ball was still pretty new, but there were plenty of problems for the two batsmen. Multiple edges went past the slips, and pretty soon, Harmison was in the 20's thanks to them, however, no where near settled. Harmys stay was over when Zaheer Khan came steaming in, in his first over of the day. He took his forth wicket thanks to another defensive shot lobbed to short leg. Harmison was gone for an ugly 27.

Two more runs were added when Hoggard was dissmissed by Tendulkar LBW for 2. In came the ill Panesar, and his first ball was short, and edged over the slips for 4 runs. Anderson was looking good, hitting two boundaries in 2 balls off Kumble, before a few overs later, Panesar was out sweeping for 8. He did not look good at all. England were dissmissed for 294, a mediocre score here in India.

The news was that Panesar had been told not to carry on playing, so Shaun Udal took his place.India had 3 overs before lunch to survive. Gough's first over didnt go to plan. Two no-balls were the only runs taken off it. Harmison found some late swing in the 2nd over, and Jaffer was struck on the pad, but was given not out by the Umpire. India were 5-0.

After lunch Sehwag was off the mark with a brilliant cover drive. He continued to look to score off the next ball, and edged the ball just over the diving gully. Bell then took a great catch to remove Jaffer for 2, Harmison taking the wicket. It got worse for India s Sehwag tried a quick single, only to be ran out for 16, India 21-2. Dravid and Tendulkar were in for India, in the hope of steadying the ship. And thats what they did. Tendulkar played freely, and Dravid acted as support. Sachin did edge one, but was unchallenged nonetheless. He hit two fours in a row off Udal's first over, to put him under pressure. He then smacked Flintoff over cow corner for 6 to bring up his 50, off just 68 balls. The 100 partnership was brought up just before tea, with India 126-2.

More of the same followed after tea, with Tendulkar still scoring quickly, and hitting another 6, this time off Udal. It took a moment of brilliance from England to dissmiss him. Flintoff was back in the attack, and bowling extremely well. A full outswinging delivery was too good for Tendulkar. Vaughan then took and amazing catch at second slip to complete the work. It was a very entertaining innings from Sachin, and he was gone for 81. Gough was partnering Flintoff, and was also bowling well, and fast. He was beginning to make Dravid play at the ball too often, and he finally lobbed one to the covers and was gone very cheaply to a hard worked 45. The England pacemen really had their tales up, as Laxman and Kaif looked to see the day through. The runs really dried up for India. The plan worked though, and despite Udal nearly taking a wicket in the final over of the day, it was a fine day for India, as they went in at 194-4, 100 behind England. A fine 4-78 from Khan and a quick fire 81 from Tendulkar have put India in a great position.

Tendulkar showed us why he's one of the best

Day 2 highlights

 

[Roofrom50]

Yeah India are in a good position thanks to Tendledulkar. But the English bowlers have their tails up. It's going to be a interesting match here, it could go either way.

 

[timmy94]

Lower order boosts India

The England bowlers could start off Day 3 with good confidence knowing they got some late wickets yesterday. And that confidence was carried through, when just a few overs in to the day, Gough removed Kaif who edged to gully. MS Dhoni was next in and got off the mark with a boundary straight away. In the next over, another wicket was gone however, with Harmison taking the wicket of Laxman for 20, India 220-6. It got worse as Englands fine morning continued, Pathan tried a hook shot and nicked behind, India were collapsing at 231-7. Dhoni then took control of the bowlers, and came at them positively. He played shots all round the park. Despite two edges, he raced to 50 off just 46 balls. In that over, he hit 4 fours, and tried to smash the last ball of the over. However, he only succeeded in getting a thick edge, and he departed for 64

After edging early in his innings, Kumble settled down, and India reached lunch at 313-8, with Kumble on 24*. After lunch he was a little more aggressive, and the England bowlers were no match for him as he became the 4th half century scorer of the innings. Hoggard then removed Singh for 13, and Kumble finally played one shot too many off Vaughan's first over, and he was gone for a brilliant 72, India all out for 383, with a lead of 87 runs.

England had their first runs in the second over, a thick outside edge from Vaughan which went for 4. It was all easy for England, until in the 10th over when Harbajhan Singh bowled Vaughan with a fabulous spinning delivery, he was gone for 13. It got worse as Solanki miss timed a leg glance and chipped the ball straight to square leg, England were 36-2. Bell came out to partner Trescothick, and they were untroubled throughout the rest of the day. The two really went after the quick bowlers, Marcus reached his half century, and at the end of the day, England were 131-2, with a lead of 46 (even though it says 44 in the video).

England just need to bat sensibly through tomorrow to put themselves into a commanding position. If they can lift the run rate too, they might be able to put India in tomorrow evening. Join us for Day 4 and 5 soon!

 

[Roofrom50]

England certainly look in a commanding position at the moment. Like you said, they need to bat sensibly. They have a lead of 90 odd, so that shouldn't be too hard to chase down. England look in the better position here, and i expect them to go on and win.

Good presentation mate, loving the work