The 2000th test match in the history of cricket. 100th test match between the two pioneers of the cricketing world : India -the newly crowned world champions and the number one test team in the world V/S England- A team with experience and youth and on the verge of challenging to become the top rated team in the world. To add more spice there were records which were being stacked up. It was as if God has chosen this perfect moment for the players to reach their landmarks. Sachin's 100th international 100, the most sought after and most discussed, Rahul Dravid's quest to become the 2nd highest run scorer in test cricket and many more. What better place could it be to fulfill these ambitions other than the "MECCA" of cricket- LORDS.
PREVIEW:
The two teams were raring to have a go at each other.India posing a stronger threat in the batting deparment than compared England and England were superior in tems of balling. India were looking up to their most experience bowler Zaheer to spearhead their attack whereas England were dependent on their dynamic captain Andrew Strauss to lead the way in the batting.
The pitch was a usual Lords pitch: flat, bouncy and an amazing aid to the seamers. The spinners would have to bowl extraordinary to get any purchase from this wicket. With the quality of Harbhajan Singh and Graeme Swann nothing can be predicted. As the days would progress it would start turning into a batsmans' paradise.
The weather department predicted a cool 5 days with slight chances of showers. But this certainly wasnt going to dampen the spirits of the players.
DAY 1:
Expecting a great match the crowd turnout was unusual for a test match. Lords was packet to the rafters as men in suits and women in formals were filling up the seats. The toss was won by the charismatic captain M.S. Dhoni and he put England to bat.
As expected Zaheer Khan was to open the bowling assisted by Praveen Kumar and and Ishant Sharma in the seam dept and Harbhajan as the lonley spinner. The attack looked ok but would it be enough to take 20 wickets was to be seen!!!!!
England got off to a slow and watchful start with Andrew Strauss and Alaistar Cook taking guard. Zaheer was impressive nipping the ball around with great confidence and Praveen looked reasonable. And zaheer soon got his reward for his excellent line and length by trapping Cook early. Then an unexpected short ball by zaheer caught Strauss off guard and forced him to play it in to the hands of Ishant sharma at deep fine leg.
India looked to be in total control with Zaheer troubling the batsmen and it looked as if no one could stop this bowler but alas!!!! A big worrying moment for the Indian fans arrived when Zaheer was holding his calf muscles!!!! A HAMSTRING INJURY!!!!!
Zaheer walked off the pitch and now it was upto Ishant Shatrma and Praveen Kumar to continue from where zaheer left. But these two bowlers did not seem to threaten the English batsmen as K.Pieterson and J.Trott started to repair the damage after the loss of two early wickets.
With the test match evenly poised rain played spoil sport and hampered further proceedings
The pitch was a usual Lords pitch: flat, bouncy and an amazing aid to the seamers. The spinners would have to bowl extraordinary to get any purchase from this wicket. With the quality of Harbhajan Singh and Graeme Swann nothing can be predicted. As the days would progress it would start turning into a batsmans' paradise.
The weather department predicted a cool 5 days with slight chances of showers. But this certainly wasnt going to dampen the spirits of the players.
DAY 1:
Expecting a great match the crowd turnout was unusual for a test match. Lords was packet to the rafters as men in suits and women in formals were filling up the seats. The toss was won by the charismatic captain M.S. Dhoni and he put England to bat.
As expected Zaheer Khan was to open the bowling assisted by Praveen Kumar and and Ishant Sharma in the seam dept and Harbhajan as the lonley spinner. The attack looked ok but would it be enough to take 20 wickets was to be seen!!!!!
England got off to a slow and watchful start with Andrew Strauss and Alaistar Cook taking guard. Zaheer was impressive nipping the ball around with great confidence and Praveen looked reasonable. And zaheer soon got his reward for his excellent line and length by trapping Cook early. Then an unexpected short ball by zaheer caught Strauss off guard and forced him to play it in to the hands of Ishant sharma at deep fine leg.
India looked to be in total control with Zaheer troubling the batsmen and it looked as if no one could stop this bowler but alas!!!! A big worrying moment for the Indian fans arrived when Zaheer was holding his calf muscles!!!! A HAMSTRING INJURY!!!!!
Zaheer walked off the pitch and now it was upto Ishant Shatrma and Praveen Kumar to continue from where zaheer left. But these two bowlers did not seem to threaten the English batsmen as K.Pieterson and J.Trott started to repair the damage after the loss of two early wickets.
With the test match evenly poised rain played spoil sport and hampered further proceedings
England ended the day with 126-2 on the scorebaord.
DAY 2:
The news had arrived :"Zaheer will not be taking any part in the first innings" and now the entire responsiblity shifted to the three bowlers India had. The clouds were still looming large over the stadium but it did not rain.
J.Trott and K.Pieterson started from where they had left and continued confidently.Both were set looking for a big score and soon Trott reached his fifty. Pieterson looked calm and composed and was the main orchestrator of the England innings.Their 98 run partnership ended when Praveen kumar trapped Trott. India had a silver lining which soon disappeared when they allowed I.Bell to settle on to the wicket. He along with the south african born Kevin continued their innings. Soon Pieterson crossed 50 and then made the first century in the 2000th test match. A well played innings. He kept the England ship steady at one end and at the other batsmen came and supported him.Bell was praveens second prize as he fell for a well made 45. Morgan (0), Prior (71) and Broad (0) completed his 5 wicket haul. England declared the innings at a score of 474-8 after Pieterson completed his dovule hundred and left India 6 overs to survive Day 2.
Indian openers then finished day 2 at a score of 17 for no loss.
DAY 3:
The third day arrived with the indian openers walking out at the centre of the park. But the third day was as dramatic as the shows in the New York BROAD-way (pun intended). A long queue outside the stadium showed how many people were eagerly awaiting this day
Gambhir looked solid and young Mukund impressed with his compsure. Anderson was wavery and Tremlett held hi line. The Indians looked comfortable. But hell broke loose when England speedster was brought back into the attack. And with a beautiful in swinger he knocked out Gambhir at a team score of 63. Then walked in THE WALL of Indian cricket: Rahul Dravid. He alongwith Abhinav Mukund tried to stear the ship but Mukund showed his inexperience when he attempted a wide ball off his off stump to complete his 50 and knicked it back onto his stumps-Broad's second scalp.
Then came the moment which everyone had been waiting for since three days. With a standing reception the great MAESTRO and the GOD OF CRICKET Sachin Tendulkar walked out at the centre. A huge gathering was there to witness the little master complete his 100th international 100. No one paid attention to Rahul Dravid- The Usung Hero of Indian Cricket.
The famous Tendulkar-Draivd partenership steadied the ship and continued playin till lunch. Tendulkar looked in sublime touch as he had hit 6 spectacularly timed boundaries.
England brought on Broad after lunch and in his very first over post lunch he struck. Sachin fell victim to his out swinger edging the ball to slips and "What a Fall It was my countrymen!".
From then on India fell like a pack of cards with the only Ace Dravid scoring a resounding century. India were bowled out by the combined efforts of the English bowlers at a score of 286. They just managed to avoid the follow on.
England were left with 5 overs in which they extended their lead of 188 by 5 runs.
DAY 2:
The news had arrived :"Zaheer will not be taking any part in the first innings" and now the entire responsiblity shifted to the three bowlers India had. The clouds were still looming large over the stadium but it did not rain.
J.Trott and K.Pieterson started from where they had left and continued confidently.Both were set looking for a big score and soon Trott reached his fifty. Pieterson looked calm and composed and was the main orchestrator of the England innings.Their 98 run partnership ended when Praveen kumar trapped Trott. India had a silver lining which soon disappeared when they allowed I.Bell to settle on to the wicket. He along with the south african born Kevin continued their innings. Soon Pieterson crossed 50 and then made the first century in the 2000th test match. A well played innings. He kept the England ship steady at one end and at the other batsmen came and supported him.Bell was praveens second prize as he fell for a well made 45. Morgan (0), Prior (71) and Broad (0) completed his 5 wicket haul. England declared the innings at a score of 474-8 after Pieterson completed his dovule hundred and left India 6 overs to survive Day 2.
DAY 3:
The third day arrived with the indian openers walking out at the centre of the park. But the third day was as dramatic as the shows in the New York BROAD-way (pun intended). A long queue outside the stadium showed how many people were eagerly awaiting this day
Gambhir looked solid and young Mukund impressed with his compsure. Anderson was wavery and Tremlett held hi line. The Indians looked comfortable. But hell broke loose when England speedster was brought back into the attack. And with a beautiful in swinger he knocked out Gambhir at a team score of 63. Then walked in THE WALL of Indian cricket: Rahul Dravid. He alongwith Abhinav Mukund tried to stear the ship but Mukund showed his inexperience when he attempted a wide ball off his off stump to complete his 50 and knicked it back onto his stumps-Broad's second scalp.
Then came the moment which everyone had been waiting for since three days. With a standing reception the great MAESTRO and the GOD OF CRICKET Sachin Tendulkar walked out at the centre. A huge gathering was there to witness the little master complete his 100th international 100. No one paid attention to Rahul Dravid- The Usung Hero of Indian Cricket.
The famous Tendulkar-Draivd partenership steadied the ship and continued playin till lunch. Tendulkar looked in sublime touch as he had hit 6 spectacularly timed boundaries.
England brought on Broad after lunch and in his very first over post lunch he struck. Sachin fell victim to his out swinger edging the ball to slips and "What a Fall It was my countrymen!".
From then on India fell like a pack of cards with the only Ace Dravid scoring a resounding century. India were bowled out by the combined efforts of the English bowlers at a score of 286. They just managed to avoid the follow on.
England were left with 5 overs in which they extended their lead of 188 by 5 runs.
DAY 4:
England looked in cruise control at the start of Day 4. Their task was simple. Get a solid start, increase the lead and then bowl India out. But it was not to be. The world champions had a task at hand and they got down to working it. With already Zaheer out and Sachin out because of a viral infection. India needed an inspiration from somewhere. And it came in the form of Ishant Sharma. The in form bowler totaly tattered England's top order and soon England were rocking back at a socre of 70-5 with just a lead of 210. Can it be possible that after 3 and a half days of getting hammered India would go on to win this match?!!! Atleast it looked like till Matt Prior came out to bat. He wasnt going to let England's efforts go in vain. He along with the Stuart Broad fighted to take England's lead upto 457. England came back like tigers and left India a very slim hope of even saving the test match. Another problem was that of Gautam Gambhir. The left hander had hurt himself in the field when Matt Prior swept the ball. Luckily it was just a bruise but India could not afford to lose a batsman of Gambhir's quality.
Hence, as a precautionary measure India sent out young Mukund and Dravid to hold the fort. But Mukund again showing his inexperience got out early yin a similar fashion-edging the ball on the his stumps. Broad strikes again!!!!!!
With India in deep trouble, in came the SECOND INNINGS MAN- VVS Laxman. He and Dravid looked comfortable at the crease. They played the next 27 overs and finshed the day with the score at 81-1.
Now it remains to be seen whether India can save this test match with 378 more runs to be scored. It seems that India have already lost 75% of their battle when they lost two lieutanants in the form of Zaheer and Gambhir and also a Commander in the form of Sachin. Can the two generals hold the fort for the whole day or India will crumble and lose the first match??!!!! One thing is for sure- ITS ENGLAND'S MATCH TO LOSE!!!!!!
Rishabh Ghai
England looked in cruise control at the start of Day 4. Their task was simple. Get a solid start, increase the lead and then bowl India out. But it was not to be. The world champions had a task at hand and they got down to working it. With already Zaheer out and Sachin out because of a viral infection. India needed an inspiration from somewhere. And it came in the form of Ishant Sharma. The in form bowler totaly tattered England's top order and soon England were rocking back at a socre of 70-5 with just a lead of 210. Can it be possible that after 3 and a half days of getting hammered India would go on to win this match?!!! Atleast it looked like till Matt Prior came out to bat. He wasnt going to let England's efforts go in vain. He along with the Stuart Broad fighted to take England's lead upto 457. England came back like tigers and left India a very slim hope of even saving the test match. Another problem was that of Gautam Gambhir. The left hander had hurt himself in the field when Matt Prior swept the ball. Luckily it was just a bruise but India could not afford to lose a batsman of Gambhir's quality.
Hence, as a precautionary measure India sent out young Mukund and Dravid to hold the fort. But Mukund again showing his inexperience got out early yin a similar fashion-edging the ball on the his stumps. Broad strikes again!!!!!!
With India in deep trouble, in came the SECOND INNINGS MAN- VVS Laxman. He and Dravid looked comfortable at the crease. They played the next 27 overs and finshed the day with the score at 81-1.
Now it remains to be seen whether India can save this test match with 378 more runs to be scored. It seems that India have already lost 75% of their battle when they lost two lieutanants in the form of Zaheer and Gambhir and also a Commander in the form of Sachin. Can the two generals hold the fort for the whole day or India will crumble and lose the first match??!!!! One thing is for sure- ITS ENGLAND'S MATCH TO LOSE!!!!!!
Rishabh Ghai
