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| India’s Murali Vijay builds lead after Liam Plunkett lifts England | India’s Murali Vijay builds lead after Liam Plunkett lifts England |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| This feels like a Test match of significance – unlike its predecessor. Weather permitting, there should be a win for one side or the other and there may well be consequences, especially for some of the more senior citizens in the England side, most notably Alastair Cook, Matt Prior and Ian Bell. | This feels like a Test match of significance – unlike its predecessor. Weather permitting, there should be a win for one side or the other and there may well be consequences, especially for some of the more senior citizens in the England side, most notably Alastair Cook, Matt Prior and Ian Bell. |
| In the final session in unexpected blazing sunshine, England were sparked by Liam Plunkett, who delivered his best spell as a Test bowler, despite his figures at Headingley against Sri Lanka. Plunkett, who had hit his maiden Test fifty in the morning, snatched two wickets in two balls just as India seemed to be taking charge of a gripping Test match. Cheteshwar Pujara edged to the keeper, and Virat Kohli, enduring a nightmare series so far, was bowled without playing a shot. | In the final session in unexpected blazing sunshine, England were sparked by Liam Plunkett, who delivered his best spell as a Test bowler, despite his figures at Headingley against Sri Lanka. Plunkett, who had hit his maiden Test fifty in the morning, snatched two wickets in two balls just as India seemed to be taking charge of a gripping Test match. Cheteshwar Pujara edged to the keeper, and Virat Kohli, enduring a nightmare series so far, was bowled without playing a shot. |
| This galvanised a previously lacklustre Stuart Broad, who bounced India’s first-innings centurion, Ajinkya Rahane. The ball lobbed on the leg-side and Matt Prior sprinted, dived and caught the ball. Umpire Oxenford raised his finger and, having shaken his head, a crestfallen Rahane set off for the pavilion. The subsequent replay confirmed that the ball had struck Rahane’s arm-guard, a long way from his glove. It goes without saying – almost – that if the decision review system had been in operation, then Rahane would have remained at the crease. But India have opted out of that system. | This galvanised a previously lacklustre Stuart Broad, who bounced India’s first-innings centurion, Ajinkya Rahane. The ball lobbed on the leg-side and Matt Prior sprinted, dived and caught the ball. Umpire Oxenford raised his finger and, having shaken his head, a crestfallen Rahane set off for the pavilion. The subsequent replay confirmed that the ball had struck Rahane’s arm-guard, a long way from his glove. It goes without saying – almost – that if the decision review system had been in operation, then Rahane would have remained at the crease. But India have opted out of that system. |
| Plunkett had been England’s least effective bowler in the first innings, reverting at times to his round the wicket “bodyline” ploy, which seemed wholly inappropriate in conditions offering just enough assistance to pace bowlers. But here he was venomous in a more orthodox vein. He bowled fast from over the wicket and allowed the ball a chance to swing. His performance on Saturday maintained the pattern of the summer: the newcomers (this can include Plunkett as it is so long since his first appearances for England) demonstrating their worth, unlike the old lags. | Plunkett had been England’s least effective bowler in the first innings, reverting at times to his round the wicket “bodyline” ploy, which seemed wholly inappropriate in conditions offering just enough assistance to pace bowlers. But here he was venomous in a more orthodox vein. He bowled fast from over the wicket and allowed the ball a chance to swing. His performance on Saturday maintained the pattern of the summer: the newcomers (this can include Plunkett as it is so long since his first appearances for England) demonstrating their worth, unlike the old lags. |
| Throughout these traumas, India were indebted to Murali Vijay, who compiled a four-hour fifty, crucial to keeping his side in the game. Vijay was calm, watchful and prepared to wait for the chance of a wayward delivery. There were not so many of those from the English bowlers as in the first innings. Mahendra Singh Dhoni offered stout, unorthodox support in the final hour. By the close, India led by 145 runs, a state of affairs that ensures the prospect of a tense climax in a proper Test match on a proper pitch. | Throughout these traumas, India were indebted to Murali Vijay, who compiled a four-hour fifty, crucial to keeping his side in the game. Vijay was calm, watchful and prepared to wait for the chance of a wayward delivery. There were not so many of those from the English bowlers as in the first innings. Mahendra Singh Dhoni offered stout, unorthodox support in the final hour. By the close, India led by 145 runs, a state of affairs that ensures the prospect of a tense climax in a proper Test match on a proper pitch. |
| An English victory would soothe the frayed nerves of the new regime. Indeed, the morning’s play seemed to epitomise the edginess that surrounds England’s cricket this summer. There was a great deal of striving; there were distinct possibilities of gaining the initiative, yet ultimately for all their efforts with the bat, the outcome was a modest lead of 24 runs. | An English victory would soothe the frayed nerves of the new regime. Indeed, the morning’s play seemed to epitomise the edginess that surrounds England’s cricket this summer. There was a great deal of striving; there were distinct possibilities of gaining the initiative, yet ultimately for all their efforts with the bat, the outcome was a modest lead of 24 runs. |
| The pieces of the England jigsaw do not quite fit yet. Plunkett, who has been inconsistent with the ball, scored runs, and Ben Stokes, a tower of strength with the bat in Australia, notched his third successive duck in an England shirt. Yet he has been bowling well. England scored 100 for four on a gloomy, steamy morning that hinted at the possibility of later rain; it could have been worse, but it could have been a whole lot better. | The pieces of the England jigsaw do not quite fit yet. Plunkett, who has been inconsistent with the ball, scored runs, and Ben Stokes, a tower of strength with the bat in Australia, notched his third successive duck in an England shirt. Yet he has been bowling well. England scored 100 for four on a gloomy, steamy morning that hinted at the possibility of later rain; it could have been worse, but it could have been a whole lot better. |
| Plunkett, a bit of an impostor as a nightwatchman, and Prior were admirably positive from the start. Plunkett struck four boundaries in no time; the 50 partnership came up and Prior hit the shot of his innings, a silky on-drive. Perhaps this prompted too much ambition. Next ball he tried a pull shot against Mohammed Shami and his top edge ballooned over the slip cordon. Shikhar Dhawan was swift and alert, holding a fine catch as he ran back towards the pavilion. | Plunkett, a bit of an impostor as a nightwatchman, and Prior were admirably positive from the start. Plunkett struck four boundaries in no time; the 50 partnership came up and Prior hit the shot of his innings, a silky on-drive. Perhaps this prompted too much ambition. Next ball he tried a pull shot against Mohammed Shami and his top edge ballooned over the slip cordon. Shikhar Dhawan was swift and alert, holding a fine catch as he ran back towards the pavilion. |
| For Stokes, Dhoni immediately recalled Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a shrewd change. Stokes is in a run-drought at international level and this is obviously preying on his mind. Hence it made sense to give him more time to think rather than merely react. Kumar’s clever swing bowling would tax him more than the extra pace of Shami. Dhoni’s hunch was right: Stokes was ill at ease and tentative; indeed, he would probably prefer Mitchell Johnson at full tilt so that he can rely solely on his instincts. Thus Stokes was bowled for another duck by the canny Kumar. | For Stokes, Dhoni immediately recalled Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a shrewd change. Stokes is in a run-drought at international level and this is obviously preying on his mind. Hence it made sense to give him more time to think rather than merely react. Kumar’s clever swing bowling would tax him more than the extra pace of Shami. Dhoni’s hunch was right: Stokes was ill at ease and tentative; indeed, he would probably prefer Mitchell Johnson at full tilt so that he can rely solely on his instincts. Thus Stokes was bowled for another duck by the canny Kumar. |
| Broad lasted two balls against the medium pacer: a waft went for four; another one sent the ball gently to first slip. Jimmy Anderson, evidently still in princely touch, purred along to 19 at a run a ball before he was confronted by Ravindra Jadeja. As if offering an olive branch after Nottingham, Anderson obliged by playing that reverse sweep to the first ball he received from Jadeja, a wanton stroke for a man in form, albeit a No11. | Broad lasted two balls against the medium pacer: a waft went for four; another one sent the ball gently to first slip. Jimmy Anderson, evidently still in princely touch, purred along to 19 at a run a ball before he was confronted by Ravindra Jadeja. As if offering an olive branch after Nottingham, Anderson obliged by playing that reverse sweep to the first ball he received from Jadeja, a wanton stroke for a man in form, albeit a No11. |
| Kumar finished with six for 82 from 31 tidy overs and is currently the man of the series after taking wickets and scoring runs at Trent Bridge, a situation that few would have predicted a fortnight ago, his shrewd and skilful swing bowling trumping all the faster bowlers on show. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the series with 11 and he is averaging 78 with the bat. For Kumar, it is currently a simple game. | |
| For Cook and his senior colleagues, it appears more complex. Those possible consequences are looming intriguingly. We keep noticing Prior in the field, which is a bad sign for a wicketkeeper. They are performing well when anonymous. He has not been as nimble nor as sure as he once was. | For Cook and his senior colleagues, it appears more complex. Those possible consequences are looming intriguingly. We keep noticing Prior in the field, which is a bad sign for a wicketkeeper. They are performing well when anonymous. He has not been as nimble nor as sure as he once was. |
| And what if Cook fails in the second innings and England lose? Will he be prepared to wait any longer for the runs to return? Will, perhaps more to the point, the selectors? All of which has implications for Bell, who is hardly in the middle of a run glut himself. If Cook were to withdraw or be withdrawn, then Bell is surely his immediate replacement as captain. | And what if Cook fails in the second innings and England lose? Will he be prepared to wait any longer for the runs to return? Will, perhaps more to the point, the selectors? All of which has implications for Bell, who is hardly in the middle of a run glut himself. If Cook were to withdraw or be withdrawn, then Bell is surely his immediate replacement as captain. |
| But first a fascinating drama, with countless sub-plots must unfold. After Trent Bridge, here was a reminder why Test cricket can be so entrancing. | But first a fascinating drama, with countless sub-plots must unfold. After Trent Bridge, here was a reminder why Test cricket can be so entrancing. |
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