The Wall scores 34th Test century !

Dravid scored a century again. India were in a strong, commanding position at 267/4 but then were bowled out for 288, thanks to a hat trick from Stuart Broad.

Broad took his revenge by dismissing Yuvraj for 62 ( Yuvraj had hit him for six sixes in one over before ) and then dismissed Dhoni, Bajji and Kumar and took a rich six wicket haul

The Wall was in his inimitable best, but rued the advantage which India had lost !

"It was sort of frustrating at the way we played. Look we were 267 for four but were reduced to 273 for eight," said the Wall, who became the joint second Indian century maker in Test cricket with Gavaskar. ( after Sachin, of course ).

"It was not easy for the guys though. The pitch was difficult to bat and the guys tried their best. We need to pull our socks and come up with some strong performance in the remaining three days," said the solid batsman.

"It was tough conditions out there. It was a hot day. I had slight cramps towards the end of my innings. But I would say I am not tired but pleasantly weary. At the back of my mind, I think there is a lot of play left in the Test. We need strong performance in the remaining three days" said the dour batsman.

Yuvraj passed the Nottingham "Test". Playing in his first Test in England, he was a bit jittery in the initial stages. Taking the Wall's advice, he became confident and played a superb innings when India needed it most !

Indian swing bowlers strike !

Had it not been for a brilliant 64 by Stuart Broad, India would have skittled out England for less than 150.

Sreeshant, Praveen and Ishant took three wickets each, as India reduced England to 124/8 at tea. Then the tail wagged and England finished at 221. India were 14 for the loss of Mukund.

Meanwhile, Gavaskar has criticised the Indian selection for not taking three openers for the England tour. Because of this factor, Dravid had to come in as opener. There is a lot of difference being an opener and a No 3 batsman !

Indians held on to their catches, unlike at Lord's. All three swing bowlers swung the ball well, pitching the ball in the right areas. England were in dire straits at tea, having lost 8 wickets to the swing maestros.

Sreeshant proved to be an effective replacement for Zaheer and he got the prize scalp of KP.

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Anderson swings out India

Anderson, with superb swing bowling, skittled out the Indians at Lord. He grabbed his 11th 5 wicket Test haul, when he took 5/69 yesterday. He bowled Praveen Kumar with a beauty and then removed Raina ( 78) and Ishant ( 1) with consecutive deliveries.

The Indians were expectant of a century of centuries from the Little Master, but had to contend with defeat. KP was declared Man of the Match.

The Nottingham Test starts on Friday and England has already taken a lead of 1-0 in the four match Test series.

Despite the loss, Dhoni said he was happy the way the Indians performed. Lots of injuries was the problem and he said the Indians rose to the occasion !

Tremlett achieved the breakthrough after tea, as he removed the dangerous Dhoni. The Indians lost their seventh wicket as Bajji tried to pull Anderson and was caught by Tremlett.

Ishant's quadruple strike saves not India

The quadruple strike of Ishant sent England reeling at 107/6, but then Prior and Broad redeemed England with some scintillating batting. Prior was not out 103 and Broad on 74, when England declared at
at 269/6.

India were 80/1 in their second innings, still needing 378 runs to win the game.

Mukund was removed by Broad for the second time in the series, but then the doggedness of Laxman and Dravid saw to that India did not lose any furthur wickets.

Dravid opened the innings instead of Gambhir who was hospitalised because of an injury on his left arm.

Prior and Broad put on 162 for the seventh wicket. Ishant shocked England by sending back Pietersen ( 1), Ian Bell (0) and Trott ( 22). Striking like a bolt of lightning, Sharma proved to be a different bowler than the Sharma of the first innings! Pietersen was done in by a snorter from Sharma, which he gloved helplessly to Dhoni. Bell was done in by the swing of Sharma and Trott was beaten and bowled by Sharma.

England, therefore, seems to be in a commanding positon, but you can never tell in cricket !

Dravid saves India from ignominy

Dravid's ton at Lords, saved India from the ignominy of following on. India went past the 274 mark, thanks to his superb century. With this milestone, Dravid has gone past Ponting, as No 2 Test scorer in the history of the game. India were all out for 284 and just avoided the follow on. England are 5/0, after declaring at 474/8 in the first innings.

He was behind 49 runs behind Ponting when the match started.

Here are the stats

Sachin Tendulkar: 14726
Rahul Dravid: 12373
Ricky Ponting: 12363
Brian Lara: 11953
Jacques Kallis: 11947
Alan Border: 11174
Steve Waugh: 10927
Sunil Gavaskar: 10122

Fifteen years ago, the Wall fell in the nervous nineties and now he has proved to the world that he is not over the hill.

The briliant double ton scored by KP was superb. Boycott says he was out at 49, but umpire Asad Rauf's lacked of conviction saved him. He was out caught in the leg slip, but Rauf referred it to the third umpire. This however does not diminish the brilliance of KP !

To KP England owes a lot to its dominance in this Test match. Even though Luck had graced England, still they could contain the best ranked Test team in the world.

Meanwhile, Kapil has criticised Zaheer. If he was not fully fit, why was he taken ? There are other equally good swing bowlers and India owes a lot to its pitiable state to its poor selection.

Boycott wrote in the "Daily Telegraph" "The only blot on the day was the poor decision by the square leg umpire, Asad Rauf, when he should have given Pietersen out caught at leg slip when he was on 49.

"He had an uninterrupted clear view from 20 yards away and chickened out of making the correct decision. Anybody who works in television will tell you that low catches will always look as if the ball has bounced before being caught,"

"Batsmen throughout the game know that if a low catch is referred to television umpire there is every chance they will get away with it. I don't blame the batsman for standing. I blame the umpire for not having the courage of his convictions and making the decision without television."

Boycott critised India's bowling performance in the absence of Zaheer.

"It is not Pietersen's fault that India were one bowler short and their other bowling wasn't special. Harbhajan Singh made no impact whatsoever, Ishant Sharma tried his best but his inexperience and inability to put the ball in awkward areas showed up time and again," said the dour ex England batsman.

"Praveen Kumar is military medium but swung the ball and fully deserved his successful haul of five wickets which shows that in Test cricket, provided you move the ball off straight and narrow, you have a chance of getting people out.

"But with this bowling line up you wonder how the hell India are going to take England wickets without Zaheer Khan. Even more so, you wonder how they got to number one in the world," he added.

India should remember catches win matches !

India missed three chances. Trott gave two and Pietersen one. If Dravid had held on to that catch offered by Trott off Bajji or if Dhoni had held onto that catch off Trott, the story would have been otherwise.

One remembers the catch missed by Kiran More off Gooch at 33 and Gooch went on to score 333.

Earlier, Zaheer Khan removed the dangerous Strauss and Cook. And England were reeling at 62/2. Then Trott and Pietersen did the retrieving work and England are on their way to recovery at 127/2.

In a day curtailed by rain, only 49.2 overs were possible.

Ishant missed a Strauss run out at 2. Dhoni had won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pietersen batted nervously, trying to negotiate the swinging ball and edging and missing most of the time.

Let us see what England does today.

Sachin, the best in the world

Lara define Sachin as the best in the world. Former Eng captain Alex Stewart called him "the modern day Bradman". The world is waiting with tremendous angst and the question on everybody's lips is " Can Sachin do the impossible, score his 100th international hundred at Lords ?".

His record at Lords had been dismal. In the last seven innings at Lords, his scores have been 10, 27, 31, 16, 12, 37 and 16. And Lords seems to be the only Test ground where he has not scored a fifty.

But he is in tremendous form and his average against England is 61.42, the highest against any standard Test side. This may be his last tour to England.

Strauss has already warned India that this will be a baptism of fire. If Eng beat India in two Tests, they can surpass South Africa and go to the top of the table, in ICC Rankings.

Lara, participating in a panel discussion at Dhoni's "East Meets West" Gala Dinner at Hilton Park Lane in London, said " "Sachin started playing (Test cricket) at the age of 16. And at 38 now, we have not seen a better player. Sachin is the best batsman in the world."

"I am going to the Lord's to see Sachin make his 100th century," he said.

Dravid, the master batsman, described as the Wall of India, said "In India we have many Gods and he is one of them."

When interviewed by cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, Lara said "While Sachin is special, Dravid is the wall."

"Dravid is always going to be there - he is a tremendous player."

India emerge triumphant !

Chanderpaul's ton denied India victory, but India emerged triumphant in the series, beating the WI 1-0 in Tests and 3-2 in ODIs. Chanderpaul was unconquered on 122, when WI crashed to 322 all out. India scored 94/3, with Vijay scoring 45. Dravid was not out 34 and India drew the Dominica Test. Bajji took 4/75.

India fielded a second XI, with Sachin, Sehwag, Gauti and Zaheer conspicous by their absence, but still kept the numero uno position in Tests.

The man with the Midas touch, the brilliant Dhoni helped India win the Test series easily and India under Raina performed well in the ODIs.

Despite the mediocrity of Indian batting, certain knocks stood above the rest. Dravid's century in the First Test and Laxman's glorious half centuries in the second, were the redeeming grace for India. Dhoni was also resting on his laurels with only a brilliant 74 run knock to remember. Bajji's 400 wickets and Dravid's 15th year in Test cricket was also accompanied by the return to form of Ishant, who bowled with fire to take 22 wickets in the Test series.

Nobody thought that the World Champions would reign supreme in both the formats and that too for the first time in the Carribean. With the Test at Dominica ending in a draw, India ended her Carribean cruise, emerging victors in both formats of the game.

Strauss has warned that England will give India the baptism of fire and Indians are relieved that the veterans are back in the game. India now take on England in England ! Will Dhoni's men rise up to the challenge ?

India comes back with a bang !

Despite a century by Kirk Edwards, West Indies were in trouble, as India reduced them to 224/6. One more day to go and anything can happen.

Chanderpaul and Kirk Edwards pulled the WI to respectability with a brilliant 161 run partnership. Chanderpaul is still there with 73 not out. WI were 40/3 at one stage and this partnership pulled them to a seemingly high score.

Edwards hit nine boundaries and a six during his glorious innings of 110. He was, however, out caught behind by Dhoni and then Samuels followed suit for a duck and the home team lost their fifth wicket.

WI suffered a jolt, when Darren Bravo tried to hit Bajji, but holed out to Praveen Kumar for 14. The Indian new ball bowlers, Ishant and Praveen struck early by removing the WI openers. Barath was scalped by Kumar and Powell was snapped by Sharma. Earlier Fidel Edwards grabbed his 10th five wicket haul in Tests, as India folded up for 347. India could only add 39 more runs to take a 143 run lead. Fidel Edwards took 5/103 and took three of the four Indian wickets that fell, including the prize scalp of Dhoni who was out for 74.

Dhoni redeems India

A brilliant 65 not out by Dhoni saw India score 308/6. Half centuries by Mukund ( 62), Laxman ( 56) and Raina ( 50 ) saw India battle it out for supremacy and is poised to take a huge lead. Dhoni on 65 not out and Bajji on 12 were at the crease.

Earlier, the West Indies fought back magnificently to reduce India to 182/5 at tea. A brilliant piece of glove by Baugh off Chanderpaul saw Laxman depart, after a well compiled 56. Laxman left a delivery outside his off stump and Baugh whipped off the bails in a flash ! Promising youngster Kohli was caught down the legside off Sammy and India lost a valuable wicket at 168. Then Bishoo dismissed Mukund, who made a good 62. Mukund was involved in a 84 run partnership with Laxman for the third wicket.

India started at 8/0, but lost the wickets of Vijay and Dravid. Dravid was bowled ingloriously through the gate and Vijay dabbed at a delivery outside the offstump. Both scored five runs.

India added 126 runs after tea for the loss of only Suresh Raina's wicket. Dhoni and Raina added 103 runs for the sixth wicket, before Raina was trapped lbw by the pacer Fidel Edwards.

Ishant & Co skittle out WI for 204

Ishant delivered the goods again by taking 5/77 and triggered another WI collapse. WI was going great guns at 190/6, when Ishant shot out the rest. Earlier, Bajji became the 11th bowler in the world and the fourth spinner to take 400 wickets. He is the fourth spinner after Murali, Warne and Kumble.

India were 8/0, and Mukund ( 6 ) and Vijay (1) were at the crease at the close of day 1. A downpour after tea curtailed play. West Indies started the day at 75/3 disastrously, as Chanderpaul edged a Munaf delivery into the safe hands of Dhoni. Then Praveen Kumar clean bowled Samuels, who left after making nine runs. Darren Bravo along with Baugh put on 29 for the sixth wicket, before Ishant removed Bravo for 50.

Bajji got the WI captain Sammy caught at forward short leg by Mithun for 20 and then grabbed his 400th wicket, as he went through the defense of Baugh, who fell for a gutsy innings of 60 off 79 balls. Ishant then removed the last two WI batsmen and took 5/77, his third five wicket haul in Tests. Fidel Edwards pulled injudiciously and WI were 204/9, and Bishoo dragged one without opening his account and Windies were skittled out for 204.

Ishant Sharma strikes again !

Ishant Sharma struck twice, removing Kirk Edwards and Adrian Barath and WI were reeling at three down for 40 !

It was the swerve of Praveen Kumar which removed debutant Keiron Powell. Powell dabbed at a Praveen delivery to be caught in the second slip by Laxman. Dhoni asked the WI to bat first and got the opportunity to bowl first in the series. The reason was simple. There was moisture in the pitch. Powell was out for three and paid the price for fishing outside the off stump ! A Sharma bouncer accounted for Barath, as Barath tried to pull, but only succeeded in dragging the ball onto his wicket. He made 12 off 38 balls. Then Sharma induced Edward to hook and was caught by Dhoni.

WI finished at 75/3, with the south paws, Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo on 17 and 22 respectively.

After 100 years, Dominica got her First Test match and the Dominican PM was delighted about it.

Sreeshant is in !

Sreeshant is back in the Indian Test team to tour England. Sehwag will miss the first two weeks due to his injury, but will play after that.

Zaheer, Munaf, Sreeshant join the triumphant duo of Praveen and Ishant Sharma. The spin attack is in the hands of Bajji.

Yuvraj, Gambhir, Sachin, Sehwag all return to the India squad. It is a full strength squad, rising to the challenge of England, who said they will beat India in their home ground.

Sachin came back after skipping the Carribean tour because of badly needed rest, Yuvraj also came back after missing the WI tour due to chest infection while Gambhir, Gautam and Sreeshant came back after injury breaks. Kohli and Vijay were dropped, while Raina's good performance helped him to retain his place.

The reserve opener Abhinav Mukund goes to England and Saha edged out Parthiv Patel. Cheteswar Pujara missed out again due to injury.

Munaf came back after injury problems and he along with Zaheer and Sreeshant and the in form Ishant and Praveen will pose problems for the English batsmen, particularly in a country where the ball swings from morn till eve.

Sreeshant said that he will waiting for the Test at Lords, to see Sachin crack his 100th century !

Squad

Dhoni ( wk and cpt ), Yuvraj, Sachin, Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Gambhir, Raina, Mukund, Saha ( reserve wk ), Amit Mishra, Harbhajan, Zaheer, Munaf, Sreeshant, Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma.

Ishant Sharma picks up ten wickets

Ishant took 4/53, as West Indies struggled to draw the Second Test with India. Ishant took his haul to ten wickets in the match. He will be spearheading the Indian attack for years to come.

Earlier Edwards swung the ball and removed Kohli (27), Laxman (87) and Dhoni (6) and India declared at 270/6. A challenging 281 runs to get, but the WI batsmen made heavy weather of the situation and lost seven wickets for 202.

Ishant took 10/108 in the match, signalling his return to the Indian team. Baugh played a solid 46 not out and Rampaul (0) were at the crease, when stumps were drawn.

India leads the series 1-0, having won the First Test.

Kohli edged Edwars to Sammy in the slips, and Laxman was removed in the same fashion. And then Edwards shot out Dhoni, who gave a simple catch to midoff. Raina with 16 and Bajji with 6 were at the crease, when Dhoni declared the innings closed. setting 281 for the WI to win.

Ishant removed Simmons early and Praveen accounted for the scalp of Sarwan, who was caught in the slips. The early loss of Simmons and Sarwan put WI on the defensive. Even though Darren Bravo played well for his 73, none of the WI batsmen could support him. Baugh with 46 not out saw to that WI drew the match !

After lunch, Ishant removed Barath for 27. Barath edged one to Raina. Bravo and Chanderpaul consolidated the WI innings and the visitors could not make any breakthrough. WI were 108/3 at tea. Chanderpaul was adjudged lbw to Bajji and WI were in the doldrums ! The left hander tried to cut Bajji and the ball was leaving the off stump, but the umpire thought otherwise and gave him out ! With a glorious inswinger, Ishant trapped Samuels lbw and WI were five down ! Then Dhoni dropped Baugh. If he had held on, history would have been otherwise. Mithun removed Bravo. Now all eyes are riveted on Jul 6th, when the Third Test starts at Dominica.

Laxman powers India to respectability

Laxman scored 72 not out and India recovered to 229/3, after the early loss of M Vijay. Rahul Dravid was at his scintillating best and scored 55 and steadied the Indian innings, like a true Wall ! India lead by 240 runs.

Laxman with 72 not and Kohli wiht 26 not out were at the crease when stumps were drawn. Rampaul dismissed Vijay (3), when the right hander lunged forward to a well pitched delivery that kissed the otuside edge of his bat, before going into the hands of Baugh.

Mukund drove Sammy for four and Dravid steered Edwards for his first four and their partnership blossomed. Dravid survived a catch appeal, when Barath plucked the ball out of the ground. Dravid stood his ground and the umpires after a lenghty consultation gave him not out.

Mukund followed an Edwards delivery into the hands of Baugh and India had lost two wickets. Then Laxman and Dravid pulled India out of the danger zone, both scoring brilliant half centuries.

In the post tea session, India scored 81 runs, thanks to Dravid and Laxman. The immense experience of both paved the way for a huge Indian score. Dravid then steered Edwards into the safe hands of Baugh. Virat Kohli joined the in form Laxman, who has now hit two half centuries in this Test Match.

Virat Kohli had to undergo the baptism of fire, a flurry of fast, short pitched deliveries from the fiery Edwards. He pulled Edwards for six, but looked a bit fidgety in his short, unconquered innnigs. He ensured that India did not lose more wickets yesterday.