No Test-saving feat
India had their backs to the wall in the third Test against England at Rose Bowl in Southampton yesterday. The visitors were in danger of being made to follow on after all their top batsmen failed to live up to the expectations. The Indian hopes hinged on skipper MS Dhoni, who was batting with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. India were 291 for seven at the time of going to print, still 78 runs adrift of England’s first innings total of 569 for seven declared.
India, who were 108 for three at lunch, looked to be clawing their way back into the match but the wickets of Virat Kohli (39) and Rohit Sharma (28) in the second session put the hosts in total control. In the third session, the visitors lost Ajinkya Rahane (54) and Ravindra Jadeja (31).
Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s innings were emblematic of the Indian batsmen’s inability to make their good start count. India were also unable to replicate England, who had a string of big partnerships, and gave their wickets away too cheaply.
India, who started the day at 25 for one, lost both overnight batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (24) and Murali Vijay (34) rather cheaply before lunch. The visitors scored 83 runs in 26 overs in the morning session, losing two wickets in the process. Kohli Rahane played well without many faults to remain unbeaten at the crease.
For England, James Anderson bustled in, Stuart Broad was very clever with his length and Chris Woakes too was impressive. The pace trio gave the talented Indian batting line-up hardly any leeway.
While Anderson, England’s top wicket-taker, gave the hosts the breakthrough Monday, it was his pace partner Broad who did all the damage this morning. The decision not to give Broad the new ball seemed to spur the pacer on and he bowled with great aggression.
A Broad bouncer caused Pujara all sorts of problems and caught the glove of the Indian batsman. The ball came back at Pujara off the pitch as he took evasive action, brushed the gloves and went straight into Jos Buttler’s for the first time in Test cricket.
It was payback time for the English pacers as they peppered the Indian batsman with the short ball, a ploy Indian pacer Ishant Sharma adopted at Lord’s to devastating effect. Vijay had himself to blame as he chopped a Broad good length back into his stumps. It was a very indecisive shot from a man who has built his reputation in the series for being disciplined and decisive outside the off-stump. Meanwhile, Ajit Agarkar said missing out on Ishant Sharma’s services in the ongoing third Test at Southampton has hurt the team in the ongoing match.
“Obviously, you want a form player to play throughout. You don’t want the guy to miss out on any cricket when he is in form. It has hurt them a little bit and plus it was a good pitch. As long as India bat well, they will do okay in the third Test,” Agarkar said. Senior India bowler Ashish Nehra hoped his Delhi team mate could be back in action in the remaining two matches.
“For any bowler picking up seven wickets in one innings is great. When a bowler is in form, it is always good for the team and the captain, especially in afive Test match series. Injury is something that he can’t help. If India does well in this Test match, he will be available for the next two Test matches,” Nehra said.
India, who were 108 for three at lunch, looked to be clawing their way back into the match but the wickets of Virat Kohli (39) and Rohit Sharma (28) in the second session put the hosts in total control. In the third session, the visitors lost Ajinkya Rahane (54) and Ravindra Jadeja (31).
Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s innings were emblematic of the Indian batsmen’s inability to make their good start count. India were also unable to replicate England, who had a string of big partnerships, and gave their wickets away too cheaply.
Kohli, who has had a forgetful series, looked to be getting back to form but a loose shot outside off-stump saw him edge an Anderson out-swinger to Alastair Cook in the slips. Rohit Sharma, who strung a 74-run stand with Rahane for the fifth wicket, also looked good before throwing his wicket away with a very poor shot just before tea.
India, who started the day at 25 for one, lost both overnight batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (24) and Murali Vijay (34) rather cheaply before lunch. The visitors scored 83 runs in 26 overs in the morning session, losing two wickets in the process. Kohli Rahane played well without many faults to remain unbeaten at the crease.
For England, James Anderson bustled in, Stuart Broad was very clever with his length and Chris Woakes too was impressive. The pace trio gave the talented Indian batting line-up hardly any leeway.
While Anderson, England’s top wicket-taker, gave the hosts the breakthrough Monday, it was his pace partner Broad who did all the damage this morning. The decision not to give Broad the new ball seemed to spur the pacer on and he bowled with great aggression.
A Broad bouncer caused Pujara all sorts of problems and caught the glove of the Indian batsman. The ball came back at Pujara off the pitch as he took evasive action, brushed the gloves and went straight into Jos Buttler’s for the first time in Test cricket.
It was payback time for the English pacers as they peppered the Indian batsman with the short ball, a ploy Indian pacer Ishant Sharma adopted at Lord’s to devastating effect. Vijay had himself to blame as he chopped a Broad good length back into his stumps. It was a very indecisive shot from a man who has built his reputation in the series for being disciplined and decisive outside the off-stump. Meanwhile, Ajit Agarkar said missing out on Ishant Sharma’s services in the ongoing third Test at Southampton has hurt the team in the ongoing match.
“Obviously, you want a form player to play throughout. You don’t want the guy to miss out on any cricket when he is in form. It has hurt them a little bit and plus it was a good pitch. As long as India bat well, they will do okay in the third Test,” Agarkar said. Senior India bowler Ashish Nehra hoped his Delhi team mate could be back in action in the remaining two matches.
“For any bowler picking up seven wickets in one innings is great. When a bowler is in form, it is always good for the team and the captain, especially in afive Test match series. Injury is something that he can’t help. If India does well in this Test match, he will be available for the next two Test matches,” Nehra said.
