With three top order batsmen letting indiscretion get the better of themselves, India will surely adopt safety-first tactics on Day 5 of the Nottingham Test. Virat Kohli (8 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (batting 18) will resume India's second innings on a low and slow Trent Bridge wicket, not very different from the one you may see at Kotla or Eden. Catch all the live updates here (Scorecard):
In a five-Test series, a draw in the first game will not be a bad result for Team India. This Indian team is relatively short on experience and is haunted by the fact that it was thrashed 4-0 in its last tour of England in 2011. England, too, are not the same unit it were three years ago. In many ways, both teams are in rebuilding mode and will probably take the draw as a fair result.
But cricket throws up surprises and India, the world's 50-over champions, can very well do some dramatic things especially when Kohli is at the crease and skipper Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and Stuart Binny are waiting in the wings. India - 167 for three -- have a lead of 128 runs and if the can race to a 300-run lead by the first drinks break in the post-lunch session, Dhoni may just push his luck.
India's Ajinkya Rahane, left, and Virat Kohli run between the wickets during day four of the first Test between England and India at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 12, 2014.
© AP
India have the bowlers to exploit a weary pitch. Mohammed Shami is a fine exponent of the reverse swing. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma are confident after getting wickets in the first innings, but India may just miss a specialist spinner in Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Nottingham Test has been highlighted by superb rearguard batting. If Murali Vijay and Joe Root played their roles as proper batsmen, bowlers have come to the party with their bats too. England number 11 James Anderson enjoyed a remarkable batting first on Saturday as he and Root shared an all-time Test record 10th-wicket stand of 198. The pair surpassed the previous best of 163 as England were bowled out for 496 in their first innings.
"I had really good fun today and it's probably the first day I have really enjoy batting," fast bowler Anderson told reporters. Root and Anderson's stand also meant it was the first time in Test history that the last-wicket partnerships of both teams had reached three figures in the same game, following Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami's alliance of 111 on Thursday.
England's James Anderson, left, shakes hands with Joe Root at end of play finishing 23 and 78 not out respectively during day three of the first Test between England and India at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Friday, July 11, 2014.
© AP
Even though all three results are possible on Sunday, the Trent Bridge Test will still have many things to remember.
0 comments:
Post a Comment