India aim to build on their first day total of 259/4 on the second day of the first Test match against England in Nottingham. Catch all the live updates here: (Scorecentre)
Murali Vijay acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century on the opening day of the first Test match between India and England in Nottingham. Captain MS Dhoni walks with him.
© Reuters
India could not have asked for a better start to the Test series against England. Murali Vijay hit an unbeaten 122 as India made slow progress to reach 259 for four against a determined England seam attack on the first day of the opening Test at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. Vijay, 30, scored his fourth Test century and first outside India with an assured display as wickets fell around him, hitting 20 fours and one six off 294 balls.
The Tamil Nadu opener was given sporadic support from his team mates who struggled to establish themselves at the crease, before he was joined by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (50 not out) after tea, the pair putting on an unbeaten 81 for the fifth wicket. This partnership will be key on a fresh Day 2 wicket at Nottingham.
England struggled with the slow pitch in Nottingham but took wickets at the beginning of each session to ensure they kept India within touching distance in good batting conditions at the start of the five-Test series. Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane all fell early in a session, but Vijay's patience and expansive repertoire of shots helped keep the score ticking over.
"I've worked a lot with videos of James Anderson," Vijay said. "The first 15 minutes are the toughest thing as an opener. I wanted to play straight and late. It's a good batting wicket. After lunch, there was a period when it was doing a bit, so that was a good experience for me." (Dream come true for me, says Vijay)
England's Ian Bell (2nd L) celebrates with Joe Root (L) and bowler James Anderson (R) after catching out India's Cheteshwar Pujara (not pictured) for 38 runs during during play on day 1 of the first cricket Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England, on July 9, 2014.
© AFP
On a flat morning, England's pace attack struggled to impose themselves, with James Anderson taking the solitary wicket of Dhawan (12). Anderson was England's most successful bowler with 2 for 70. (Frustrating to have a placid pitch, says Anderson)
The hosts, looking for their first win in nine Tests and the first of coach Peter Moore's second spell in charge, were a different side after lunch and took two wickets for one run in the first three overs. But Vijay and Dhoni came good in the final session of play to ensure there was no further damage. Dhoni reached 50 off 64 balls to help lay a solid platform for his side. (Vijay's overseas ton and Dhoni's 'record' fifty)
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