Manchester: India's fortunes at Old Trafford could well be decided on Day 2 of the fourth Test on Friday. (LIVE SCORECARD).
India's Varun Aaron, center, celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Gary Ballance, left, lbw for 37 on the first day of the fourth test match of their five match series at Old Trafford cricket ground, in Manchester, England, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014.
© AP
With virtually nothing to defend, onus will be on India's bowlers to restrict England to a modest total and then aspire for a better batting display in the second innings. Hope remains Mahendra Singh Dhoni's biggest ally at this stage of the crucial Test match.
It has turned out to be good toss to lose for Alastair Cook. For India, morning didn't show the day. India's atrocious batting stumped the game's pundits. Dhoni certainly didn't expect his young team to equal a word record of zeroes. Losing four wickets for eight runs was certainly no advertisement for a line-up with some awesome talent. The skipper's 71 exposed the lack of technique and temperament in top-order batsmen. India folded for a paltry 152.
England (113 for three) won't make such school-boyish mistakes for sure. Even nightwatchman Chris Jordan knew where his off-stump was. England lost openers Sam Robson, for six, and Alastair Cook (17) but Gary Ballance and Ian Bell added 77 for the third wicket before Ballance was trapped lbw for 37 by Varun Aaron just before the close. Bell will resume on 45 not out with Chris Jordan on nought.
MS Dhoni plays a shot during his knock of 71 against England in 4th Test at Manchester.
© AP
After warming the bench for three Tests, Ravichandran Ashwin finally made the Playing XI at Old Trafford. He did his bit with the bat on Thursday, but it will be his spin that Dhoni is counting on. Ashwin bowled seven tight overs out of the 35 India bowled on Thursday. England will surely play the off-spinner with respect.
One of Ashwin's biggest strength is his positive mind. He, quite rightly, reckons India are not over and out of the Test match and a good session can turn things around. "We are still very much in the game. We need to knock a few wickets in the morning and hopefully we will get some good conditions to support us as well," said Ashwin.
Varun Aaron has justified the faith in him. His two for 26 should inspire him to fire on all cylinders Friday morning. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's swing, Aaron's pacy cutters and Ashwin's spin should be a heady mix, but Bell is a tough customer. With all the time in the world at his disposal, Bell will be in no hurry to score. So it should once again be a great contest between bat and ball. Will Aaron bend his back and do a Stuart Broad?
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