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England cricket tour of India 2012-13

Curtains

By Curtains
in Other Sport

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froggg

froggg

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A remarkable rearguard from Ravichandran Ashwin held up England after the tourists had looked set to wrap up an innings victory over India in the third Test at Kolkata.[/size][size=3]

Ashwin ended day four unbeaten on 83, having carried his side to 239 for nine and an unlikely lead of 32 following a dramatic batting collapse.[/size][size=3]

England remained overwhelming favourites to take a 2-1 series lead, but would have to wait to do so.[/size][size=3]

A day of three contrasting sessions provided no shortage of intrigue.[/size][size=3]

India dominated the morning, wrapping up England’s first-innings for 523 in quick time before responding to a deficit of 207 by dashing to 86 without loss through controlled aggression from Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.[/size]

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(ECB)[/size]

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froggg

froggg

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[size=3]James Anderson followed up debutant Joe Root’s outstanding 73 as England moved into a dominant position against India in the crucial fourth and final Test.[/size]

[size=3]Heading into the encounter knowing a draw would secure a quite brilliant series victory - their first in India since 1985 - the tourists could today reflect on an excellent - and unexpected - decision to select Root.[/size]

[size=3]The 21-year-old once again showed a composure that belied his tender years on day two, responsibly opting for steady accumulation on a slow pitch Kevin Pietersen yesterday described as “the toughest wicket I’ve played Test cricket on”.[/size]

[size=3]That approach paid dividends as Root’s half-century, alongside 57 and 56 respectively from Matt Prior and Graeme Swann, took England to a first-innings total of 330, which was impressive given tacky surface.[/size]

[size=3]Such an assessment looked all the more accurate as Anderson delivered a sizzling performance in the reply, claiming 3-24 over two spells as India were reduced to 84 for four - still 243 behind.[/size]

[size=2][url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/photo-story.html?LphotoId=1351397]http://static.ecb.co.uk/images/width230/anderson-1351397[/size]

[size=3]Anderson’s efforts on sub-continental tours of the United Arab Emirates, against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India over the past 18 months have further enhanced his claim to go down as an England great - and the respect gained earned the first wicket.[/size]

[size=3]Virender Sehwag was the man to go in the opening over; expecting more prodigious movement and fatally playing inside the line of one coming back in, the opener saw middle stump uprooted.[/size]

[size=3]Gautam Gambhir responded with some flowing drives, enjoying a little fortune too, and Cheteshwar Pujara delivered a couple of crisp back-foot boundaries in a fifty partnership.[/size]

[size=3]Swann, however, kept the ball rolling for the tourists - 2-1 ahead in the rubber having lost the first Test comfortably - by having the latter brilliantly caught by Ian Bell at short-leg, though replays suggested the ball hit elbow rather than glove.[/size]

[size=3]Scenting a chance, Alastair Cook brought back his lynchpin and Anderson was up to the challenge, bowling Sachin Tendulkar via an inside edge with a beauty that nipped back and kept low - in the process becoming the most prolific bowler ever against the Little Master.[/size]

[size=3]Amid those wickets falling, Gambhir had provided impressive resistance, yet he too eventually succumbed to the irresistable paceman, feathering an attempted drive to a gleeful Prior.[/size]

[size=3]Earlier, Root was on hand to further enhance a reputation he began to build yesterday. Partnered by a more aggressive Prior initially, he helped take their partnership beyond three figures after England had resumed on 199 for five.[/size]

[size=3]While Prior profited from the cut in particular, his partner prospered via a patient approach that only altered upon the former’s departure.[/size]

[size=3]Indeed, after Prior was bowled immediately following the drinks break by a Ravichandran Ashwin delivery that went on with the arm, Root began to unfurl some clever sweeps and late cuts.[/size]

[size=3]He was perhaps inspired by an excellent knock from Swann, who showed plenty of controlled aggression, striking sixes over midwicket and down the ground amid a flurry of fours.[/size]

[size=3]The upshot was a fifth Test half-century for the number nine, brought up after Root’s innings had ended when Piyush Chawla claimed a return catch following a rare ill-advised shot across the line.[/size]

[size=3]Swann would eventually fall trying one stroke too many, trapped in front by Chawla attempting a reverse-sweep. Anderson was then taken impressively by Pujara at short-leg off the leg-spinner, who claimed 4-69, yet there was little doubt which side was in the ascendancy by the close.[/size]

(ECB)

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Butthead

Butthead

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Nice to see a Derby County flag on the boundary fence.

It's been shown quite a bit, funny there's just a load of Indians sitting behind it, do we have an Indian Supporters Club that we did'nt know about or have the flag owners gone native? 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

The cricket is just painful, can see us losing this with a batting collapse and India having enough time to chase down the runs.

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Butthead

Butthead

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Still very much in the balance, whether India are skittled our cheaply tomo or a small lead. England need to bat well as India have the players to chase down a tight run chase.

The pressure is on England and our batting. Cook, Compton, and Trott are the key to get a steady start and one of them has to bat long in support of the middle order.

Magnificient innings by Koli and Dhoni, that's how to bat on this pitch.

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