An cloudy day down in Nottingham as England face India on day 1 of the second test. England going in with confidence high after beating India at Lords so convincingly. For India it was an tough match as they were reduced to 3 bowlers by the second session of the first day and always on the back-foot from there. India had made 2 enforced changes with Gambhir not being fully fit from the blow to his shoulder with Yuvraj coming in and the big blow of Zaheer not recovering from a hamstring problem was replaced by Sreesnath. Being an overcast morning and knowing the pitch would offer a lot for the seamer's it was clear that who ever won the toss would ball and Dhoni did that as he won the toss and Strauss admitting he would have done the same if he had won. England had made once change with Tremlett not fit so Bresnan got a call up.
The decision seemed to pay off for Dhoni as India got 2 quick wickets Sharma trapped Cook for just 2 and the ever reliable Trott out for just 4 as England were 23-2 as Pietersen joined Strauss in the middle. The pair had to graft as the conditions were really hard to come by and by drinks after the first hour of play England were 26-2. The Indian seamer were really getting the ball to move around and the pitch of grass on the pitch was really helping the bowlers. With there eye in the second hour of play wasnt as hard as both men got use to the pitch, the conditions and were able to read the moving ball better as England got to 50 partnership in 102 balls. There were an couple more close appeals the umpire was right to turn them down as they went for lunch at 69-2.
Straight after lunch Piertersen feeling confident tried to go harder at the ball from the word go and back-fired on him straight away as he edged the 5th ball after lunch Sreresanth had another wicket. His selection looking smart. India buoyed by that wicket really made it hard for Strauss and the new man Bell to try and get the runs flowing. Once again they were having to hard graft for runs as England struggled to build an partnership. But as it got going an England collaps happened as Strauss edged an ball from Kumar and Raina took another easy catch. England now in trouble 85-4 got even worse as 3 balls later Kumar trapped Morgan for 0. England 85-5 and an run later Sreesanth got Prior out and England from 73-2 now 88-6 and in all kinds of trouble. It nearly got worse as Bell was nearly caught by Dravid. They did manage to get to 100 at the start of the 44th over but were already 6 down as India looked to try and finish the rest of the batting cheaply. England having a long batting line knew they could try and make some partnerships they can maybe get over 150 and have something to defend and Bell and Bresnan tried to re-build the innings. But just as they seemed like they might make it to tea just 6 down an double blow for England as Bresnan first went as he edged a Sharma ball to first slip Dravid and the over before tea Bell went to Sharma's bowling as England were reduced to an sorry score of 124-8 as Broad and Swann came to the wicket.
England being in an hopeless decision decided the only way to try and get out of the position is by playing there normal games and that was counter attacking cricket. As soon as an few boundaries had gone past the Indian field placing for some reason went very defensive which played into Broad and Swann's hand as they were able to take the bowling on knowing that even if they miss time it the likely hood of getting out was limited. They started enjoying themselves the fans started enjoying it and it also lifted the dressing room. Another strange thing was that India decided to ball differently to the plan which had worked for the 8 batsman before them and soon enough the pair had put on an very quick 50 partnership. Off just 42 balls in the process making 150. The partnership went quick 50 then 60 then 70 with no sign of stopping until Kumar got an super delivery to get up on Swann to hit him on the finger which he could only thumb to the slips as Mukund took an simple catch. That partnership was big for England as they put on 73 as they went from 124-8 to 197-9.
The next over England got to 200 which seemed very unlikely at tea as England had something to defend now if the innings finished then. An couple of overs after that Broad made an quick fire 50 off just 56 balls with 7 fours in that innings. An few more shots from Broad afterwards got England to 221 when he went for one too many shots as he held out an shot from the bowling of Harbhajan Singh and Tendulkar took an good catch on the boundary as England were bowled out for 221 when at tea they were looking at 150 at best. This gave India an awful 1 hour to survive in the day when they came out to bat. England wanting an couple of wickets before the end of play to really bring them back into this match. Swann didnt take to the field as he went to hospital to check out his hand and he will not bowl until tomorrow when they know the extent of the injury. India opener will be Dravid with Mukund because of injuries he has to move up the order as others shuffled around as well.
England got the perfect start as first ball Mukund drove a ball from on the up and went straight to Pietersen and the trap worked straight away. Laxman was brought in next. England bowled hostile and straight as both men really worked to survive. They knew there wicket was bigger than going for runs and went about really grafting out there. Laxman and Dravid both got short balls which hit them and Laxman survived an caught behind appeal which England thought had hit. It was reviewed and despite being close to the bat umpire Rauf made an super decision in giving it not out. Just as it was getting to the close Broad bowled an super over to Dravid which was unplayable. Bowling an couple of short balls which he could not get out of then bowling an super full ball which he missed and then bowled another one which Broad and England thoughr he had edged was reviewed and was given not out. They were cut and bruised but they survived the rest of the day as they battled off at 24-1.
India knowing they have to just bat tomorrow and try and build an bigger lead England knowing wickets is the only way they can get back into this game. India have had the better of the day getting England bowled out and having such an super star batting line up. England will fell they have dragged the game back with that Swann and Broad partnership where they feel getting around 150 would be as much as they expected they made 221 all out from 124-8 at tea. Built up for an incredible day 2 as India look to fight back in this series. There reputation of starting slow and then ending fast they are showing why they have that tag.
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