Story England host India, South Africa [C2005] (Eng 81-0,1st Ings, Ind 412 all out)

[Ramz]

great work man... shud be a great series..

 

[Cricket_60]

lol for a second I thought that I'd posted my story here


Well done gamerkid and m_vaughan

 

[gamerkid22]

wow good work now m vaughan not the stories are really getting ineteresing from now on... all the members now are getting good presentation and members are loving it The Story thread has became lively again

 

[Englishandproud]

Yes a great addition to another great story, always love reading your stories m_vaughan keep up the good work.

 

[Brett_Lee]

Good luck with it m_vaughan im sure this story will be great and interesting like all your other ones. Got a good read so far and cant wait for more!

 

[m_vaughan]

1st test begins..

England vs India
1st Test, Lord's

David Gower: Hello and welcome to Lord's for the first test match of this three match npower test series between England and India. Well its going to be a fantastic series between these two top teams, and to discuss about it, I am joined here by a West Indies legend, Michael Holding, and an Indian supremo, Sunil Gavaskar. Welcome gentlemen.

Michael Holding: Hello

Sunil Gavaskar: Hello

David Gower: Well my first question goes to you Michael, how important do you think this series is for both teams?

Michael Holding: In international cricket each and every match is important as you will have to work to win them. Nothing comes free, and although nowdays we see the Australians dominate, even they have to put in a lot of effort to get those results.
But this series is important for a slightly different reason. You see that both these teams are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world by the ICC, so effectively the winner of this series can stake claim to the second spot. Also for India, an overseas win against quality opposition is very much required.

David Gower: Your comments, Sunil?

Sunil Gavaskar: Yes I agree with Michael there. I think both teams will be playing, besides the npower trophy, for that second place in the rankings. India did overtake England for a very very short period to take that second place, so they will want to get a longer hold of it. But as an Indian myself, my aim of winning this series, as Michael said, would be to finally get an overseas test series win against a strong opposition. We've done it against Zimbabwe, but we have to do it against the top sides.

David Gower: Well the Indian coach, Greg Chappell believes, the key to India's success in this tour lies in their batting, and was extremely disappointed with the regular collapses in the tour games.

Sunil Gavaskar: Yes I agree with Greg Chappell there. India's strength is their batting which has to click for them to win games. The bowlers cant do it by themselves, especially an inexperienced attack as this one, with only Kumble, Harbhajan and Zaheer having played in previous tours. Well India go into this match with everything to prove, and they have to drastically improve on their batting performances from the warm-up games.

Michael Holding: Even though many teams dont do well in the warm-up games, David, they seem to get it right in the main matches. I am confident that India will bat a lot more responsibly against England. If they dont, then England will win this 3-0.

David Gower: (laughs) And wouldnt the English fans love that, but talking about fans, we know the Indians too are heavily supported here in England. Do you actually see this as an away match for India, Sunny?

Sunil Gavaskar: As far as crowd support is concerned, I think India can have no complaints, because all of the matches will have more Indian fans at the grounds than English. I've always felt that playing in England was like playing at home. Its just the conditions and the pitches that our players need to get used to.

David Gower: Well Michael, England will be really pleased to have Simon Jones, Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan back in the team.

Michael Holding: Thats a massive massive boost. Three of the finest cricketers in the world today, that makes an otherwise good England side look extremely dangerous. Its the equivalent of having McGrath, Symonds and Ponting playing for Australia. And we all know how important they were during the Ashes, especially Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff. I think Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff, makes the England bowling attack complete, along with those already present, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard. Harmison's pace and bounce, Flintoff's pace and hitting the deck, Hoggard's swing, and Simon Jones' pace and reverse swing makes it extremely difficult for the batsmen.

David Gower: Yes that reverse swing was what troubled the Australians so much, and something that England depended a lot on during the tours of the subcontinent, but sadly for them, Simon wasnt available, once again.
Well India do have two comebacks as well, even though its not from injury. Former skipper Sourav Ganguly and Zaheer Khan were both re-selected for this series after being dropped previously.

Sunil Gavaskar: Yes and it will be interesting to see how they perform, should they get the chance to play. What they do have is experience of having played in previous tours, and I think that is what the selectors looked at while picking the team. Good decision in my opinion.

David Gower: Ok then. Thanks a lot both of you for your comments. Lets now head to the middle for the pitch report with Michael Atherton.

Michael Atherton: Thanks David. Well as you can see, we have overcast conditions for this first day's play of the first test match. So even without looking at the pitch, you would want to have a bowl first. But, if we are to see the weather for the next five days, we might have overcast skies throughout. So maybe you would want to have a look at the wicket after all.

The pitch for today's game is a good firm one, with something in it for both batsmen and bowlers. However, there wont be too much bounce in it, which will make it easier for the batsmen to play their shots. As the match progresses we could see some cracks developing which could assist the spinners, especially India's spin bowlers. So I would definately recommend batting first and setting a good first innings score as the key to victory in this game.

Its back to the studio with David and the rest.

David Gower: Thanks Michael. We'll take a short break now, after which we'll have the coin toss, right here on Sky Sports 1. Dont go anywhere.

 

[gamerkid22]

i am not going anywhere ...waiting for it ...nice pitch report

 

[m_vaughan]

England vs India
1st Test, Lord's

David Gower: Welcome back and I believe we can now go back to the middle for the all important coin toss with our very own Bob Willis.

Bob Willis: Thank you David. Yes we are indeed ready for the toss, for which I am joined by the two captains, Michael Vaughan for England, and Rahul Dravid for India, as well as the match referee Mr. Alan Hurst
Now Mr. Hurst will toss the coin, and its Rahul's call, who says heads, and...

Alan Hurst: Heads it is

Bob Willis: Rahul Dravid has won the coin toss, and whats your decision going to be Rahul?

Rahul Dravid: We are going to have a bat first.

Bob Willis: You do expect your spinners to do the job in the fourth innings, dont you?

Rahul Dravid: Yes, but before that we need to set a good score and put England under pressure in the 1st innings itself. But yes, the reason why we want to bat first is to avoid facing the tough fourth innings, especially on the final day.

Bob Willis: And what is your team like for this game?

Rahul Dravid: Well, Sourav and Zaheer are both playing today in place of Wasim Jaffer and Munaf Patel.

Bob Willis: Well all the best Rahul.

Rahul Dravid: Thanks.

-----------(in the meantime)-----------------
Ravi Shastri: Well, Michael you have lost the toss, but would you have also batted first?

Michael Vaughan: Yes, I definately would. It seems a good track to bat on now then it will be later on. But I think if our bowlers can make good use of the overcast conditions and strike early, then we can nulify the role of the pitch.

Ravi Shastri: And how does it feel to be back, and back as captain?

Michael Vaughan: It's great to be back. I've really missed playing cricket for England, and am looking forward to get going again. The lads are also ready for this, and I am confident we'll do well this summer.

Ravi Shastri: Well its good to have you back, Michael. Now, hows the team like, Michael, for this game?

Michael Vaughan: We've decided to go in with Alastair Cook in the middle order, instead of Paul Collingwood, who sadly misses out.

Ravi Shastri: Right then, heres wishing you all the best, Michael. Good luck.

Michael Vaughan: Cheers mate.

------------------------------------------

Bob Willis: So India have won the coin toss, and their captain Rahul Dravid, as expected, has decided to bat first, put in a good score, and try and put England under pressure.

Its back to the studio.

David Gower: Thanks Bob. Now India definately have the initiative now since they have avoided batting last on this wicket, plus will get to utilise it when it is best for batting.

Sunil Gavaskar: Yes, however its important they play carefully early. Because even though the wicket is good for batting, the conditions are perfect for England's swing bowlers. I would strongly recommend the openers, which I think will be Sehwag and Ganguly to play out the initial overs, get used to the swing and seam, and then start playing their shots.

Michael Holding: I think the overcast conditions are ideal for the England bowlers, especially, Matthew Hoggard. He has proved to be very dangerous in similar conditions in the past, so India will have to bat cautiously.

David Gower: Would it be better for England then, if they sent Simon Jones to open the bowling with Hoggard, instead of Harmison. Because Harmison is not the guy who is going to swing the ball much, but basically pitch it up and with a lot of pace.

Michael Holding: Well I think the Indian batsmen are not very comfortable with rising deliveries. Especially Sehwag, I always get the feeling that might edge the odd rising ball to the slips or the wicketkeeper. So If I were the captain, I would definately have Harmison bowling early on, or to any batsman who is new to the crease. He's the kind of guy who can get you 5-6 wickets in an innings.

David Gower: Right then, lets now have a look at the team lineups for this game. Starting with England.

So Alastair Cook who pipped Ian Bell for a place in the squad, now is preferred to Paul Collingwood in the final XI. A bit harsh on Collingwood, one may feel, who was very consistent in the subcontinent.

Sunil Gavaskar: And the Indian side looks like this,

Sourav Ganguly will have to face the music from the word go, as he will be opening with Virender Sehwag. Zaheer Khan's inclusion makes it two left arm fast bowlers operating for the Indians. The rest of the team is pretty much standard, with Sree Santh keeping his place in the team.

David Gower: So with the teams done, we can now head for our final break before LIVE action begins from this first npower test match between England and India, from Lord's, right here on Sky Sports 1.

 

[Cricket_60]

Lots of pressure on Bell to perform now.

Excellent presentation, it's gunna be a fantastic match!

 

[m_vaughan]

Lots of pressure on Bell to perform now.

Excellent presentation, it's gunna be a fantastic match!

I think you meant Cook there.

 

[Cricket_60]

Yeah lol, lots of pressure on Cook now

 

[surendar]

its strange thing for India to Go with Ganguly has a opener .....Well its going to be a great contest between these two teams!!!

 

[m_vaughan]

Sehwag is out

England vs India
1st Test, Lord's

Ian Botham: England have struck early with the wicket of Virender Sehwag. Steve Harmison is the one who got the breakthrough for England.

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, and what a wicket to get. The dangerous Virender Sehwag, trying to play it down to the fine leg, but not quite judging the pace of the ball correctly, ending up getting himself hit on the pads right in front of middle and leg. Great delivery from Harmison.

Ian Botham: And Hawk-eye clearly shows that the ball was going and hitting middle and leg. Good decision.

FOW: India 21-1
Virender Sehwag lbw b Steve Harmison 11(21)

View Sehwag's lbw dismissal video

 

[gamerkid22]

bad start for India but good hawkeye work.

 

[surendar]

England got the crucial wicket of Sehwag!!!!
Also, great work with the hawk eye!!!