Story England International Season - September 8th, 2007 - India in England

[Roofrom50]

Great graphics mate!!!
England should win this match though, without Ganguly and Singh, India look to be a little in-experienced for my liking

 

[treva]

England vs India
4th Natwest ODI
August 30, 2007
Old Trafford, Manchester

Thanks David. I am here with the two captains, Paul Collingwood and Rahul Dravid, and the match referee, Roshan Mahanama, for the coin toss. It's Rahul to call.

Heads

The call is a head, and it is a tail. You've won the toss Paul, what are you going to do?

We will have a bat. The pitch looks good and it will turn a lot later in the day, so yeah we'll have a bat.

Yes it does look a good pitch as there will be something in it for the bowlers and batsmen. What will be your mentality going into the match?

Well we're on a high from our great performance a few days ago at Edgbaston and we are looking to make it 3-1 in the series. Everyone is chipping in at the moment which is good to see and hopefully we can post a big score on the board.

You've made no changes from the side that one three days ago at Edgbaston. Do you feel this is the best possible one-day team for England at the moment?

Definitely. The boys are in great form and we are playing very well as a team. The dressing room is lively and we are all looking forward to every match. Training has been competitive and even the boys not in the team today are fighting hard to get in. Competition for places is a great thing to have.

You batted well first last match, is it something you prefer to do?

I wouldn't say we have a particular tendency, it's just about taking whatever is handed out. We shall look to score quickly and try to keep wickets in hand. If we can post a healthy total then it will give the bowlers something to work with. There looks to be some good pace and bounce for the seamers, and Monty should enjoy the turn and bounce.

Thanks Paul, have a good game.

Cheers.

Rahul, how do you feel about batting last on this wicket?

We would have had a bat, but we feel the wicket is a good one and if we can make use of it early we'll have a great chance. It's nice to see the sun shining and I think our spinners will be very happy with the dusty nature of this wicket.

Now there's been a lot of unrest in the Indian camp over the past few days. How will this effect the team?

Of course it's not ideal, but we have to focus on the task at hand. We have a game to win and the team today is capable of winning. Obviously it's a shame to see something like this happen, but we have to get on with things. Cricket is not about individuals, so we still believe we will win if we play well as a team.

You've had to make changes due to the suspensions handed out to Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh. Do you feel you made the right choice bringing in a spinner to replace Singh?

Yes. The pitch looks like it will give a lot of spin to the spinners and Ramesh will bowl his usual tight line. He's got a point to prove playing in his first game of the tour and he will want to try and keep his place. Unlike the pitch at Edgbaston, this is much more suited to Indian cricket, so hopefully we can perform to our best today.

Good luck for today's game, Rahul.

Thanks.

So, there you go. England have won the toss and they will bat first. Back to you in the studio David.

Thanks Ian. The sun is shining here in Manchester and today looks to be a promising day for cricket. Lets take a closer look a today's conditions.

There is a small chance of rain due to the recent weather around the country, but hopefully today's game will be left alone by the rain. The outfield is drying up from recent rain, but it will still travel at a fair pace across the ground. The pitch will have plenty of pace and bounce in it for the bowlers, also meaning that it will come onto the bat nicely. There will be a lot of turn for the spinners, especially in the second innings. This pitch will definitely suit both sides, so it should be a fantastic contest.

We are just moments away from the start of this 4th one day international, so join us after the break where England will be batting.

 

[Jaztheman]

Loving the graphics, Jack, it looks very proffesional and love your little touches.

Hopefully England can bat well first and get a good total on the board so they can make it 3-1 in the series, like Paul said. Without Ganguly and Singh, I think England will win.

Great writing and pre-match 'interview' at the toss. Keep up the good work, mate.

 

[treva]

Thanks James

Just to let you know, I have now switched ODI's to C2005 because of the save game bug on C2004. Tests and T20's will be played on C2004 still unless these next few games churn out some fascinating results.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Well brilliant gfx treva I am in love with them.

Well hoping for Indians to get some early wickets and put pressure on the English batsman. Gonna be tough without Bhajji but hopefully other bowlers do bowl well.

 

[saladguy]

This is really good Jack. I've got a feeling that Collingwood will get a century today and England will win by six wickets

 

[mattfb]

Great work overall there Treva.

Great interview, very realistic. Good idea to bat first for England as facing India's spinners on a turning pitch trying to chase wouldn't be ideal!

Great gfx, some of the best going around. They look so professional! Good to see it's on cricket 05 too, the best EA game in the series kiu!

 

[treva]

Pietersen and Bell rebuild after openers fail

England vs India
4th Natwest ODI
August 30, 2007
Old Trafford, Manchester

The Indian players, England openers and the umpires strolled out onto a packed Old Trafford ground under sunshine. As has been so far in this series, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh took the new ball. There was little swing but the ball carried through at a good height and at a good pace. Alistair cook looked good early on, smashing a couple fine cover drives past the Indian in-field and away to the boundary. Matt Prior at the other end, however, struggled to time the ball, using his feet to try and change the length only to come away with the same result.

Cook hits his first four of the day; Prior plays and misses; Cook smashes a fine cover drive to the fence​

England had steadily moved on to 27 when Cook's strength became his downfall. He had already laced three drives for four but a slower ball by RP Singh caught him out. Cook drove expecting the ball to have it's full pace only to loft it into the air towards extra cover. Piyush Chawla didn't have to move, taking a simple catch to dismiss Cook for 19.

Hit into the air; Cook annoyed with his dismissal; Simple catch for Chawla​

With Ian Bell at the crease Indian captain turned to spin as the first change for the second time in two games. Strangely he decided to use Sachin Tendulkar rather than Chawla or Powar, but the decision paid off. In Tendulkar's first over he managed to get a full ball to bounce. Prior went for the sweep only for the ball to catch the back of the bat and loop to short leg for a simple catch. England's openers had failed again leaving England struggling at 30/2.

Off the back of Prior's bat; Tendulkar delighted with early wicket; Indian players know they have their man​

It was again up to England's middle order to rebuild, a job both Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen were more than capable of doing. Both looked eager to score runs, Bell punishing width whilst Pietersen dispatched anything straight. The run rate started to pick up with singles becoming easier to pick up, and with the odd boundary, England started to gain momentum.

Bell lays into a wide ball; Pietersen plays down the ground; A straight ball flicked away by Pietersen​

With both Bell and Pietersen settled the Indian bowlers started to mix things up with slower balls and the odd bouncer. Khan troubled Pietersen with a short ball before Tendulkar almost had him bowled the very next over. A couple of balls later and Pietersen replied smashing a huge six over deep cover to send the crowd into raptures. Khan managed to trouble Pietersen again with the short ball, only for Pietersen to get a slight inside edge on it and send it down to fine leg for four.

Pietersen in trouble; Pietersen reacts by hitting first six of the day; Khan gets good bounce off the pitch​

After 20 overs England have made it to 91/2, the pair of Bell and Pietersen putting on a partnership of 61. Pietersen has reached a blistering 42* from 44 deliveries whilst Bell has eased onto 17 from 31.

 

[Jaztheman]

England have recovered well and can hopefully keep this up. The Indian team isn't good enough to win, in my opinion, without Singh and Ganguly but they have strength in depth so probably will. England's middle order need to continue on from this patnership.

Quality and neat presentation, Jack.

 

[Roofrom50]

Very good presentation mate, loving this story.
England have fought back well here after the miserable start. Good partnership by Bell and Pietersen who has come in with flying colors.

 

[mattfb]

Cook got England off to a flier but couldn't go on with it unfortunately. Prior was poor up the top but you have been saved by Bell and KP. Pietersen is playing a very good innings atm and hopefully he can go on and make a ton. Khan has bowled great so far and it's a good thing he is near the end of his 10.

Great work Treva, awesome writing and graphics. A top story this is. kiu!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

KP to the rescue again for England. brilliant presentation a slow start by England openers but KP and Bell will increase the run-rate. Surprise to see Sachin given the ball so early and taking a wicket. Brilliant presentation and gfx treva

Just one thing in the batting scorecard Prior's wicket is taken by Tendulkar..you have written RP Singh ..

 

[treva]

Ahh yes, thanks Shan.

Cheers for the comments guys

 

[Roofrom50]

Looking forward to the next update Trev

 

[saladguy]

KP is the man the Indians need to get. They will need to break up the KP/Bell partnership however I think that this may not happen for a while.