Story England tours India for a three test series!

[SaiSrini]

Back to the stories section! How good it feels to be back after a long time! OK now that I have Cricket 2005, its going to be a hell lot of new experience playing it and posting updates here! I am going to take it one by one only!

Ok now, starting with the tour of England to India! England, who are riding a wave of success in the Ashes beating and drawing against Australia are now touring India for a three test series. India, who are quite a force at home on those spinner friendly wickets are surely going to be a tough opposition for England who are not great players of spin. But England have that fighting team spirit and have great players who can create history and we've seen that in the Ashes! So we get down to the big series between the world's No 2 test team and the world's No 3 test team as they fight it out to widen their respective gaps with Australia!

I am playing with the original AI only! No patches yet. Only some Indian players faces edited! It has been three days only since I am playing and so I am not too good at batting or bowling. So England start as the favorites for this series. I might autoplay bowling as the bowling at times doesnt excite me!

Very rare six hit shots and advance down the wicket shots (advance down the wicket is damn tough anyway!).

Here are the fixtures

India vs England - First test at Kolkatta
India vs England - Second test at Bangalore
India vs England - Third Test at Chennai

Teams to be announced shortly! Stay tuned to this broadcast!

 

[SaiSrini]

First test - Kolkatta

A bright sunny morning today at the Eden Gardens on the first day of the first test between India and England! England look all fired up for this series. They havent won a series in India for a long time and are licking the lips in anticipation! India on the other hand, are a good test unit and would be more strengthened by the services of the Aussie coach, Greg Chappell.

Sanjay Manjrekar: Welcome to straight drive and this is Sanjay Manjrekar welcoming you to the telecast of this Kapil-Botham Trophy test series between India and England. We have with us two gentlemen, Javagal Srinath and Ian Botham on whose name this new trophy is being named! How does it feel Botham?

I.Botham: Absolutely fantastic! Its a great previlege to have your name for the trophy between these two countries and also a great previlege to share that name with all great all rounder, Kapil Dev!

Sanjay: You must be really excited abt this series. England have not won here for a long time and now they are challenging Australia seriously for World Number one status! What do you think?

I.Botham: Yes. England need to win here to terrify Australia that their spot is not to them for life! England look a team capable of beating anyone right now in the world. We have world class players like Flintoff, Harmison, Vaughan, Trescothick, Giles, etc who can win matches for England any day.

Sanjay: What are your thoughts on this series, Sri (Srinath)?

J.Srinath: Well, its going to be a marvellous series. India are No 3 and England are No 2. India have the ability to beat England on their home soil. We have the spinners and they are not known to be great guys against spin.

I. Botham: But Sri, its not all about spin thats going to win you matches. And England has previous experience of playing spin because they have played a lot against Sri Lanka and Pakistan!

Sanjay: Well gentlemen, we'll take a short break because Tony Greig is there with the two captains, Ganguly and Vaughan

Ganguly tosses the coin. Vaughan calls Heads, but Tails it is!

Tony: Your call Saurav?
Saurav: We'll have a bat first! The wicket looks to be a good one for the spinners. As the match progresses, the wicket will get more turn. So we dont want to take the risk of batting last on this wicket!

Tony: Well thanks Saurav. Disappointed with the toss, Vaughnie?
Vaughan: Well it has to fall either way! We have to be prepared for it. We have the men to do the job. We think we can do it!

Tony: So gentlemen, the news from the middle is that India have won the toss and will bat first!

Sanjay: Thats a safe decision from Saurav, aint it Sri?
Srinath: Yes Sanjay! Saurav opted to avoid the use of this wicket for his batsmen on the last day! It will become increasingly difficult and Kumble and Bhajji will have a ball bowling here on the last day if India set a good total for England to chase!

Sanjay: There is the Indian openers walking in! Steve Harmison is going to open the attack for England. PLay all set to start. Lets join our commentators, Ian Botham and Ravi Shastri.

Shastri: Oh! Thats a disastrous start for India! Gambhir gone for nought! India 0/1!!! What a ball from Harmison! Unplayable delivery off the fifth ball of the innings! Gambhir didnt know where the ball was going to pitch and was stuck low on his pads and there was no way he was going to escape! England strike first blood, India 0/1

 

[ashu2411]

I will check your story regularly. Hope its a good one and Best Wishes for Indian win

 

[jhnnyby000]

hope it goes well

 

[SaiSrini]

Ultimate disaster for India!

Botham: Thats another disaster for India even before they've opened their account. Sehwag gone for LBW off the first ball of the second over to Hoggard. Controversial decision by the umpire as the ball seemed to be moving down the leg side and hawk eye suggests that it would have missed leg stump. But Sehwag given LBW for 0 off 1 ball! India 0/2 and in the worst of starts to the series!

Shastri: That was a shocker from Bucknor! The ball might have easily missed leg stump! Sehwag hard done by in the end. India 0/2!!!!

Botham: Tendulkar walking in amidst vociferous applause! Fans now placing all expectations on this pair of Dravid-Sachin to get India out of the spot England has landed them in!

Shastri: Tendulkar batting well there and is not out on 14* off 14 balls!

Botham: Oh! As you say that, Harmison has breached through the defences of Sachin! The crowd goes into a stunned silence! England players celebrating madly! Sachin gone for 14 and India slowly digging a pit for themselves!

Shastri: What line did he chose to play that ball on? Harmison moved the ball off the seam and Tendulkar completely missed it to be bowled. Thats a big psychological wicket for Harmison! India 18/3

Botham: India are truly digging a deep pit from themselves from which they might not recover! Dravid out LBW to Hoggard as England's pacemen are on fire right at the start of this series. This decision seems to be a better one from Bucknor as Hoggard pushed in an unplayable delivery to Dravid which Dravid didnt anticipate at all. India 24/4

Shastri: Hoggard and Harmison are surely on a roll here! They're bowling unplayable deliveries here to the Indian batsmen and are already holding a psychological lead over them. Ganguly is joined by Kaif who is playing here instead of Laxman!

Botham: Oh! Ganguly is dropped there at slips by Trescothick! Thats a costly miss by England as Ganguly is looking to settle in and a settled Ganguly can be dangerous for England!

Shastri: Yes Ian! That was a simple chance to Marcus which he dropped! Should be been a wicketf for England there. India 27/4 off 8 overs

 

[SaiSrini]

Umpiring Error - India 35/5

Botham: Oh! Thats another wicket for England who are fast wrapping this up here at Kolkatta! Kaif has been given out LBW to Butcher! The umpire has given another atrocious decision to a ball absolutely going outside the leg stump. Kaif here is again hard done by after Sehwag received a similar treatment. India 35/5

Shastri: The umpiring here has been absolutely horrible Ian! Two decisions favoring the bowling team when both looked to be easy decisions that should have been given in favor of the batsman!

Ian: I agree Ravi! The umpiring has been sub standard so far in this test match!

Shastri: A mini revival here for India by Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is in his debut test match! India are now 56/5 with Dhoni and Ganguly sprinting along superbly between the wickets. Ganguly who is not known to be a good runner is putting more pressure on the young Dhoni who is responding well to his captain.

Ian: That was a stunning shot from Dhoni who lofted Butcher through long on for four! One of the rare convincing shots from the Indian batsmen today!

Shastri: Yes Ian! And the last over from Hoggard was fantastic! Ganguly scoring four two's off the first four balls off Hoggard. Ganguly running out there like a man possessed! Should prove to be an exciting session. To take you through will be Ian Chappell and Tony Greig!

 

[fardin]

That is a big umpiring Error.

 

[SaiSrini]

Chappell: What a basty blow for Dhoni from Flintoff! Dhoni took his eyes off the ball and paid for it with a blow on the back of his head!

Greig: Yes Ian! One should really keep his eyes on the ball until he is connected bat with ball! Dhoni on the ground now receiving medical treatment. Play held up for a few minutes!

Chappell: The partnership betwee Ganguly and Dhoni has started to really blossom now. India are now 81/5 with the partnership between them being 44 runs!

Greig: Yes, Ganguly has started to play more positively and is now having an interesting duel with his old time foe, Flintoff. Ganguly has picked 10 runs off the 5 balls bowled to him by Flintoff. Ganguly not out on 30* and Dhoni not out on 17*.

​

Greig: Oh! Dhoni is out off the 4th ball of the final over before lunch to the off spin of Gareth Batty! A classic off spinner's dismissal and Batty turned one from outside the off stump as Dhoni tried to defend it unsuccessfully. The ball clipped the edge of the off stump to send back Dhoni for a well made 18! The partnership betwen Ganguly and Dhoni was 59 and India now are 94/6

Chappell: And thats lunch for you on Day 1! A terrific session to start off the test match! England cleaned up the Indian top order picking up 5 wickets for 35 runs. Then Ganguly and Dhoni led a mini revival staging a partnership of 59 runs before Batty stuck for England. Pathan at the crease with Saurav who is not out on 39*. Should prove to be a very crucial partnership if India are dreaming of putting up something of a respectable total! We'll be back in 40 mins. Till then, its goodbye!

 

[SaiSrini]

Ganguly & Pathan consolidate - India 147/6

Good period of play - India 147/6

Greig: Thats a fantastic knock under pressure by Ganguly. He has stood like a rock when the other batsmen have fallen like nine pins around him and when he received support from Dhoni and now Pathan, he has blossomed greatly! He deserves great applause for this fighting innings!

Chappell: Thats Ganguly's first shot through the off side today for a four! Absolutely Ganguly like! I wonder how England were able to curb Ganguly by not bowling on the off side at all to him as he is a wonderful player of the off side! They have done a great job not bowling to him there as you can see from that shot by him!

Greig: England have been exemplary today Ian! They have been super tight on the field except for a few misfields. They have had a fantastic start to this series! How would you rate India's chances in this series especially with your brother Greg coaching the side?

Chappell: Greg has a brilliant mind for cricket! He uses good tactical methods to his coaching! However, this is his first full fledged test series with India. He needs time to get adjusted with the team! But I am sure India would have a fruitful tenure with Greg as the coach!

Greig: Thats a good shot from Ganguly! A ball on his hips from Flintoff and Ganguly took no time to hit it for another boundary! Very good batting from Ganguly. Pathan supporting him very well at the other end. The partnership is now 53

Partnership - 53

Chappell: Thats the 7th wicket for England! Pathan fatally misjudging the swig of Mark Butcher to see his off stump rattled! A crucial wicket for England who can now think of wrapping up this Indian innings under 200 to enjoy the big lead in this game!

Greig: Just when it was needed, Pathan failed to be there for his captain! Ganguly is not out on 76* at the other end and seriously needs partners to help him take India to a total of 200+ to give the bowlers some fighting chance! This is not a dangerous wicket to bat on. England's bowlers have been stunning today! To take you through the second session, its going to be Richie Benaud and Navjot Sidhu!

Sidhu: O! Punjab Ka Sher Harbhajan survives a close LBW call! The ball was close to the off stump and who knows, it might have brushed the off stump. Lucky survive for Bhajju and India!

 

[SaiSrini]

Ganguly 100 - India 195/9

Ganguly hits century as India wobble to 195/9​

Sidhu: What a fantastic innings from the Indian captain under immense pressure to keep his place in the side as a batsman! Tuly world class batsmanship from Saurav today when the chips were falling down! Should certainly be one of his best innings and can be compared with his effort at Brisbane against Australia in 2003!

Ian Healy: Certainly a great innings from Ganguly! A hit back at his detractors who find it a hobby to bay for his blood! Oh No! As I say this, Butcher has breached through the bat of Ganguly! Thats a sad end to a great innings from the Indian captain. England recover their hold back again!

Sidhu: Thats not what India wanted at this stage! They were well under control when Ganguly was out there at the crease! Oh gosh! Butcher brings one back into Harbhajan who plays an ugly shot and is trapped plumb in front of his stumps. Harbhajan gone for 8 but importantly he has partnered with Ganguly and has taken India close to 200!

Healy: This is terrific stuff from Butcher. Even though he has given away lot of runs and has a poor economical figure, he has repeatedly swung the ball and has now picked 4 wickets and looks to be the guy with the lucky charm for England! India 195/9 with Zaheer Khan and Kumble at the crease trying to push India over 200!

INDIA ALL OUT FOR 201!

Mark Butcher picks up 5 wickets as England bowl India out for 201! Butcher has come up with a brilliant performance with the ball as England have dominated India for most part of the day and hadnt it been for Ganguly's 100, it would have been even more poor for India!

We will come back in 10 mins with the England innings! Till then, stay tuned!

 

[SaiSrini]

Khan strikes first blood - England 0/1

Healy: Thats amazing!!!!! Zaheer Khan strikes for India getting rid of Andrew Strauss for nought as England are 0/1 after the first over. A perfect delivery from Khan that moved outside the off had Strauss edging it to second slip! India strike first blood here as 11 wickets have fallen in the first two sessions of this game!

Sidhu: That is a lot of wickets in the first two sessions. The tea hasnt come yet and 11 wickets have fallen. This wicket is certainly not a bowler friendly one but is a spinner friendly one and is still hard and good for batting!

Healy: Thats tea and England are still on 0/1. A tight maiden over from Pathan as this game is set up for a great clash!

AT TEA - ENGLAND 0/1​

 

[ashu2411]

Good start for India but they should have made more with the bat. I think groundsmen of Kolkata have done a poor job by making a pitch where 11 wickets were lost in first two sessions of first day.

 

[SaiSrini]

Good start for India but they should have made more with the bat. I think groundsmen of Kolkata have done a poor job by making a pitch where 11 wickets were lost in first two sessions of first day.

Its also in late August where the heat has come down a lot and the conditions favoring good swing! Butcher extracted enormous swing to rattle the Indians today!

England 78/3 after Day 1​

Marcus Trescothick and Micheal Vaughan shared a partnership of 64 runs before the Indian spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble brought back the game from England with two twin wickets to leave England in the same position that they started the day with!

Ramees Raja: Good batting that by Trescothick Ravi! He absolutely blocked anything that came his way until he found confidence. And once he found confidence, we could see those gorgeous pull shots from him that sped like a rocket to the boundary.

Ravi: Yes Rameez! He seemed to have found his straps very well. I personally liked that glide to the third man for a four! It was just a masterful shot and only he could have played it that well.

Rameez: Sad that he was out for 35 just when he was getting set for a long innings! Kumble tossed in a flipper and he tried to cover drive the ball but got a thin edge which Dhoni grabbed behind the stumps. It was a sad end to a promising innings from Trescothick and also allowed India breathing space!

Ravi: Thats Thorpe gone for 4! The doosra from Harbhajan Singh which Thorpe had no clue for and was trapped plumb LBW in front of his stumps! Bhajji on a roll there. He has been pretty tight today and has been using his doosra and the straight ball very usefully!

Rameez: Vaughan and Butcher see England through the day and end up with 78/3. Butcher is not out on 7* and Vaughan is not out on 27*. Vaughan's wicket is very crucial for the Indians. If they can get Vaughan early tomorrow, they would be in with a very good chance of strangulating England early in the day tomorrow! With Flintoff and Jones only to come, Vaughan is the guy the Indian spin duo might target tomorrow!

 

[MWaugh]

good to have you back writing stories sai. look forward to another great story from you mate

 

[gold639]

Great to see you back mate!