Story -- Englands International Season 2006/07 -- England V India -- [C2005]

[S_Harmison]

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Pepsi Test Series
England Vs India
1st Test
Kolkata

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Udal Snatches Pathans Wicket An Over Before Tea:

Michael Vaughan must be delighted with his team, 4 wickets in this last sesson and theres still one more over from Harmison to be bowled! He has been operating with a spinner at one end and a paceman at the other and it seems to we working because wickets have been comming from both of these options. Shaun Udal will be delighted with this one, maybe not as much as Sehwags, but this was a good thinkers wicket. There was a lot of banter around the bat by Freddie and Kevin Peitersen, Trescothick and Jones were also around the bat and it really got to Pathan, he eventually defended one with jumped up at him, it came poped right of the top of the bat and Kevin Peitersen took a good reaction catch in front of his face. A good time to get a wicket for England, Harmison will want Anil Kumble on strike for the majority of the last over before tea.

India: 233/7

MS Dhoni: 15*
A Kumble: 0*

M Hoggard: 1/20
S Harmison: 1/46
A Flintoff: 2/38
A Giles: 1/64
S Udal: 2/36

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[S_Harmison]

Its spooky how Briggesy has predicted the last three wickets.... Got the bowler wrong on the last one though...

 

[Briggsey]

Still a spinner though wasnt it, and did I not say pressure him with men around the bat! Duncan Fletcher step aside

 

[S_Harmison]

You can come to Derbyshire if you like!!!!

 

[Briggsey]

You can come to Derbyshire if you like!!!!

No youre quite alright

Anyway, as for Kumble, same again, pressure him with men around the bat for the spinners, and bang some in short with Freddie if he is on strike to him, should work a treat

 

[S_Harmison]

Ill bear that in mind when we come back after Tea!

 

[S_Harmison]

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Pepsi Test Series
England Vs India
1st Test
Kolkata

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Tea Day 1:

The first session was dominated by India, this session most definately went to England, once again they find themselves upping their game and taking key sessions when they need to be taken. This was what won them The Ashes, beating the Aussies in key session which really knocked the stuffing out of them, this is what has happened here, any team who loses four wickets in a session after being in a great position is going to be dejected and England need to capitalise upon that. Verinder Sehwags innings was overshadowed as the highlight of the session by England sharp thinking bowlers, each and every wicket taken in this session was thought out and planned (by Briggesy) and the plans that were set in place worked perfectly. England now need to come out after tea and get the remaining wickets quickly, they cannot allow Dhoni to get into his stride because he can be just as devistating as Sehwag if allowed to swing his arm, as shown by his career best ODI score of 183*, and i have a feeling that this is what the captain will be telling him to do. India realise that they have no batting left and need to get as many runs as they can. It should be an intreaguing session and if England come out to bat it will be tricky because they will need a big lead, batting last on the track is going to be hell as it is already deteoriating!

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[Briggsey]

See im not just a pretty face who writes cricket stories, I have a very good cricketing brain How Vaughan must wish he had a brain like mine!

Dont get too complacent after tea though and sit back! Its been proven that batsmen down the order can stick around and Bhajji and Zaheer are no slouches with the bat! Just look at what Hussey and McGrath did to SA recently! Dhoni is the key wicket, get him and the rest will fall with good accurate bowling!

 

[w3lshrugby]

This story is perhaps the best one that I have read! Maybe Briggsey aside.

 

[S_Harmison]

Thanks for the compliments Update maybe tonight maybe tomorrow!

 

[S_Harmison]

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Pepsi Test Series
England Vs India
1st Test
Kolkata

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Dhoni Goes And Udal Explodes:

Mahendra Dhoni will be kicking himself at the way he was dismissed by Shaun Udal because he didnt even need to play at the ball. It was wide of off stump and could easily have been left, it was floated out there in the hope that Dhoni would have a drive at it and maybe get an edge though to Jones. He went one better and tried to square drive him, it went hard and fast but it also went in the air. There was still a lot to do for the catcher Trescothick though, he drived full stretch in front of him and got his fingers right underneath the ball and held onto it. Dhoni will be dissapointed because he was building a decent partnership with the tailender Kumble. Udal nearly imploded as he screamed "CATCH IT!!!" and then was ecstatic as his team mates swarmed over to Tresco to celebrate. This could get very pair shaped for India as they havent reached 300 yet and they might not get there, England could get 50 on the board tonight and then really build a lead into tomorrow. This is really shaping up to be a tasty series!!

India: 264/8

A Kumble: 4*
Harbajan Singh: 0*

M Hoggard: 1/24
S Harmison: 1/56
A Flintoff: 2/39
A Giles: 1/66
S Udal: 3/47

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[S_Harmison]

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Pepsi Test Series
England Vs India
1st Test
Kolkata

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Udal Gets Two In Two And Ends With Five:

Shaun Udal will be absolutely delighted with himself after he picked up a 5 for in the first innings of the first test here in Kolkata!! His first victim was Anil Kumble who had battled long and hard to keep India batting untill the close of play. Udal was having no luck over the wicket so he tried around the wicket and it paid of with the very first ball, Kumble got the big stride in as it pitched legside and just held the bat there i case it span through the gate, it didnt spin however and it popped right out in front of Peitersen at silly point, it was in the air hardly a second before is was grasped by an outstetched South African born superstar. The Barmy Army was hyped up and the tension was mounting on the Indian balcony.

Zaheer Khan would have been under instructions to pad or leave everything and just run the clock down so Udal tried the same ball again and it went downa treat, a bit more pace on the ball meant that it popped back towards the bowler, Peitersen was up like a cat once again, he threw himself up and clutched the ball in his palm, he went at it a bit hard but it stuck and the England travelling contingent went absolutely ballistsic!! The England boys mobbed Udal as Khan and Harbajan left the field. Udals first 5 wicket haul for England was probrably the most vital 5 for of his life, it has given England the edge going into thier first innings and restricted India to under 300 which is a great bit of bowling. The footmrk are going to be havock from now on, they have been producing some rip for the spinners and some eratic movement for the seamers, the opening pair will have to look out as the sun sets here in Kolkata!

India: 267 All Out After 76.5 Overs

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[S_Harmison]

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Pepsi Test Series
England Vs India
1st Test
Kolkata

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End Of India 1st Innings:

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[sohail]

wow! great bowling by Udal but sehwag what a smash he gave the English bowling attack. i think england will be happy with the total india hit.

 

[S_Harmison]

Im personaly very happy with it, i think i can chase it comfortably and get a decent lead.