Story England's Road to Glory: v India - 1st Test: Gallant India Turned Over by Rampant Lions

[shefellover93]

Eye on the Ashes 2009

Matt Prior

Bat:

Prior had a swashbuckling style during his time at the crease. The Sussex keeper, who made 28 runs off 17 deliveries was unlucky, getting out to what looked like a good forward defensive. He hit quite a few fours to his 28 but couldn’t go on and make a score. Something he’ll look to rectify at Headingly

Gloves:

Prior looked good with the gloves, although he didn’t have much to do in the first innings, only taking a catch from a Makhaya Ntini top edge to end the innings, he didn’t concead a single bye, and was authoritative behind the stumps.
The second innings he also did well, running out two men from difficult throws. First, taking from his bottom right, he swiftly dislodged the bails to dismiss Herschelle Gibbs. Then, as Makhaya Ntini was bearing down on him, he kept his nerve to take the catch chest height and go down to run him out.

Overall Score: 7/10 - Needs a little improvement with the bat but overall very good

shefellover93 added 4 Minutes and 8 Seconds later...

Squads for Scond Test Announced
England

1. Michael Vaughan ©
2. Alistair Cook
3. Kevin Pietersen
4. Ian Bell
5. Mark Ramprakash
6. Matt Prior (WK)
7. Andrew Flintoff
8. Matthew Hoggard
9. Ryan Sidebottom
10. Stephen Harmison
11. Monty Panesar
------------------
12. Paul Collingwood

South Africa

1. AB de Villiers
2. Graeme Smith ©
3. Herschelle Gibbs
4. Jaques Kallis
5. Mark Boucher (WK)
6. Hashim Amla
7. Paul Harris
8. Shaun Pollock
9. André Nel
10. Mornie Morkel
11. Makhaya Ntini
--------------------
12. Ashwell Prince


So England have named an unchanged squad squad but on the Proteas side Ashwell Prince loses his place in favor of Jaques Kallis after the Port Elizabeth man could only make 2 in his two innings at Lords

 

[shefellover93]

Second Test Preview

England are definitely the favourites heading into the second npower Test Match at Headingly in Leeds. Michael Vaughan goes back to his home ground with a massive amount of confidence after hitting 177 at Lord?s and walking away with the Man of the Match watch and bottle of champagne. He?ll also be buoyed by the rest of his team who performed very well in the field, Vaughan leading from the front with two run outs. There are a number of other men that are confident going into the game, namely Ryan Sidebottom who took 7 wickets at the home of cricket and Matthew Hoggard who took 4 wickets in South Africa?s first innings.

Andr? Nel was clean bowled by Sidebottom in the first innings



The England selectors will also be happy, with the smooth re-introduction of Matthew Prior to the test scene. The wicket-keeper scoring a quick fire 21 with the bat, taking a catch, and 2 run-outs . Not a bad start for a man who took a 52 week break from Test Cricket. Andrew Flintoff had an amazing match for a man who?s last test was way back in January 2007. Scoring 84 in his first test innings in 18 months. He also took 3 very important wickets at the top of the order for England in South Africa?s second innings. Flintoff emphasizing why he?s England?s premier all-rounder.

South Africa however will be distraught after their abysmal innings and 197 run mauling at the hands of an in form Lions side. After what wasn?t a poor bowling performance in the first innings, bowling England for just under 400. The Proteas just couldn?t make the runs. Poor performances from openers AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith didn?t give South Africa the foundation they needed. Then a serious lack of runs all along the order, with Ashwell Prince only scraping 2 runs in his two innings?, Hashim Amla 8, and Paul Harris a pitiful 1 from his two attempts.

Andrew Flintoff was excellent with the ball



Even though South Africa have suffered one of their worst defeat, the only man to be sacrificed from the current South African team was Ashwell Prince, gone in place of Jaques Kallis. England havn?t changed their very successful side in the last test.

 

[thesweepmaster]

I think South Africa will be stroger with Jaques Kallis in for Ashwell Prince but if Vaughan continues his good form then basically this will be an easy England win.

Great update mate, keep it up!

 

[formula1man]

this is a quality story mate. good work

 

[Highlander999]

You are going to have to change the squad after what has happened today

Great work mate, you deserve more recognition for this

 

[shefellover93]

You are going to have to change the squad after what has happened today

Great work mate, you deserve more recognition for this

I know mate, I can't believe he's gone. But he'll be in for this match becuse he was playing in it in real life, and for the next test, but then he's gone.

Not to go off-topic 2 much but I'm personally sad 2 see him go, yes, he was poor with the bat, but he's has an amazing cricket head and he, IMHO, his a better captain then Pietersen, and you'd almost want 2 cry with him

And thanks all that commented

 

[shefellover93]

Just to say to all that this hasn't finished, but my pc's RAM almost halved in the space of 3 weeks, so whenever I try to start Cricket 07 it crashes. Thanks to all that have commented so far and once again I will continue it, would people prefer if I continued it on PS2, or would they just like me to hold out until we buy some more?

 

[adyhorn]

Whatever you want to do. It's your choice.

 

[treva]

This is a good story. I guess play it on whatever you want to, I mean it's just reports so as long as the scores are realistic that's all that matters. Keep it up mate

 

[shefellover93]

I'm gonna have to make a few changes to the squad, nothing 2 major tho

EDIT: Got it working on my pc against so it's business as usual

 

[shefellover93]

Pietersen causes problems for Proteas

After England’s win in the first test at Lord’s in just three days they will be looking to take a 2 game lead in the series. South Africa have an altogether different task, to put the major disappointment of the last test behind and try to equal the series at Leeds.

With a green pitch Proteas captain Graeme Smith decided to put England in to bat, for Michael Vaughan it was a good toss to lose with excellent overhead conditions. Alistair Cook went early, bowled by Shaun Pollock 7 overs into the game for only 4, then Michael Vaughan followed soon after, gone for 27 off 23 when he chipped an easy catch to Makhaya Ntini at deep backward square leg, Pollock taking his second.

Makhaya Nitini is mobbed after taking the catch to dismiss England captain Michael Vaughan



An under pressure Ian Bell came in with Kevin Pietersen and they struck it off early, Bell was strong off the front foot, while, as ever most of KP’s runs were going to the onside. The partnership reached 50 in the 19th over. But 8 overs later Bell was gone, he was clean bowled by Paul Harris, Bell tried an on drive to hit the empty boundary, but the ball just squeezed under his bat and onto his off stump just before lunch and England finished the session on 138-3.

Kevin Pietersen was going nicely

Pietersen and new partner Mark Ramprakash pushed on and the Hampshire player reached his half century in the 31st over, in 75 balls, and it was Pietersen’s milestone in the English summer of 2008. The second 50 partnership came in the 35th over, with Ramprakash contributing 17. Pietersen had his fair share of luck when he, and everyone else in the ground was convinced that he was out when André Nel sent his off-stump cart wheeling 10 metres behind it’s original place, but umpire Rudi Koertzen raised his right arm for a no ball, and Pietersen breathed a big sigh of relief.

It proved to be an expensive decision as the partnership reached 100 in the 46th over. Ramprakash then went on to his 2nd 50 in three games when he smashed a huge six over mid-wicket, it was only the 2nd 6 of the day and next over Pietersen reached an all important century with an beautiful cover drive that went for four. He was trapped lbw for a duck in the first test and was keen to post a good score against his home country. Pietersen celebrated in his usual fashion, leaping into the air and hugging Ramprakash.

Kevin Pietersen wasn't happy he couldn't make a bigger score



But the Surrey player was gone at the end of the over when he went in the same way as his captain, Pollock had his third wicket as Ramprakash played a badly timed shot to the on-side, and Ntini’s bucket hands held the catch just before tea, England 315-5. Matt Prior came in and supported Pietersen, but KP fell when he, for the second time this series, was trapped lbw by Paul Harris, this time he made 114 off 164 balls, and put England in an excellent position.

Matt Prior was going well though, and he hit a perfectly timed 4 to bring up the 3rd England milestone in the day. But very next ball the wicket keeper tried to repeat the trick, but was bowled for Harris’ 3rd wicket in the day, gone for 51 off 61. Andrew Flintoff finished out the day with Ryan Sidebottom to leave England 397-6 on the close of Day 1.

Andrew Flintoff hit a big six before the end of the day

Scorecard

 

[OrderDX]

A good day overall for England. KP, Bell, Prior, Ramprakash and Flintoff in the runs and solidly in control! Great work and i love the layout!

 

[gutterman]

positive start for england in tjis test

 

[treva]

Brilliant day for England. Good to see KP hit back in this test, and nice to Ramps get some runs in England colours also. If Flintoff gets going in the morning then we could see a big, big total posted here by England.

 

[Jaztheman]

What a day for England. Kevin Pietersen to get some much valued runs and Ramprakash, good old Mark, get's a 50 alongside Matt Prior. Flintoff is on his way too and even Sidebottom has batted quite well so far. England very much in control.

Big total to be posted, great update and the presentation is very good. The writing : Top notch.