Story npower Tests, Natwest Series, Natwest Challenge

[m_vaughan]

India, Australia and Zimbabwe tour England shortly after the ICC Champions Trophy.

Fixtures coming up.


I will be using:

Sams exe
sams cursor
SAc2k4Pt patch v1.3a
Latest Kits
npower stumps
npower pitchmats
lineup editor v4

 

[m_vaughan]

npower TEST SERIES

England v India Lords
England v India Edgbaston

The Natwest Series

England v India at Birmingham (D/N)
England v Australia at Manchester (D/N)
Australia v India at Taunton
England v India at The Oval
England v Australia at The Riverside (D/N)
India v Australia at Rose Bowl
England v India at Headingley
England v Australia at Lords
Australia v India at Cardiff

The Final at Lords

Ashes npower Test Series

England v Australia at Lords
England v Australia at Headingley
England v Australia at Riverside
England v Australia at The Oval
England v Australia at Edgbaston

The Natwest Challenge

England v Zimbabwe at Manchester (D/N)
England v Zimbabwe at Birmingham (D/N)
England v Zimbabwe at Lords

 

[tigerdes]

Vaughan,

How many stories. You're insatiable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look forward to this one.

I shall be returning home soon to play New Zealand and Windies!!!

Refuse to tour Zimbabwe

 

[tjh1989]

Looking forward to the natwest series should be a good set of one dayers

 

[m_vaughan]

Thanks guys....still havent completed the icc champions trophy

 

[m_vaughan]

ENGLAND 12 man SQUAD for the 1st npower test match vs India at Lords

Michael Vaughan (Capt.)
Marcus Trescothick
Andrew Strauss
Mark Butcher
Graham Thorpe
Andrew Flintoff
Geraint Jones
Ashley Giles
Simon Jones
Matthew Hoggard
Steve Harmison
James Anderson


INDIA Test Squad for Tour of England

Saurav Ganguly (Capt.)
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Virender Sehwag
Yuvraj Singh
Akash Chopra
Parthiv Patel
Ajit Agarkar
Harbhajan Singh
Anil Kumble
Zaheer Khan
Laxmipathy Balaji
Irfan Pathan
Ashish Nehra
Mohd. Kaif
Sanjay Bangar
Wasim Jaffer
Deep Dasgupta
Hemang Badani

 

[m_vaughan]

Likely starting lineups for the first test:
England:
M Trescothick, A Strauss, M Butcher, M Vaughan, G Thorpe, A Flintoff, G Jones, A Giles, S Jones, M Hoggard, S Harmison

India:
Y Singh, V Sehwag, R Dravid, V Laxman, S Tendulkar, S Ganguly, P Patel, A Agarkar, H Singh, L Balaji, I Pathan

 

[Blackcaps Rule]

In my upcoming story im leaving retired players out. Like Cairns in the Tests and Warne in the ODIs. Why don't you leave Hussain out.

 

[m_vaughan]

In my upcoming story im leaving retired players out. Like Cairns in the Tests and Warne in the ODIs. Why don't you leave Hussain out.

BREAKING NEWS
Nasser Hussain has announced his retirement from Test Cricket just days before the 1st Test between England and India at Lords. Hussain had earlier said he would retire at the end of the series, but has preponed his retirement, stating that he did not want to fight against youth in the form of Andrew Strauss. Strauss who hit a magnificent 225 against Zimbabwe in Harare would most probably miss out on a place in the starting lineup if Hussain was available for selection.

Strauss replaced Nasser Hussain in the England starting lineup against Zimbabwe, after Hussain pulled out of that tour due to moral reasons.

However Nasser has signed a deal with Sky Sports and has joined their commentary team.

On behalf of the entire cricketing fraternity I would like thank Nasser Hussain for all his contributions for England.

 

[m_vaughan]

The npower test series
1st Test Match
England v India
Lords, London

Welcome to this 1st Test match between England and India here at the home of cricket, Lords. Two of the top teams in world cricket will do battle against each other in this 2 test match series. England have had successful tours of New Zealand and Zimbabwe, but went out in the 1st round of the ICC Champions Trophy. India beat Pakistan in both tests and one dayers in Pakistan, but lost to Australia in the semi finals of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Conditions: Sunny, Warm and no chance of any rain.

Pitch: A good sporting wicket, with something in it for both the bowlers and the batsman. There will some early movement on the 1st day, especially in the morning session, which is why I would suggest fielding first on this wicket. But again, batting last on this wicket could be very tricky indeed.

The Toss: Saurav Ganguly won the toss and elected to field first.

The Teams: No Nasser Hussain for England anymore. Strauss therefore retains his place in the squad. India have left out Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan.

 

[m_vaughan]

Score Update:
Day 1 At Lunch
England 78/1
M. Trescothick 39*
M. Butcher 27*

A. Agarkar 1/16

The Indian bowlers did very well in the start, making it very difficult for England batsman to score any runs. They kept a tight line and length, and also generated some swing. The England batsman were bottled down, and started showing signs of frustation. Strauss went to play an over aggressive shot, only managing to induce a top edge, and Harbhajan Singh made no mistake in taking the catch. Agarkar was the bowler. But since then Trescothick and Butcher have played very well, and at Lunch, England are in a decent position with the score at 78-1. The Indian bowlers bowled well, but have not been able to make full use of the early bowler friendly conditions.

 

[m_vaughan]

Stay tuned to this thread for the 2nd session on this 1st day.

David Gower: The match is evenly poised after this 1st session's play. India have picked up the wicket of Strauss, and the bowlers really kept it tight. But Butcher and Trescothick have battled their way through, and have taken England to a fairly comfortable position.

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, I thought Marcus Trescothick and Butcher played really well. Runs werent coming easily, and when any batsman is bottled down for too long, he might show glimpses of frustation, and play a few careless shots, and in the process might throw his wicket away, and that is exactly what happened in the case of Andrew Strauss. But Trescothick and Butcher, have experience on their side, and they have gone through this in the past and knew that they would have to play with a lot of caution, which they did, and I think they really played well. We have to see whether they can carry on and get a big score.

David Gower: Yes, the job is only half done for Trescothick and Butcher. But what about the Indian bowlers?

Nasser Hussain: Well, they kept a tight line and a good length. But I thought they should have been a lot more attacking. I thought they did well cut down on the runs conceded, but I dont think there were too many wicket taking balls. I thought the field could have been a lot more attacking. I thought India should have picked more wickets in this 1st session.

David Gower: Well we will be back in about 45 mins time for the post lunch session. In the mean time, we bring you "Lords Heroes".

 

[The_gas]

Great story and report mate, i wish i had the energy for these detailed reports. I must be getting to old these days!

 

[m_vaughan]

Score Update
At Tea
England 169-3
M. Vaughan 38*
G. Thorpe 10*
M. Trescothick 55
M. Butcher 54


A. Agarkar 2/66

Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher were both dismissed shortly after reaching their half centuries. Trescothick was caught at third slip by Yuvraj Singh off the bowling of Ajit Agarkar, while Mark Butcher was run out. Captain Michael Vaughan has looked very good in his his strokeplay, and timing, so far. He is joined in the middle by the experienced and highly consistent Graham Thorpe. These two need to build a partnership between them, as at the moment, India have the slight upper hand. Ajit Agarkar was the pick of the Indian bowlers, dismissing both openers, Strauss and Trescothick. Sachin Tendulkar has also been very impressive with the ball. However, the main talking point is that why hasnt Saurav Ganguly used his specialist spinner, Harbhajan Singh yet?


David Gower: So, at tea England are 169-3. Butcher and Trescothick did the hard part, but werent able to carry on and get a big score, something we mentioned was important during the lunch interval. What now, Nasser?

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, they did the hard part, and then just when everything was going to smoothly for England, both of them lose their wickets, and that brings India right back into the game. Saurav Ganguly would have been pleased to have dismissed both the set batsmen. On the other hand, I guess Trescothick and Butcher will be really disappointed. But again, thats cricket, and things can change even when its least expected.

David Gower: Well Ajit Agarkar has been the pick of the Indian bowlers, dismissing both the England openers. But even Sachin Tendulkar has looked dangerous hasnt he?

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, certainly. I thought Agarkar looked most likely to pick a wicket, out of the three Indian seamers. But then Sachin Tendulkar has really looked very very dangerous indeed. He has beaten the bat on a couple of occassions, and is bowling some pretty useful off-breaks.

David Gower: What about Harbhajan Singh? Why havent we seen him yet?

Nasser Hussain: Well I am amazed at that to be honest, because I thought when Sachin was looking so dangerous and one end, it would be best to have Harbhajan operating from the other end. We know that Harbhajan is a wicket taking bowler, though he might concede some runs in the process, but I think the two spinners operating from both ends would have been a lot more effective. I seriously dont understand what Saurav was thinking.

David Gower: Well yes, I guess Saurav Ganguly got it wrong there, but over and all the match is pretty well balanced at the moment. Join us for the the third and final session of this 1st days play, but after a short break.

 

[m_vaughan]