Story npower Tests, Natwest Series, Natwest Challenge

[m_vaughan]

Score Update
At Stumps Day 3
England 140-3
M. Vaughan 52*
A. Giles 27*

H. Singh 2/45
A. Agarkar 1/47

ENGLAND LEAD BY 34 RUNS

England lost the wickets of Marcus Trescothick (15) and Mark Butcher (22) early in the final session of play on this third day of the 1st npower test here at Lords. Agarkar had Trescothick caught by captain Saurav Ganguly at mid off, while Harbhajan beat Butcher's defences to rattle his stumps. Ashley Giles, was sent in ahead of Thrope, Flintoff and Geraint Jones, to play the role of a nightwatchman. However Giles has shown in the past that he can be pretty useful with the bat, and he has once again being involved in a crucial partnership, playing the supporting role to this captain Michael Vaughan very well. At the end of day 3, England who were 69-3 after Butcher's dismissal, finished at 140-3. Giles doing much more than what he was expected off him.

David Gower: Nasser, that partnership between Vaughan and Giles could have just saved England.

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, though its still to early to make a statement like that. But definately Giles has come in and done a fantastic job. He has played some useful small innings for England in the past, saving some games from England, and winning some for England, with the bat, after coming into the bat in extreme pressure situations. He is definately one of the best lower order batsman in the world today I feel.

David Gower: So England now have a lead of 34 runs, and seven wickets in hand. How do you see things standing at the moment? Still advantage India?

Nasser Hussain: Yes, India are still ahead in this match. Like I said a score less than 320-330 would not be enough for India, as chasing a target of 220-230 odd should be a problem for India, even though they will have to bat last. But they will have time on their side, and they have a very strong and experienced batting lineup. So, I fell unless England can post a minimum of around 330 in their second innings, India will definately be on course of taking a 1-0 lead in this series.

David Gower: Yes and a 1-0 lead will mean that England will only be able to draw the series at Edgbaston. But this match is far from over, one feels. England have Vaughan and Giles still there, and Thrope, Flintoff and Jones still to come. Join us for day 4 tomorrow at 10.00 AM local time, live and exclusive on Sky Sports. Till then, from all of us here at Lords, its goodbye.

 

[m_vaughan]

 

[m_vaughan]

Score Update
At Lunch Day 4
England 236-6
M. Vaughan 100*
G. Jones 7*

H. Singh 4/85
L. Balaji 1/38

ENGLAND LEAD BY 130 RUNS

England have lost the wickets of Giles (32), Thorpe (22) and Flintoff (6) in this morning session of the 4th day of this test match. Giles' innings of 32 was crucial, as he was involved in 88 run partnership with Vaughan, and gave the England captain a lot of support. However Thorpe and Flintoff, were disappointing, and have had a poor test match to be honest. England at Lunch on day 4, are 236-6 with centurion Vaughan and Geraint Jones at the crease.

David Gower: Well after that fantastic effort from Giles and Vaughan, you would have expected the likes of Thorpe and Flintoff to deliver and take England to a respectable score. But both have let England down, havent they?

Nasser Hussain: Yeah. To be honest, I think both Flintoff and Thorpe have had a pretty poor game. Flintoff has been disappointing with both ball and bat so far, while Thrope has only managed to get into 20s. But they are two of the best cricketers in the world, who have just had a bad game.

David Gower: Can England reach 350 now?

Nasser Hussain: Well its important that these two (Vaughan and Jones) build a decent partnership between them both. They should atleast try and bat England to a score of 300. Like I said a score of 320+ is essential, and England should try and get to 320 first and then get as many more runs as possible.

David Gower: The post lunch session should be a crucial one, and join us for it in about 45 mins time. Till then yet another episode of "Lords Heroes".

 

[m_vaughan]

Score Update
At Tea Day 4
India 9-0
V. Sehwag 7*
Y. Singh 1*


England 330 all out
M. Vaughan 145
G. Jones 41

H. Singh 4/93
A. Agarkar 4/104

INDIA NEED 216 RUNS MORE TO WIN

England managed to reach 330, largely due to the partnership between Geraint Jones and Michael Vaughan for the 6th wicket. Jones was dismissed for 41, and Vaughan fell five runs short of his 150. Simon Jones ended up with a pair in the test match, while Hoggard and Harmison score 10 and 2* respectively, the later remaining not out. Both Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh ended with 4 wickets each.

David Gower: So Nasser, England have score 330, which you said was minimum. What now?

Nasser Hussain: Yes I thought that Partnership between Vaughan and Jones could have saved England, and now England need to bowl really well and try and get as many wickets as possible today itself to put pressure on the Indians. Remember, batting fourth on any wicket will always be tricky. But England must pick up wickets as frequently as possible.

David Gower: Fantastic performance by Harbhajan Singh in this match, he has picked up seven wickets, and has been the most dangerous bowler for India.

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, Harbhajan and Ajit Agarkar have performed well in this test match. I thought Harbhajan would have picked more wickets had he been introduced earlier in the 1st innings.

David Gower: Well join us the final session of play on Day 4 of this fantastic test match, as India now require 216 runs more to win the match.

 

[m_vaughan]

 

[m_vaughan]

Score Update
At Stumps Day 4
India 133-2
V. Sehwag 96*
S. Tendulkar 6*

S. Harmison 1/25
A. Giles 1/29

INDIA NEED ANOTHER 92 RUNS TO WIN

Well only some sort of a miracle can save England now. India have romped to 133-2 at the end of day 4 in this 1st npower test. Virender Sehwag did what he does best, smashing the ball to all parts of the park. A conservative start from the "Butcher of Nazabgar", but once he started going, there was no stopping him. The England bowlers havent been able to get rid off this dangerous Indian opening batsman. The two wickets that did fall were that of Yuvraj Singh (26) and Rahul Dravid (1). Yuvraj was dismissed by Ashley Giles, LBW, while Rahul Dravid was the victim of a fantastic Steve Harmison Yorker.

David Gower: India well on course to victory. Some fantastic batting by them. Tendulkar in the 1st Innings, and now Virender Sehwag. What an amazing innings from him, Nasser?

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, he is one of those guys who are prepared to change the appearance of Test Cricket. He doesnt like to hang in there for too long, plays his shots, and is really a cracking batsman. He has single-handedly destroyed any England hopes of winning this test match.

David Gower: So are we completely ruling out any chances for England?

Nasser Hussain: Definately Not. But its rather very unlikely now, especially with Sehwag in such good form. But England will fight till the end.

David Gower: Well lets hope that that happens, so that we can have a rather interesting last day of this test match. Till then, from me David Gower, along with Nasser Hussain, its Good bye.

 

[m_vaughan]

Score Update
1:15 PM Day 5
India 227-4
VVS Laxman 19*
S. Ganguly 11*
V. Sehwag 127


S. Harmison 2/46

INDIA WIN BY SIX WICKETS
Man of the Match: Harbhajan Singh

Despite losing Sehwag and Tendulkar, India ended up winning this test match rather comprehensively at the end. A six wicket victory gives India a 1-0 lead in this 2 test match series. Sehwag's highly entertaining innings of a 127 came to end, when he scooped a Harmison delivery straight into the hands of Andrew Flintoff. And it was Flintoff who got the better of Sachin Tendulkar, dismissing him LBW.


David Gower: So India have won the first npower test match by six wickets, on the fifth day here at Lords. Now, Nasser, India were the better side in this test match, werent they?

Nasser Hussain: Yeah, they were, and thats why they won. They bowled well, battled well and fielded well, and at the end were rewarded with a well deserved victory over a very good England side. I dont think England played that bad, its just that India played better.

David Gower: What should England do before the Edgbaston Test

Nasser Hussain: Well still nine days left for that test. I think the players have worked hard and are definately very worn out. Probably just give them some rest for about 2-3 days, and then some county cricket and then back to some training, working on some aspects, trying and investigating some weaknesses in the Indian side, and coming back strongly in the next test match. I am pretty confident that Michael Vaughan will come back fighting at Edgbaston.

David Gower: Well one thing is certain, that its been a great test match. Two top test sides fighting against each other, and in this case, its been India who have come on top. Join us for the next test match at Edgbaston in about nine days time. Till then from me, David Gower, along with Nasser Hussain and all of us here Sky Sports, its goodbye/

 

[m_vaughan]

 

[m_vaughan]

LATEST NEWS

Mark Butcher could miss the 2nd Test against India at Edgbaston due to toe injury. Warwickshire's Ian Bell has been called in as cover up for the Surrey man.

England 12 man squad for 2nd test
M Vaughan
M Trescothick
A Strauss
M Butcher/I Bell
G Thorpe
A Flintoff
G Jones
A Giles
S Jones
S Harmison
M Hoggard
J Anderson


India might replace Yuvraj Singh with Akash Chopra for the 2nd test against England at Edgbaston. Yuvraj had a rather dull performance at Lords, and Akash Chopra, who is considered to be a better opener for test matches, could well get the nod into the Indian starting XI.

 

[Harmy]

Bell would be a great inclusion, he can bowl you a few overs. aswell. Anothere question is , is Hoggard really doing a job for England? How long can Harmison carry the attack

 

[m_vaughan]

Well Hoggard did well in the 1st Innings, while Harmison had to wait till the end to get his first and only wicket of that innings. According to Hoggard and Harmison form a deadly duo and I would like to see Hoggard in the ODI squad as well, so that incase Gough decided retire before the World Cup, or one of three fast bowlers are injured, then Hoggard should be included in the starting lineup aswell.

Regarding Ian Bell, I do agree that he is a class cricketer, and I would like to see him playing for England. You might say I am a bit biased, being a Bears fan, but I really think Ian Bell is good enough for the International level. If you go through my earlier stories, you will notice that Ian Bell is permanent member in the ODI side.

 

[dexter]

great coverage!

for lords heroes u cud use some pics and scorecards frm ur earlier tours...o wells, mite sound a lil far-fetched...lol

 

[m_vaughan]

THE npower TEST SERIES
England v India
2nd Test
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire

India leads series 1-0

Welcome to Edgbaston for this 2nd Test in the npower Test Series between England and India. India won the first test at Lords, to take an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the 2 test series. Can England stage a comeback here at Edgbaston. Well within the next five days, we will have our answer.

Conditions: Well due to the recent poor weather here at Birmingham, we have rather sloggy and slightly muddy outfield here. However, we have blue skies, bright sunshine and almost no chance of rain.

Pitch: Due to the recent poor weather, we have a rather damp pitch. Bounce on this wicket is going to be pretty low making it difficult for the batsman. The pitch might become even worse as the match progresses, hence batting last on this wicket will be extremely difficult. Not a good wicket, I am sorry to say, but it could give us an interesting match.

The Toss: Michael Vaughan won the toss and elected to bat first.

ANALYSIS OF EACH DAY'S PLAY AT THE END OF EACH DAY BY DAVID GOWER AND NASSER HUSSAIN OF SKY SPORTS

 

[m_vaughan]

The Teams:
INDIA - 1 change (Zaheer Khan comes in for Yuvraj, as India decide to play 5 full time bowlers)
ENGLAND - No change

 

[The_gas]

come on young man its time for a county season, just think of the stats we can post, make it happen!