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Rain prevents England building on solid start
Given the way England have dominated this series it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that the only thing that will stop them completing a whitewash is the weather. Rain wiped out play after lunch on the opening day at The Oval, but during the two hours possible Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook formed a solid platform against a very disappointing India attack as England reached 75 without loss.
This was as poorly as India had bowled all series as they wasted whatever help was on offer under overcast skies. There was barely a chance created during the session and the whole attitude portrayed by the visitors was of a team low on confidence and waiting for the series to finish. Defeat here will leave them third in the world rankings but it's difficult to see them limiting England's inform batting lineup with a better forecast for Friday.
RP Singh, on his return to the Test team after a threeyear absence for the injured Praveen Kumar, didn't set a good tone with his opening over. The first ball was sprayed down the leg side and the batsmen were offered some gentle legstump deliveries to open their accounts. He was also about the same pace as Praveen, but with less swing, which wasn't entirely surprising considering he hadn't played firstclass cricket since January.
Although a couple of early boundaries came to third man they were played with soft hands by Strauss and Cook. There was an alarming lack of intensity from India,[url=http://www.floware.fr]www.floware.fr[/url], both with the ball and in the field, as they failed to make any use of the overcast conditions. Sreesanth's first spell was poor with too many deliveries on leg stump which ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over with Cook, for the time being at least, taking his average over 50.
India showed slightly more energy during the second hour although everything is relative and Strauss had his most uncomfortable moment when he was struck on the helmet by an Ishant Sharma bouncer that took a chunk out of the lid. From that moment Strauss was more reluctant to get forward, but was still able to play a beautiful off drive against Sreesanth.
Ishant remained the pick of the three quicks, probing away outside off and finding a touch of troubling bounce, but there were few alarms for the openers. Even with two lefthanders at the crease it was a surprise when Suresh Raina's parttime offspin was used ahead of Amit Mishra who removed Strauss at Edgbaston.
Earlier, James Anderson had been passed fit to take his place in the England side as they remained unchanged. A thigh niggle had created doubts about his fitness, but he came through a net on Wednesday so Graham Onions or Steven Finn, who left to play for Middlesex against Kent, were not required. On the evidence of the first session, and with the impact of the weather, Anderson might not be needed until well into the weekend. Aswin and Rahul would have surely put this english team in a different plight." Everyone except the Engalnd team apparently. Anyway, even if what you say were true, and it isn't true, india don't have any quality spin bowlers nobody in the top 20 even, so what you are saying is nonsense. The quality spin bowler is in the England team and you'll be able to enjoy watching him take wickets in india's second Innings.
Well, currently on holiday in France (on the premise that if they can't find me, they can't arrest me :0). I have tickets for Sunday. I have been following on 5live and Cricinfo but I don't think I'll bother coming back I think I'll take another week. There is nothing worth coming home for. India have been utterly pathetic. Utterly, utterly PATHETIC. Not worth watching. I was REALLY looking forward to this series, really looking forward to seeing the Indian batsmen against Anderson Co. But it just hasn't happened. It's been a complete Fizzer. Even the ridiculous comments from some of the india fans have stopped, so there's no fun there either. It's been the most onesided home series I can remember and I can remember a lot. The way this game is going to go is England bat long, long, long, as before; score 600+ declare at Tea Day 3, then rumble india in the 7 sessions plus lost time from Day 1. It'll be so easy that to be honest, it's almost not worth doing.
Just reading the comments from Indian fans about England having to prove themselves overseas before they can be considered the world's best team. Sour grapes aside, surely that rationale should have applied to India too? Apart from beating two of the weaker Test teams (NZ WI), India haven't been too special on their travels either and haven't had a recent series win in AUS or SA. Yes, they had a very fortunate 10 win on their last tour to ENG, but even that was down to rain washing out the last session at Lords with England needing one wicket for victory. And you can discount India's away wins on the subcontinent too as they were all achieved in conditions too similar to those found at home. All of which kind of proves my point India have held the no.1 spot for the last two years only by default.
Assistant Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.
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