Captain Cook steadies sinking England ship
England’s openers led a strong second innings reply after they were made to follow on on Day Three of the first Test against India at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium here on Saturday. The visitors were all out for 191 in their first innings.
Trailing by 330 runs, skipper Alastair Cook (batting 74, 124b, 13x4) and debutant Nick Compton (batting 34, 104b, 2x4) showed solidity in the evening session to take England to 111/0 in 38 overs in their second innings at close of play.
The solid batting performance suggested there were no demons in the pitch as the Indian bowlers seemed tired after a good show during the first innings.
England still need to bat well to erase the deficit of 219 and make India bat again.
In contrast to their display following-on, the English batsmen looked out of ideas against spin in their first innings. Pragyan Ojha (5/45) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/80) combined well to skittle out the visitors in 74.2 overs in response to India’s huge total of 521/8 declared.
Wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior (48, 100b, 7x4) and Cook (41, 109b, 7x4) offered some resistance but rest of their batsman including trump card Kevin Pietersen (17) crumbled under pressure.
With a light roller in the morning, the puff of dust disturbing batsmen last evening settled for some time as Cook and Pietersen tried to stage a fight back.
But Pietersen struggled against Ojha and the left-arm slow bowler got one to turn sharply through the gate of the batsman in the 15th over of the day to rattle his stumps.
Ojha then removed Ian Bell with his very next delivery to reduce England to 69/5.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni rotated his bowlers smartly giving none a lengthy spell at one go. Cook’s dogged resistance was ended by an off-break from Ashwin after he edged to Virender Sehwag at first slip.
Umesh Yadav got his first over in the 48th of the innings just before lunch. He struck immediately trapping Samit Patel (10) in front as England tottered at 97/7.
As the ball got softer, the spinners didn’t get enough turn which allowed Prior and Tim Bresnan (19, 60b, 2x4) to settle in.
But Ojha brought an end to England’s highest partnership of 47 in the first innings for the eighth wicket after he was held at silly mid off by Virat Kohli.
Ojha was replaced by Ashwin after bowling just one over and Broad greeted the Tamil Nadu spinner with a four and a six.
Zaheer Khan was finally reward for some probing bowling after he got Broad (25) in his 15th over.
Ojha wrapped up the innings after Prior played on to his stumps to force early tea.
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