Stuart Broad ruled out of England's second Test against Sri Lanka

He will now undertake a rehabilitation programme which will determine his availability for all cricket including the Indian Premier League.

Broad, 25, went into the first Test with a sore left ankle which he had sprained on the boundary rope doing warm-ups before the first practice match in Colombo, just over two weeks ago. This latest problem, although on his other leg, could well be linked given the overcompensation that often occurs when bowlers take niggles into a game.

England, experiencing a losing streak that has now extended to four straight defeats, will miss a fit Broad, with his aggression and sense of purpose, but not the one there, who was not fully himself. He has struck up a dynamic new-ball partnership with James Anderson, but while he bore his discomfort well during the Test, he was noticeably off colour.

Tim Bresnan, himself recently injured, will also be under consideration. England badly missed a third seamer on the opening morning of the Test when they had Sri Lanka 15 for three. Instead of maintaining the pressure created by Anderson and Broad by introducing another pace bowler, they had to turn to spin, which is in the comfort zone for Sri Lankan batsmen, especially on a first day pitch. With 20 wickets more a priority in Colombo than big totals, because of their desperation to win the game and level the series, England could well play five bowlers.

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Surrey pace bowlers hold key to County Championship

Surrey have reserves of pace bowling like no other county except Lancashire, and this season the holders of the county championship have to play four of their home games on the new sideways-pitches at Old Trafford which are not as pacey as their traditional ones.

While counties are stocked with fast-medium bowlers — and some with nothing but fast-medium — very few have anyone fast. In Stuart Meaker, who debuted for England’s 50-over team last winter, Surrey have one; and, rarer still, in Chris Jordan they have a quick-bowling all-rounder.

With Jade Dernbach, Tim Linley and Jon Lewis — signed from Gloucestershire – who has been nibbling the ball around on Surrey’s pre-season tours of Somerset and Essex, Surrey have the fuel in an era of reduced power-supplies; and there is also the possibly that Chris Tremlett might recover from his latest injury in time for the championship run-in.

The brown caps, or brown helmets, have batsmen too. The younger ones are shot-a-ball merchants more suited to the 20- and 40-over formats, but Surrey’s resources — as one of the richer, or least bankrupt, counties — have enabled them to sign veterans for them to bat around.

Given that county cricket now attracts only the left-overs from overseas — players not wanted by the Indian Premier League, whose fifth season extends to the end of May — Jacques Rudolph has been as big as any off-season signing this winter.

Rudolph may not have proved himself a Test opening batsman, but at number six he is not so much of an ‘lbw candidate’, has got away with closing the bat face and re-established himself in South Africa’s Test side. His relative absence from Yorkshire last season was a major reason for their demotion; and his acquisition by Surrey for the first two months of this season should guarantee their staying up, and maybe more.

The big question is whether Mark Ramprakash, at 42, can make any more big hundreds, especially after Rudolph departs for South Africa’s tour of England. Last season’s average of 33 was Ramprakash’s lowest since his debut year of 1987, and he made a single first-class century, leaving him on 114 in all.

Ramprakash got in last season, like Andrew Strauss in recent Tests, but didn’t go on from his 20s and 30s. Last week, when captaining MCC in Abu Dhabi against Lancashire, and when batting against a pink ball was fine except at twilight, he began his 26th first-class season with a 7 and 6.

As an ever higher proportion of top-level runs are scored in limited-overs formats, and an ever lower proportion in first-class cricket, nobody in future will come close to the 35,000 first-class runs that Ramprakash has clocked; and even Sachin Tendulkar, with 78, and Ricky Ponting, 77, are not going to approach his tally of first-class centuries.

This season’s county championship would round off not only an individual career but an era.

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The ashes of 2010: ITV4 salient facts screen series between the United Kingdom and the Australia

Cricket will be broadcast on ITV4 - and therefore only available to viewers access to Freeview or other digital services - but it should nevertheless attract audiences over one million, as well as the same kind of profile ABC1 period drama Julian Fellowes.

"We've attracted peak figures as high as two million ITV4 for some matches of the Europa League", said a spokesman for ITV. ""This channel has hosted a number of sporting events, including France, tour the world and the Indian Premier League Cup".

The new more important as cricket free Sky Sports fans are concerned, that they can watch a full sequence of ash, time is a significant improvement over Windows falls short clips that will be available on the website of England and Wales Cricket country of.

Mark Nicholas will be before the program, which will begin at 10 am every night, even though the comment and sequences provided by the Australian Channel 9 host broadcaster.

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V England India: Andrew Strauss, explains the long form of cricket is the ultimate Test

The initial to ttwweennttyy rush declined a little, but you do not have to be a specialist of the rockets to see that, in some parts of the world that it is fighting for interest. Many of the reasons is not met and has turned to other forms of gambling.

We are very lucky in England , because we have a base of very stable and solid support for the game of Test cricket, which I do not change any time soon.

But it is important that we continue encouraging and nurturing the game in other parts of the world. There is room for three forms of game to coexist, but we need administrators to continue to work and ensure Test cricket is a good product to look at.

Once, no there were no rival of Test cricket. We now have to adopt other forms of game and use them to introduce people to Test cricket.

It should not be an unhealthy competition between the formats. The challenge for administrators is to get this balance so that all can coexist together. The difficulty is that on the commercial plan, shorter forms of the more logical than Test cricket game is a challenge for administrators to look at the overview rather than simply the bottom line.

In my view, it is not easy for them and we all have responsibility for the future. Sometimes, this means investing in something that is not the most cost-effective in the short term while knowing that in the long term it could pay off the coast.

As players, we also recognize that such situations that leave for bad light help to our cause. We have too much to a little more receptive to change if this means that the game will continue to prosper.

In 20 years the cricket Test will always be with us, but it is unlikely that we will play as much of it. You can see that already happening in other parts of the world but there is much cause for optimism that England will continue to produce high Test cricket players in the future.

In this case, Test cricket is 1 and you can make an argument that it is not necessarily healthy to the priority on a day and ttwweennttyy cricket. It is something that we know and will continue to address so that we can win the world cups in the future. But the strength of Test cricket is with its history in this case, the manner in which our media focus on it, and because the players to the forefront of their minds.

I think always that the vast majority of players see the ultimate form of the game. This is where you make your name and players see their Test record as a measure of good how a cricket you are. We are yet to see a specialist ttwweennttyy and watched as a Test player and that will not change.

It is clear that some players were influenced by the armoury of ttwweennttyy and make a pleasant stay for themselves. I would hold it against them, but the next generation of cricketers will face difficult choices on what direction they want to go. It is up to individuals, but they got to keep in mind the balance between money and the status of the game. Test cricket gives opportunities to produce sports feats, such as the Test of ash at Headingley in 1981.

That does not occur in the shorter forms of the game and is the reason why I like Test cricket. Individual players are tested continuously and if they have any weakness it deems.

If the players and spectators start to turn its back on the cricket Test which would be a shame. A value of two centuries of history and tradition would be lost, but there are reasons to believe that will not happen.

Innovations such as day-night Test cricket have been raised and the world Test Championship will give us context.

Series of tests is more and more short so you must have a context otherwise, it is difficult for people to generate real interest.

Also if the teams are familiar with each account to something at the end of what they may feel encouraged to play more Test cricket.

None of us know enough how the Test World Championship, which will be played for the first time in England in 2013, at this stage, but over time, it will rely on a great event give us a reason to be confident for the future.

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Virender Sehwag: India should be upset with us

The end of another one-sided contest was swift with the Australians snapping up the final four wickets in an hour to skittle India for 201 and inflict an eighth away Test defeat on the trot for the demoralised tourists.

The series drubbing comes after they were similarly hammered 4-0 in England last year, but speaking after the latest reverse, stand-in captain Sehwag claimed that India could take inspiration from the lows suffered by hosts Australia in recent years.

"It happens, if you look at the Australia team also they were struggling a year back and they lost the Ashes and they got out on 47 in South Africa so it happen with every team, so we have to rebuild the team and we'll think about it."

He conceded that India's cricket-obsessed fans had every right to be disappointed with their underperforming idols but pleaded for support.

"I think they should be upset with our performances, and I totally agree with them. This is the time the fans should back the players. When we won the World Cup, everyone was happy. Everybody was cheering for Team India. Now is the time we need support from fans. They should back their own team.

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V England India: Andrew Strauss's England pacemen must hit the race ground to beat the India

Rahul Dravid has a great technique: If the MCC, to update their book coaching, it would be between Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ian Bell to illustrate right-handed traits. And large sleeves, won a match, series which rotates, VVS Laxman has played the most in the modern era.

Reason than in England have hit hard at the India of the Lord and Trent Bridge, on the grounds that more favours their pace bowlers and Mount 2-0.

Tourists are traditionally slow starters, and this reputation has only been graced over the past three years, when the Tests only three, they have lost were the first test of a series: home and away against South Africa and later in Sri Lanka.

Council of the India have also made their players a disservice: a convenient three-day game against Somerset, interrupted by rain, can be inadequate by way of preparation. The last team of the tour who tried to flee with a few days to adjust to English conditions, West Indies in 2007, dropped by dolly in their first Test to the Lord.

Most of the Indian party were playing white-ball cricket in the Caribbean, but with Kookaburras, not the Dukes, who swing more: drummers and launchers need time to adapt. In the absence of Sehwag and match practice, England have to dismiss the India cheaply in the first round of this series if they want to get on top.

Only the fast Perth and Johannesburg - and against bowling faster that everything that the India can parade - lands has the stick of England concluded in the past two years. The key to England is whether their attack by four men, without any support of the note, can Bowl India - with their great batsmen - two times outside.

And the lack of support for the four launchers of England is aggravated by the decision control system compromise which the Council, to save face, agreed: no Hawk-eye to predict the trajectory of the ball after the ball strikes pad.

It would not matter if Aleem Dar were free, but Pakistanis will not be standing in this series. The two first trials, umpires are Billy Bowden and the good South African referee, relatively new Marais Erasmus; for the last two tests of Simon Taufel and Steve Davis.

Stuart Broad has done enough in his championship match for Nottinghamshire and over the years, to stay ahead of Tim Bresnan as seamer third in England. In addition, England need fast bowlers who are tall against the India - both for the extra bounce and the fact that the Launcher Caribbean tall only that the India had to face for the last month is not fast.

All that is required to complete this table and make a landscape painting - a real police officer - is a field that changes over five days and not rest not a road to the beginning to end, which was too frequent the end to the Lord.

An opportunity of great become dull if it is a competition of drummers along, however great they are. Should not be left to the clouds only to change the nature of a set of five days.

This Test will be the 100th between England and the India, which dates back to the inaugural test at Lord's in 1932. But it is not really going to be the 10,000th Test 2, if a Test match is defined as a competition of five days between two countries playing test at full power. There were too many matches since March 1877 that did not comply with this criterion.

South Africa, strictly speaking, has not played a Test before 1902. They put their best side together several times before that date, but English teams that navigates to the Cape to play them have been stocked with cricket club amateur players and only the strange County pro.

Many will say that Bangladesh have achieved the status of Test with obscene haste and for reasons of political expediency only. Objective historians of the future can say that only in recent years have they deserved Test status, after almost all their 50 first Tests were to walk-overs.

And the ICC precisely defined a Test match as a contest 'between teams selected by full members' - only bow before commercial opportunism and classify the game between the Australia and the rest of the world in 2005. The validity of this exercise may be found that it has never been repeated.

Still, even if this Test is only number 1, 930 - odd, remain "a great game of Cricket" this week to the Lord that the country is classified third challenges the first.

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Stuart Broad the enforcer puts England back in business against Pakistan

Pitches at home, in Australia and in South Africa, usually offer something – either extra bounce or movement, or both - and batsmen lured into exploring the corridor of uncertainty are induced into mistakes.

The dry, lifeless surfaces in Asia negate this approach. There is no movement and negligible bounce so that even if the edge is taken, it often doesn’t carry to slip. Slip fielders become almost redundant. Such pitches require a completely different mindset for bowlers as well as batsmen.

Bowlers have to be much more aggressive, especially once the shine has gone off the new ball. They need to run in with purpose and hit the pitch hard.

Lengths have to be varied more too, to catch well-set batsmen out of position. Most importantly, the stumps must be targeted. The two greatest exponents of Asian pitches in the last 20 years, the peerless reverse-swing duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, took 30 per cent of their wickets lbw.

For more conventional English-type seamers, like Angus Fraser or Andrew Flintoff, the lbw percentage is under 20. Waqar and Wasim were masters of making batsmen jumpy with awkward skiddy bouncers, forcing them onto the back foot and then pinning them in front of the stumps with wicked in-swinging fuller deliveries.

Both had exceptional pace to go with their other assets of course and it is a method that doesn’t suit everybody.

But it is really the only way to make progress in Asia and England were a little slow on the uptake in the morning. They opted for a trial of patience, plugging away outside off stump, with slips and gulleys, but to no avail, and the attack looked insipid, Chris Tremlett especially. The Pakistan opening pair registered their hundred stand with some comfort.

Broad, the most experienced English bowler in Asian conditions, having made his Test debut on a fast bowlers’ graveyard in Colombo, suddenly went into enforcer mode (see Beehive above).

He had Mohammed Hafeez dropped at long-leg off a well-directed bouncer, and then, having also forced the left-handed Taufeeq Umar to take evasive action, trimmed his off bail with a peach delivered from round the wicket as the batsman shuffled too late into position.

He followed quickly with the wicket of Azhar Ali and England were back in business.

A second example of how to bowl on this surface came from an unlikely source. Jonathan Trott was thrown the ball just before tea, perhaps surprisingly ahead of Kevin Pietersen.

Trott proceeded (see his Beehive below) to bowl naggingly straight and full with a hint of swing wither way, and soon trapped the unsuspecting Younis Khan lbw with one that nipped back sharply.

The batsman reviewed it, and on English pitches it is the extra bounce that often saves batsmen, but not here and Pakistan’s most seasoned player was on his way.

After this, England really understood what was required. Not only a direct aim, but also a different fielding strategy. Bin the slips and station more men on the leg side (the fifth stump approach employs three or sometimes only two leg side fielders) to prevent easy runs flicked through midwicket from straighter deliveries.

Anderson converted to this mode superbly and finally earned his reward with two late wickets to cap an instructive day for England that will serve them well.

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The ashes of 2010: James Anderson English will be available for the third test after woman gives birth to a baby girl

Daniella wife gave birth to a daughter, weighing 7 lbs 9 oz. The couple have not yet to announce a name.

After helping England to win the second test of ash, 28 years made the journey of 10,000 miles in England to Australia, birth and arrived Wednesday.

Anderson should return to team in time to play in third test in Perth, which starts on Thursday, 16 December.

Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann are also in the same boat and could miss World Cup warm-up match at the beginning of next year. Wives both players are due to give birth in the middle of February.

Players were given the authority to stay with them until after the birth, even if they lack matches in Dhaka on February 16 and 18 - against the Canada and Pakistan.

The move follows starting Australia, Anderson an agreement described as "not perfect" by the England team manager Andy Flower.

And former England fast bowler Bob Willis has criticized the hierarchy in England, fearing that too much travel will be disrupt Anderson preparations for the third test in Perth next week.

Willis, who took to 325 ATMs in a career as a test-90, said: "I am not with Mothercare buggy rolling thought that modern man has." It should be on the circuit of cricket, which is his job. Two flights 24 hours in a week do him any product at all. »

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V England India: application role gives Stuart Broad edge to deal with Indian invaders to the Lord

Rapid return: England spirited attitude of Stuart Broad pace bowler is likely to gain a recall to the team take on the India in the first Test of Lord Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Great are the assumptions of those who have followed the team # 1 in the world, but in England, which for the first Test squad will be announced Sunday, are certainly not ready to give the piece more sacred turf cricket.

England were a side largely resolved the end with the frappeurs order now set in stone. Kevin Pietersen could do with a hundred large to suppress murmurs that it is on time, but one that he, the only debate is bowling and Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Steve Finn should complement James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Graeme Swann in the final XI.

Bresnan and wide participated for their counties this week, for a comparison of the kind has already been made. 53.4 Overs from the sea through two handles for Nottinghamshire gave six wickets against Somerset while Bresnan took four wickets victory Worcestershire Yorkshire.

According to reports Broad struggled at first but settled that Bresnan began to strongly but is past wicketless in 22 overs in the second round. Finn played only T20 cricket of Middlesex which makes the analysis for the purpose of Test match fairly empty of meaning.

Most seem to feel the competition for a place in the 11 final rather than the team, between Broad and Bresnan. They certainly offer very different qualities, which makes it just as much a question of tactics as personality.

Bresnan is phlegmatic, unflappable and reliable, attributes that prefer the many captains of their launchers. Broad based more on the aggressiveness of driving his bowling, which makes him mercurial and therefore less reliable in terms of control the game. It can change the course of a Test match, as he did at the oval against the Australia and in Durban against the South Africa, but were thin on the ground recently.

Recent injuries of important body for bowling (side and back) have helped and all England step focuses on the proximity of their team, absence of offshore at the end of the glory of his ashes were left playing catch-up, at least in his own mind.

Of course, it gives the impression at the present time to force to take wickets, a natural response to impatience caused by a lean time.

England see in him their enforcer, a man with the rough opponents when the terrain is flat, and there is no reason for that change now before the series began.

Wide have the short stuff against Sri Lanka, often under conditions that did not need it, but there is a suspicion that the Indiabatsmen are likely to be bouncers which is wide, with an additional line in the looks on and customs, of.

Bresnan, who had a fine series of ash, is almost certain to be in the team following his recent return from a calf injury. Bowler of a bowlers, as unflappable as wide is impetuous.

But with Swann and Tremlett capable of stabilizing labour, should be required, with another will be excess. Its ability to be the man of the utility, injury should strike, made him an inclusion more likely than the Finn, despite the Lord as its home field.

A person who might be grateful to be in familiar surroundings is Andrew Strauss. Although that renting or otherwise managing Somerset for convenient some way before the test, the opportunity, he did most, Strauss must retrieve the team after the victory of impressive series of a day of Alastair Cook in Sri Lanka.

Sharing is employment fury in these straitened times, but the captaincy, and the authorization granted, is not so easily passed back and forth.

When Hussain Nasser successful control of the team for a day at Michael Vaughan in 2003, he took a correspondence (a draw against the South Africa) before his resignation the Test capitanat thus.

At the present time, Cook is the successor of Strauss at the Test level and it is inconceivable that he could return in this series, Strauss will be maintain his England team is going in the right direction. Which includes an extended stay as criterion 1, it can start pushing conquest under the NW8 India next week.

Probable England team: * AJ Strauss, a Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, before †MJ, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, TC Tremlett, JM Anderson, TT Bresnan.

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The ashes of 2010: James Anderson makes Australian torment behind him

After being hit across the square in 2006-2007, many questioned whether a player who relied on swing that Anderson is would never really effective on Australia slopes.

Paceman England, partially answered the question with some fiery in Brisbane, spells but one remarkable day, wickets finally fell and hosts have been out for a band drummer 245 print skittled.

"I am a very different bowler that came here four years ago" the Lancastrian said after 4-51.

"I think that I am much more experienced and I gradually better have in the past few years, it is pleasant to Bowl by here, but I didn't think I had something to prove."

Ponting and Clarke dismissal was part of the magical opening that saw that tourists diminish the Australia two tracks for three wickets in the third most.

As said Anderson, it's Simon Katich output by a direct hit team mate Jonathan Trott on the fourth ball day who had set the tone.

"I thought it was a little fantasy of commissioning, he kept his composure when he could have taken panic and we just from here", he added.

Anderson admitted to the first test behind him after Bowling superbly - Brad Haddin the Australia said that his fate with the new ball is one of the toughest that it had faced in test cricket - but ending at only two wickets.

"I Bowl, I felt I reversed really well here," said Anderson. "But the worst thing to do would be to am sorry for yourself and Bowl not well here." If I wanted to continue the form that I felt I was and I think that I did. »

Friday, Anderson returned to take the ball again at the end of a long hot day and was rewarded with his fourth window, helping to sleeves one near the Australia for a total of modest.

"It was a very good day for all the world to come to a pattern that has a flat terrain notoriously (and) keep a low score," he said.

"It is likely to be a difficult period in the morning when the new ball, so if we move, get a big partnership then I hope that we can catch up with their".

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Steve James: England must be wary of the combustion of coach Andy Flower

On call: Englandf coach Andy Flower has a daunting task with little respite in a hectic schedule Photo: PA

It says a lot about England improvements and constant quality that they have lost only 10 of these games. But he said as much in the crowded international route that no player has appeared in all 43 games.

Closest are Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann, with 40 appearances each, but both had to rest last year, Collingwood jump two Tests against Bangladesh House (he also missed an international day against Pakistan at the oval due to a virus) and being removed from the ODIs Swann houses three against Bangladesh.

Stuart Broad is the next step with 35, having served the same home tests like Collingwood, while lacking an ODI in Bangladesh with back, and then, of course, leaving ash tour after the second Test with a nasty torn stomach muscle injury.

Modern cricket schedules simply do not players to stay on the treadmill year-round. Collingwood is now hop off for testing, Andrew Strauss has done for T20s for some time, but for the rest of their well-being and longevity are at the discretion of the team. Like it or not, remains and rotation should now be an integral part of international cricket.

This leads me to the Director of the team England Andy Flower. When human dropper rest periods Gets a rest himself? The only couple of match days was breached during the last year were when they have a melanoma removed his cheek during recent Brisbane test.

This is hardly a rest, he was in considerable pain after having endured the horrible experience of fabric being scraped away just a local anesthesia. Even then when recovering in her hotel room flower glued to the TV (with denied volume of stain on the bias of local commentators).

Flower database 28 Oct left home and float on 7 Feb. While there will be four nights in her own bed before leaving for Bangladesh and the World Cup. All being well and reached the finals in England, he returned to the country on April 3. Consider also that flower will be for approximately 100 nights this summer and amounting to more than 250 nights later in the year.

Compare this with other sports. This year, one year of Rugby World Cup will be busy for Martin Johnson and his personal coaching England, but his team reached the final in Auckland on October 23, but they're probably not later for more than 180 nights during the year. And Johnson is reportedly higher than flower payday. Fabio Capello? An obscene annual salary of 6 million books, so I'm informed reliable, just 64 nights abroad last year, including the the World Cup in South Africa.

Flower itself proved a wonderfully clever coach and an astute Manager. The success of series triumphant ashes home and beyond, but also a world title ttwweennttyy, speaks for itself. The work will be his for a long time he wants to. Can not just see deterioration results so quickly to dictate otherwise.

But with the interests of a young family (he has three children) always paramount, I'm worried about how long it can continue.

Of course, money is still lousy pas, and the England & Wales Cricket Board fly families at the four corners of the globe. Flower knew the score signing, even if the question of the separation from his family for long periods is delaying his candidacy for the post.

It is not a normal job. It's high visibility and thus high-maintenance. Not to do the work of the House is almost impossible. The phone does not stop. There is always another round or tournament schedule, another decision selectorial thinking, another player, need help and advice.

While players are more concern because their fee is physical as well as emotional and mental-"11 guys on the ground who have to perform under pressure and they should get praise," flower said to huge workload of ashes - the flower must certainly considered too. " A month off the coast in April may not be sufficient.

Now that his stock is so large-flowered and his employers should be enough confidence to delegate the responsibility of the coach Richard Halsall commissioning (which took over Brisbane) for a series of one day here and there.

Burn-out once takes hold, it is too late. Flower has already had a reminder sharp about the importance of health. Another came the day of the year when his father, Bill, has suffered a heart attack. Flower very close to the left of the tour, but fortunately, his father is now back home in Lincolnshire and recover well.

Reporters interviewing flower after the Test in Sydney have been slightly disturbed by her refusal to commit publicly to England long term. "Personally I seem not much more advanced than a few months,"he says."

So, how long could it go? Life of a coach is too simplistic. Any mention of the words "Sir Alex ferguson" enough. The best endure. The Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher bright lasted eight years and could have lasted more than a better infrastructure. Everything that is in place today. Director General Hugh Morris is a vital conduit and solid between cricket and administrative arms.

Another Zimbabwean coaching gem was discovered. Flower should be treasured.

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Surrey drummer Mark Ramprakash fighting to be fit for the start of next season after damaging knee ligaments

Ramprakash, 41 years old, was injured playing in a charity for a side game organized by his former teammate Martin Bicknell, County now the Surrey, bowling coach and will undergo surgery next Tuesday.

Ramprakash is now facing a period of rehabilitation of about five months, which means that it may miss the start of the new season which again once should start at the beginning of April.

"It was a very innocuous incident and it is just unfortunate that it happened at this stage of the career of Marc," says Surrey Manager Chris Adams.

"We hope that it will be ready for the start of the season and knowing him not do me surprise .c ' is a coup, but it is obvious that we have to plan to be without him in the opening weeks if it comes to that, and it offers an opportunity for other players show what they can do."

"Mark will be there forever, someone has an opportunity to prove that it can accelerate."

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V England India: batting collapse gives tourists hope on the fourth day of the opening Test at Lord's

The captain of the titillé England the first down a fine leg and down the next ball through mid-wicket as the seamer dropped short.

While Strauss progressed serenely 20, Alastair Cook collected just one in 27 balls before Praveen to Mahendra Singh Dhoni feathers behind the wicket.

It was a second failure of the match for Cook, who was in the form of his life since the winter in Australia trip and had in his 10 previous sleeve from the Lord of six centuries.

Trott was gifted a first boundary by Sharma, whose short shot sitting to be affected by the side of the leg, and was soon quickly running between the wickets to keep moving dashboard.

After 12 overs, the India turned to Harbhajan Singh, who was to, hold an end in the absence of Zaheer Khan injured.

A piece of poor implementation of Sharma Donna Strauss four more, but Suresh Raina showed his teammate as soon after, sending almost Trott return with a direct strike.

India tightened well things to defeat England and had their reward when Strauss came to sweep Harbhajan was pinned LBW for 32.

With Pietersen to fold, expenses of its early innings of 202 step out.

No there is no repetition of such heroic however, Pietersen gloving a rising delivery from Sharma to Dhoni was beaten for pace and bounce.

Sharma then cranked the pressure with a second window five balls later.

Bell followed Pietersen back for a duck, drifting of a more comprehensive than located Sharma pace delivery that had eluded him visibly on the first two days.

After 54 for one, England lost three wickets in 10 balls for the addition of a single term.

Trott was the next to fall to the revitalized Sharma, who this time were fishing one through the defences of the drummer to overthrow him to 22.

That put England in conflicts 62 for five years, with an entry more 10 before the break.

India were victimless hamstrings Zaheer and Sachin Tendulkar on the ground, the latter suffering a viral infection.

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The ashes of 2010: James Anderson provided with necessary to win the series, said Stuart Clark spark Australia

Fired up fire: former Australia bowler Stuart Clark says that James Anderson antics of the third test in Perth inspired Australia, team in particular Mitchell Johnson: AP

England paceman Anderson was involved in a war running words with Mitchell Johnson of the examination, and Clark believes that inspired the Australia to produce his best years display player.

"The Perth test was more fiery than since the controversial Sydney against India in 2008, I test performance given Australian side," Clark said in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Perhaps it took Anderson and his confrontational towards - in particular Mitchell Johnson - Australian approach to fire our players."

«Johnson said as much after her six-wicket performance in the first round at the Waca and the image of him standing until English drummers was nice to see after the difficulty he has endured.»

"Johnson is not a nasty bloke, but this is not to say that it can not be with the ball of the hand." It was as if he had said in his image and management consultants: ' forget all the other things, I would like to win games and do I need to get a little dangerous. "A change of attitude inspired a change in the result. »

Clark added Anderson attitude Johnson has shown how it is important to strike the right balance when opponents of luge.

"There is little point of great players bobsled because the chance of them out of their game is remote or, more likely, they will play with additional determination," he said.

"And there are some drummers such as Kevin Pietersen, who love the confrontation and go seek to fire their place." Silence is a better bet in these situations.

"As regards others, there are typically two approaches side commissioning takes when it comes to luge: method old-school, in your face that we saw in Perth and more subtle tactics of" talk by "a drummer."

"The first method is explicit - and those more likely to attract the attention of the referee of the match - but the second can be just as effective against a drummer with a few doubts self."

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The ashes of 2010: 235 Alastair Cook at the opening test against the Australia at the Gabba is a triumph for simplicity

Cook is really ease to speak, but it is not the time and he was soon. Cuts have been hit hard and extra-over readers - that rarest Cook currency - have been deliciously smooth. Xavier Doherty was intelligent gathered at the midwicket.

Breakfast approached and suddenly Cook ran by money.How anyone can nervous to the point of junction anyway? it cut off spin Marcus North up to the limit of the third man, then raised it creative divisions high mid wicket before it conduct by the cover for a couple.

On 199, he stood as it faces Doherty. The ball was fired fast and full leg-side by the slowie left arm. Cook it simply helped on its way to the right of the fine-leg short, whereabouts a Mitchell Johnson. This is a simple ball for a single simple.Except that Jonathan Trott has been dreaming about his century imminente.Il was a moment of confusion mid-pitch. Certainly not a word about 199.

To much relief that tried to Johnson, for the first time in the test. Trott has woken up to his senses and rushed from the race.Cook has been a match test double-century in Australie.remarquable. Anyone mentioning such a possibility mid summer would have been immediately cut. What a turnaround.

For the second time in the game, after all the usual bat waving, helmet deleting and hugging, we were treated to mark its celebration: a cup of his ear and a blow to look at the ciel.Non we know its meaning.Much has been done it when labelled Cook as hundreds at the oval, much to her chagrin actually last summer. He stressed that observers would not have been as strong as they thought; there had been such move since the marking a hundred in Perth on tour here four years ago.

It was also his ear when television cameras passed during the hymns nationals get accustomed to the old England Mike Catt, with whom Cook came to share an agent rugby player. A link may? Si Cook canned notation centuries should keep answering the questions of same.

At least this century double counted.Because it was not really his first such score against Australia it is 214 in 2005 for Essex attack Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Shaun Tait, Mike Kasprowicz and Stuart MacGill, but because the game was played just two days, it was considered first class.He could have announced 20 years as a young thruster serious, but still annoys him far its sleeve does not correctly count in annals, while colossal hundreds against universities.

It has lunched supported on 201, probably with two portions of caviar and rejected soon to 209-midwicket captured by Ricky Ponting.In addition, it looked like it was, but technology could prove just as much.Thus immediately as it went with Ponting chuntering ear it even played a few great shots, cutting high point, streamlining skilful Doherty soil and pulling Shane Watson majestically midwicket Johnson.

And then Ponting him slip, diving to his droite.Même the ancient gnarled competitor raised a sourire.Il knew that he and his teammates know knew us it.

It was his .c ' is match son.Il deserved its champagne.

Records which have fallen

Alastair Cook 235 was the highest individual score in Brisbane.

Second round Britain was their highest total at the Gabba.

Booth 329 with Jonathan Trott sound was highest for England in Australia.

The stand is also the highest by a team of the Gabba.

England reached 500 for the loss of a single window for the first time.

"On the other hand, is among that first England three all received hundreds in a test away game.

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The ashes of 2010: Jonathan Trott England runs Simon Katich and shredded Australia

The first three bullets game had negotiated safely by Shane Watson. Now came the fourth match willing James Anderson. England want Watson as candidate lbw, so the plane had been intentionally: three out-swingers and then an "internal".

The ball beat Watson, banging on the buffer. The call was quite naturally, plaintive. In truth, however, the ball was missing leg by a distance strain.

But despite this, there was some confusion, as it often is when call lbw huge rings.

Had two players execute immediately there is a simple term. But they did not and was not. Watson fell towards the off side and just continued to run as the ball sped off to the side of the leg.

He midwicket y was Trott. The ball was absent on his right, and it installs quickly. At this time, Simon Katich, non-attaquant, had already made a fatal hesitancy.

Call Watson was, as he later admitted, "mild". Katich was not heard, in a State of shock to his partner quickly, have ceased. Wherever it was restarted, the ball was already in the hands of the Trott. It is without competition both Trott held his nerve.

Now came the crucial bit. Launch in little more than a single strain - all angle is permitted – is practiced daily by professional players, but it is one which is too often poorly executed.

Take Alastair Cook in Brisbane. It can run on Katich in similar circumstances, but it failed.

England long poor beating strains. When Richard Halsall taken as coach of commissioning in 2008, it is an area where he addressed immediately. It was a sad wicketkeeper, Matt Prior is a more accurate baffles of England in practice indictment.

Halsall noticed that fielders England were too preoccupied by the releasing the ball too quickly. It is generally more what is perceived.

If Halsall encouraged to create a "photo moment" first. In other words, establish themselves with a solid base. with feet, hips and arms of jets of non-pointing to the target, giving photographers this time to align. And then throw!

Halsall showed them a DVD of Marcus Trescothick adopting these very techniques Andrew Symonds running mid-off in an international day against the Australia Durham in 2005.

But now he can show their Trott here. He took his time. He took a step towards the stem.

He stabilized, aimed and hit! Katich was not yet close enough to stretch his bat. It has the kind of distance through which Usain Bolt beats rivals.

Trott took off in the outfield, raised as a scorer in hand Cup final. Teammates chased him and the crowd erupted. And poor Katich out slope face without a ball. "Surrounding what they call a ' diamond duck".

Katich may well have been calling - and perhaps Watson - something.

Captain Rick Ponting has arrived. The duck was golden. Past first ball beauty Anderson. Walk to a defensive front shot is never recommended.

And for the rest of the day, it was a reminder of this aberration technique low compliance in the dashboard. While Katich score read 0 blank, Ponting was gold. Ouch.

Has Michael Clarke. That affected the magnitude; now he can barely touch toes, such are his back problems. It is really difficult.

Now frappeurs makes Clarke as meaning to him as a verse of William McGonagall. He clipped only first ball, but then it consumes and missed has played and missed, let one and then half-story to defend a short shot and then line second sliding.

Surprisingly, he spent much time in the nets during the rest of the day with drummer coach Justin Langer. Inevitable was in the air and the Australia are two to three.

Or three to two, as they say here. One is a mess, the other is a real mess. And it is the latter.

To win the throw to lose three wickets in lunch is generally regarded as abandoned. losing three in 10 minutes is simply a calamity. The Australia could not recover.

There was even an alternative term. a collaborative effort that one. In England it is. Brad Haddin pushed Graeme Swann right hand Andrew Strauss short midwicket and one Strauss plunge and made the judgment, Xavier Doherty was that mimic jitter stop-start of the Katich earlier.

Strauss, always deflected the ball outside of his left hand to cook at short leg captured over to wicketkeeper before. The leasing shall be removed and Doherty, too, disappeared.

It was also day England, among the best in the recent history of ash and one of the best of the Halsall.

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Surrey on the song after their comprehensive ttwweennttyy triumph over Middlesex

Power rose: Jamie Dalrymple Middlesex tries to increase the rate of scoring against Surrey in the FP T20 of Lord Photo: GETTY IMAGES

When Surrey won earlier this week, singing highlights of their players emoi around their locker rooms. The Lord, they could not demonstrate this lack of decorum, but it is safe to say that their team also appreciated the derby victory even more, because they are in power.

It was their third consecutive victory in this competition. After a slow start, they occur at the right time, especially their powerful stick form. England hope Jason Roy and Steve Davies - seeking to return to the national team - both hit fifties. Then their fast bowlers, under the auspices of the Australia paceman Dirk Nannes, destroyed any chance that Middlesex had of an upset.

Middlesex managed initially by inhibiting the Surrey batsman, deployment of six fielders on the outer side. Steven Finn was particularly efficient, ensuring the Roy and Davies were kept up to 29 runs from four overs.

The openers of Surrey accelerated with the two next as Ryan McLaren 35 leak 19 in his introduction to the course. At this stage, a large score seemed likely.

Off-spin of Jamie Dalrymple haul Middlesex to contention in the Middle overs. Roy and Davies fell shortly after its passage in his fifties, respondents Launcher flight and turn.

His colleague spinner Tom Smith had been less but finally ceded rewards when Rory Hamilton-Brown has been blocked for 18. 134 For three, with 5.3 overs to play, the visitors were still well placed. Zander of Bruyn and Tom Maynard finished sleeves with a 48 - run well-calculated partnership, uninterrupted.

It became quickly clear just how were motivated, Surrey when Stuart Meaker captured by Paul Stirling. Meaker mid race - it "cow corner" take the ball and shouting with joy.

Worse was to follow for Middlesex. Scott Newman is mounted in a tangle, trying to hook a ball short Chris Tremlett and gloved Hamilton-Brown. Then Nannes reversed Rogers, to 24 for three after three overs.

Captain Neil Dexter and Dalrymple has tried to restore back the sleeves that was lost. They had succeeded their midway 50-partnership if their overs allocated, but they protect the wickets at the cost of a rate, which shot the mark on 11.

When Dexter, the 49 36 balls, attempted to bridge the gap - charging on the runway at Chris Schofield - he was blocked and chances slim of Middlesex declined by more. Dalrymple valiantly fighting for 36 48 when Nannes struck, forcing a miscued pull.

The Australian capped an impressive showing with two ATMs more in his last over, the penultimate of the game, at the end of five for 40. Surrey could sing again.

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V England India: Deadly Jimmy Anderson becomes a master of his art

Red handed over: Jimmy Anderson has been the star of the show for England on the last day of the Lord's Test against the India Photo: PA

It was as complete an England bowling performance as that of Melbourne last winter. To harass and tailgate frappeurs vaunted Indian line to less than 300 just twice on a flat land summer of key achievements.

Jimmy Anderson was the star Monday, but they are all played their part. It was a kind of Chinese torture of the water of the approach, the drip, drip, drip of sustained perseverance administer a persistent death.

Changed pitchers ends, they went to one-stop, round window, return to the wicket, propelled new ball and old, but no there was no place in their accuracy and their willingness to build pressure on the nagging batsmen. There were few easy-to-be had repeats, a long jump was as rare as a spare ticket.

Track Sachin Tendulkar was hunted in the excellence of the England of encapsulated bid. Anderson, who caught Rahul Dravid through a teasing out off the coast of the strain, and then VVS Laxman suckered in an uppish attraction, slipped one through the first ball of master little defences. There was a ball of fourth isolated half volley which he skillfully deflected the legside boundary. But it was the last tranche of English generosity.

After Chris Tremlett, refuting a slight deformation dos, rumblings from the Pavilion end and ramming the ball in the tone just below in an exterior length of channel off the coast of the strain. Some choked down the Hill and some have remained up to it, leaving uncertain Tendulkar who exhibit at and leave. He managed a for two to four overs miscued pull. A thin inside edge closely saved him an LBW verdict.

Erratic judgment of Billy Bowden rescued him that at the other end where Stuart Broad, operating in a more comprehensive than Tremlett length, trapped Tendulkar fight across and dead front. He clearly had difficulty to collect more comprehensive deliveries of offshore over the low view screen and was virtually strokeless.

Support of Tremlett, Graeme Swann provided useful support and Tendulkar, whose timing seemed out of sync, remained the story.

Came then the great moment of Anderson. Back on at the end of the nursery he still reduced Tendulkar in half with a ball of full length stifled the slope, then found his edge while trying to leave, only for Andrew Strauss bombing the ball goes to the right.

Impressed, Anderson slanted one brings back the slope and Tendulkar, who had moved again through a nuance too far - to counter the outswinger expected - was captured in front. He was released this time. This is the sixth time Anderson had dismissed him in seven tests. He could consider requesting her rabbit - with Michael Clarke and Jacques Kallis (which he rejected the same number of times, but matches more.)

Tendulkar had passed trails only 12 68-ball, continues his run of failures to the Lord. It seems that there the particularities of the difficult slope. It is not the first drummer to be afflicted so of course, not it will be the last. But this attack in England operate successfully.

No more than Anderson, after having resumed at the end of the Pavilion, product beauty of the one-stop Tour that slant to the left handed to Mr. Suresh Raina, and then toggled far to take on board with a length of teasing. This is the kind of one-stop bowlers quick love, all because of great ambition and activate specific and nothing drummer of error or chance. It was significantly more deadly in the second round - in swinging less favourable conditions - as in the first. He became Master of his art.

With Matt Prior, which could easily have man of the match for his belligerent frappeurs and unfailing in maintaining, in the form of Anderson is exceptional. He spends more time each day to improve his slip catching spinners and seamers independently to its own bowling - from both ends - before playing.

Its implementation is still strong and engaged, in any position. He is always ready to Bowl and maintains his pace constantly throughout the day. It is in stock of pedigree. And now that broad regained its power, so are the other 10. They may not be the number one in the world team now, but they will be soon.

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The ashes of 2010: Kevin Pietersen English sees dividends to keep faith with double century in Adelaide

213 Unbeaten Pietersen was its first three figure in test cricket for England for 19 months, note a lean period which led to him be removed from the team at the end of last summer's day.

England hope is a career defining sleeves for Pietersen and finally put to bed a dismal period that began with his dismissal as captain, nearly two years ago.

"It was not the best time", he said. "You go in your career and have good things and bad things." I have had many good things fortunately but a little bad things. Fortunately, who is gone now and I look forward to.

"I love the opportunity to large and myself hard against the best players in the world." Has been quite difficult for 18 months, it's a challenge for me to really look forward to and I love the fact that it goes so well here. I myself has set high standards.

"For 80, 90, 99 s or 50 and 60 does my head in." It was great when shot down a fine leg [to raise its century], but the State of the game was where someone should continue to play with a level head and we know that we must pursue and sure today was a day where we flows throughout the day putting in a great position to win this match test. »

Pietersen had monitored the nearly a combined 11 hours before having to fold then Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott two partnerships at the Gabba and here on Saturday. For a man who is a nervous energy beam, the wait was so.

"I found it more tiring waiting bat to stick to that long today", he said. "You can probably see how I first started I was trying to make 50 on five balls." It is time to wait. I've never done in my career before, but it is great watching others and long may it continue as all our batter is nick. We will be win many games stay of our batters in nick like this. »

The Australia are now praying for rain, an event that is so rare in Adelaide Ian Chappell believed he saw only two days lost items here in 25 years.

"We will now be see what we're made," said Ricky Ponting. "They have shown us how bat and until their skills and their implementation were sensational." We emulate that and keep us in the game.

"This is an issue of confidence or morale." It is a little of everything. We have to learn that we were poorly last four or five days of test cricket.

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The ashes of 2010: Kevin Pietersen insisted to what England not hoodwinked by Mitchell Johnson the Australia in Melbourne

Threat: Mitchell Johnson ripped in England review of Perth third week last one Australian hilt series photo: AP

"I think intimidated by Australians," said Pietersen interviewed about tobogganing during the test. Perth "I think when you're in the extreme amounts of pressure, you speak much."

"We have been a hiccup last week and Yes, we have been constructive in critical that we chucked around of the meeting of preparation team." But we do not go out and reports any fat, huge. We understand that they are very vulnerable - there are many areas in their team who are very vulnerable. »

This reading of Australians would be forgiven for thinking that it was their team capitulated in Perth, in England. But the world according to PK veers between disarming honesty and spin scandalous and defeat of England at the third test is dismissed as an unfortunate anomaly.

"We lost the match test half an hour when we have lost 5 wickets for 20 in our first race," said Pietersen. "But I can promise you now, that I have no fear of losing the momentum or anything. Because I know that I prepare for a ball swinging as Mitchell Johnson swung the ball.

"I did not feel could swing as much as him." And none of our batter made. We simply do properly align it. But we still 20 wickets and if we aircraft looks better we would still have won this match test. »

Johnson, who was assisted by an unusual wind to Waca, probably won't swing the ball with the devastating effects the CWM, as the magnitude stage retains the breeze. But even if this is the case, Pietersen is convinced that the habit of England escapism hard after the defeat will ensure return it no longer no setback to remember ash.

"We view statistics on how we've turned it before towers after a heavy defeat," said Pietersen. "It's just a case of wiping the slate clean." Week last of the past. There is nothing we can do on the last week.

"All our batter is very confident." There are just 40 ATMs in two matches Australia, test to ensure that our launchers are also very happy. I think we have a wonderful opportunity to do something that was not made for 24 years. In my view, is the engine we all into something amazing. We have to win a test match or draw the next two and we are done that thing is incredibly low.

Apart from his candid assessment that it does not prepare enough depth to Perth, Pietersen believes that it is better than ever after its 227-Adelaide angels. It was his highest score test but listening to him, it was a superior drummer plan too, a suggestive of a mature responsibility.

"I never looks that I've done in Adelaide, I feel incredible," said Pietersen. While earlier I just play, I am now able to adjust the gear of my stick. Adelaide, I've done much mental focus and preparation on how to restrain myself, play balls; leave the bullets. play much straight. Control things; playing situations. understanding of the game. Not shown in Perth, but we did in Adelaide. »

England will want to see once more, and no there is no bigger stage for another score, match-shaping it in terms of scale and importance of this series, as the Sunday test.

He will play with an insidious hamstrings while James Anderson will have to play through a painful side (both had scans in Perth), but it is a small price. Pietersen is disbelief - like speculation that England could rest Steve Finn for Tim Bresnan - that person did not want to miss the boxing day test at the CWM by fatigue or a niggle gains momentum. After all, Ricky Ponting is set to play with a broken finger.

"Someone I asked on Steven Finn and if it was a little tired," said Pietersen. "I am 30 years old and I played 69 test matches and I promise you now that I can't wait for the next day." If you are a lover of cricket and a cricket player and you have the option of walking and singing the national anthems at quarter past 10 on Sunday morning and there are 100,000 people-it is time to goosebumps. This is one of those you just look and them think: "cannot wait". »

The presence of Ricky Ponting, although that are not confirmed, is nonetheless planned, that does not surprise Pietersen believes his broken finger could be chemically numb if necessary.

"I played him in a series with a broken finger," said Pietersen. "You just ring-block it is numb and you don't feel the pain." It is not a huge drama. Ricky Ponting may bat without gloves, it is so difficult. »

Ponting will wait in England to target his break, which is the little finger in his left hand. Short bowling would be the obvious way to put it in the line of fire, but as Peter Siddle has pointed out, which is full of risk Ponting is a large reel.

"If you want to attack someone with a broken finger, you want a bouncer Bowl, but to Ricky Ponting is probably not the best option," Siddle said. "I know how they will address too." Siddle is the Launcher Australian who loves sledging, more gee himself until evil-foot adversary, even if it is a bonus if, as happened with Matt Prior, the bait is supported.

It all depends really on personality Player how Luge affects their and there is a rule, the effect diminishes with the calibre of cricket player. Again, when you had to cope with the traffic cops Australian for overdoing in yellow Lamborghini as Pietersen after his cent double, a few Aussie bowling speak as quickly as they Bowl is not likely you.

"Our take is that we don't hear or see what this is different from what happens normally in a test match, said the Pietersen." "Having played against Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, sledding here is non-existent."

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V England India: develop Ishant Sharma finally take hype media start

Only 22 years old, Sharma has packed in many ups and downs in his career of four years with the lost form testing, confidence and depression between becoming the fifth youngest Launcher to take 100 Test wickets.

Wild Man: melon India Ishant Sharma famous after it was Eoin Morgan caught for 19

Sharma broke out to the stage in Australia 2007 with work over Ricky Ponting of WACA cut on measure for a tall melon, back-of-the-length field.

He was the man of the series when the Australia visited the India 18 months later, but a period of over-bowling, due to the IPL, given him losing his zip at the age of 20 years, and it is only on the recent tour to the West Indies that his reputation has been restored by taking to 22 wickets, including his first five-for four years.

Sharma said that he was suffering from a scrambled spirit, which in turn combine his technique.

Successful as a quick access, it bang in melon, he believes that he began to think too hard on an action which was used to come naturally.

At a given time, it copies the traits of his partner Zaheer Khan, attempting to learn late swing to a fuller length. Many great right-armers step trying to reproduce the skills of a left - arm and it was shortly after Eric Simons, South African bowling coach of the India, arrested the senseless plans of hair and that it is at the core.

The fragile trust has constantly need to boost, and it was shortly after his performance in the first round of this test when he struggled to cope with the slope of the Lord. A quick chat with Zaheer and a change of ends yesterday presented a different result.

"I'm not used to slope of the Lord in the first round." I spoke with Zak, and it has really helped me to give me advice on how to handle. He also told me to Bowl the other end, even if I wanted to Bowl at the end of the Pavilion. If I had overthrown in the first round with the same energy levels that I showed in the second, we would be in much better position now. »

India had an eye rates yesterday with Captain Dhoni MS, with a a match ban if the referee of the match, Ranjan Madugalle, bowling their overs in the match at a touch above 13.3, a time is too slow.

"We did everything we could and [Dhoni] he told us to cut a few seconds here and there to help."

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Success of England could be damaging to the young fans with Andrew Strauss

Or of the Declaration of irritable refused a sensitive drummer and his first and only century against the Australia key? Or the connecting often sore supremo/Manager/coach and Captain?

Or a weakness for horoscopes? Miss Barbados? Pedal boats? A captain flouncing a conference press and position for the theatre? Motions of CMC of confidence in the Test and County Cricket Board?

There is no leakage: when English cricket team is something of an anomaly. They are not only excellent but also very beautiful and very sensitive and thoroughly professional.

Steering team Andy Flower and Captain Andrew Strauss work closely, are sensitive and mature, speak honestly, accepting blame, where it is due and well-deserved success.

Combine their batsmen flourish and grindstone, their bowlers guile and muscles, and for those who believe that it is a bit too complacent, there is the pantomime of Kevin Pietersen sideshow and arm left spinner.

The great shame is that it y if few people in Cardiff to see this England - so confident, so good - catapult out sri Lanka to 24.4 overs. Just 922 in all Monday, with at one time only 39 people shivering landside of soil.

You cannot blame the fans, the weather was miserably cold and wet, and play has not yet started up to three hours. The players themselves expected to come.

Session waiting for cricket, first rain cascades down your back and adhesive jeans as a wet membrane is really not much fun.

And as you give not to test only the eastern part of the country, the ECB cannot really be attributed to the formidable grey clouds sweeping off the coast of the sea of Ireland.

It is concerned that Cardiff had not been able to sell more tickets in advance. It was the first time that the home fans had the chance to see in England since their victory of ash in the winter and Sri Lanka, even without Muttiah Muralitharan, are still a team to make look.

The other international grounds around England casting of expensive reconstruction work will be swallow hard: despite the end of fairy tale, Cardiff look as if they lose about 1 million £.

Unfortunately for administrators, a singularity in cricket is that people feel not only they do not have to be a game to feel part of it, but they are not watching television. Much read and live their cricket through the newspapers.

Observe the crowds through the doors with the Lord Friday. A large number will carry a newspaper cleverly folded with a selection of light snacks, cushion, umbrella, and hat.

It is a report much more high paper the viewer that you would get in a game of football or rugby - in fact I strive to think of another sport that that you would take commonly a log in with the concept of express read while a game is actually played.

And for those who find their papers Friday, in the woods of St John can see you not only another magnificent performance, a voracious Chris Tremlett and Jonathan Trott fervour, but perhaps a small technical hitch, nothing too large or discouraging, just a little hiccup to help develop the moral courage of those who are too young to recall the work of the former England.

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Stuart Broad confident England can end on high despite bowling of Umar Gul giving Pakistan T20 series lead

The traffic clogged half-built roads around the stadium were the first sign Pakistan fans had finally emerged to support their side and they were rewarded with a narrow victory over an England team whose runs chase finished in a dead end.

With 32 needed from 26 balls and seven wickets standing England were strong favourites to win and silence a noisy crowd.

But an over from Umar Gul brought two wickets for three runs including the crucial dismissal of Ravi Bopara, the batsmen who looked set to see England home, and sucked all momentum out of the innings as they failed to find the boundary in the final five overs.

“It is the sort of position you should win from,” admitted Stuart Broad, the England captain. “The thing about Twenty20 is that it fluctuates so much.

"We needed 8.8 an over at one point but then Ravi got it down to seven but in Twenty20 you never think it is in the bag as one over can change a match. Umar Gul did that bowling with reverse swing and brilliant yorkers. We need to show as an England team we can improve and make sure we come back on Saturday right in the zone again.”

Matches at this stadium have barely attracted a crowd to fill one third of the ground, and even though there were still swathes of empty seats the attendance this was by far the biggest of the tour and underlined which format of the game Pakistan fans enjoy the most.

Their team responded with a gutsy performance twice saving themselves from perilous positions. With the bat, Shoaib Malik and Misbah ul Haq steadied nerves at 73 for five to add 71 crucial runs to post a competitive total. With the ball, Gul and Saeed Ajmal proved a combination too powerful for England’s inexperienced lower order conceding only 13 in the crucial overs 15 to 19.

England had started their innings confidently. With Alastair Cook left out of the side, Kevin Pietersen took on the role of leader with the bat and he played on a different plane to everyone else. He stroked four fours and a straight six off Shahid Afridi but fell trying to clear the ropes again when he was caught at deep midwicket. Eoin Morgan again scratched around leaving Bopara to manage the run chase but even he struggled for fluidity despite taking 14 off a Junaid Khan over which appeared to set the team on the road to victory.

After Bopara’s dismissal Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler faced the arduous task of batting against Gul and Ajmal with the pressure on. Buttler fell trying to flick Gul over fine leg and Samit Patel was out next ball lbw to a fast and full delivery. Ajmal’s doosras and Gul’s inswinging yorkers were too much for Bairstow who failed to hit a four from the 21 balls he faced, but England will hope he learned from the exposure gained playing international cricket in such a tight corner.

The Pakistan innings had been squeezed by Graeme Swann’s three for 13 and they had as much difficulty reading Jade Dernbach’s slower balls as England have endured trying to pick Ajmal.

The heavy traffic signalling the start of the Dubai weekend meant many supporters were not in the ground as Awais Zia, the debutant Pakistan opening batsman, gave the match a rollicking start by taking on Steven Finn, the best bowler in the one-day series. He tried and failed to smash his first ball in international cricket for six , hit his third for four over mid off and pulled Finn in his second over for six. Finn was furious as his first two overs cost 23. But he was also clever, dismissing Zia with a slower ball.

Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq appeared comfortable until the ninth over when England regained control as Pakistan slumped 68 for one to 73 for five. Shafiq was given out run out by Swann, a close call which changed the complexion of the innings. Swann picked up a throw at the bowlers’ end and in trying to flick it back to the stumps, his elbow knocked off the bails. The laws state the arm of the hand holding the ball up to the shoulder is considered “live” and Shafiq was out, although he looked stunned when the news came up on the big screen.

Two balls later Hafeez swept to the man at deep midwicket and in his next over Swann picked up a double wicket maiden.

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The ashes of 2010: Kevin Pietersen launches Twitter tirade and labels Adelaide Oval groundstaff "pathetic."

Pietersen tweeted: "as an attendant check (sic) is 2 days prior to a test match." Cover nets when it rains perhaps? "PATHETIC"!

Like the rest of his teammates, Pietersen was forced into a clicking noise, which is not ideal so close to a big game. Having served pending on bats at the Gabba rained in his career, he clearly is itching to bat on a grass field something he refused when groundstaff failed cover the heights of practice before they wet.

But Aussie deposits or simple omission on the part of the groundstaff? Conspiracy theorists will no doubt have their word to say, but one thing he does not reveal is that PK is a great success and is always a good sign.

Monday, a fan of knitting of Massachusetts offered a free ticket for the ashes after his choice of the name of Twitter-@ theashes - led her be bombarded with messages from cricket fans.

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Tamim Iqbal set to replace Michael Hussey as a replacement in the short term to Nottinghamshire

The experienced Australia drummer will return to his homeland after friends life Sunday t20 are in conflict with Lancashire to prepare for the international series one-day against Sri Lanka, and 22-year-old Tamim agreed terms replace six subsequent light fixtures. His signature is subject to approval of Bangladesh and England and Wales Cricket boards country.

Director outlaws of cricket Mick Newell said: "David has been excellent for us and it still has much to offer to the Australian team.

"His contract with us has always been subjected to international commitments and I am pleased that we were able to obtain a quality replacement.

"Find quality overseas players short notice is always a challenge but we are very pleased to have agreed to an agreement with the Tamim quality player," said Newell.

"It is an exciting player who emerged on the international scene at a young age and he is already assured of a long Test career".

Tamim 40.13 in trials on average and has a reputation as a marker commonly, with a ttwweennttyy international strike rate approaching 100.

He said: "it was a dream become a reality in every sense, as I have aspired to play County Cricket since I became a professional cricket player.

"I enjoyed every moment, every time that I was in the United Kingdom in the past, and it is a privilege to be part of a great club as Nottinghamshire, which has a tradition of cutting the breath and the character.

"I am very pleased to take the field and perform and assist in the mission of the Notts win friends t20 life."

Notts were fined £ 600 Tuesday after what they did not have registered Hussey for their victory in the opening to Derbyshire, where he registered 60.

Compatriot Adam Voges Hussey will be captain of the side for the rest of the competition.

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V England India: Director of team Andy Flower called Stuart Broad mind playing the role of "the executor.

The eyes: Stuart Broad England (right) makes his point in the third match ODI between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's Photo: AFP

Broad has acquired the reputation of being a leader stroppy and aggressive England attack the rhythm but he finds his position under threat before the first Test against the India to the Lord Thursday.

England he abandoned in their deciding one-day international series against Sri Lanka earlier this month and he now found in a fight to right for his Test place with Tim Bresnan recalled Yorkshire seamer.

"I thought that it overthrew as well as his characters suggested against Sri Lanka." "I have great respect for offshore as a young cricket player," said flower, the Director of the England team.

"It is obtained from the pace and bounce and it is a great competitor - but it may be more accurate.". I heard some crazy stuff on him to be - and I hate this word - an "enforcer".

"His work is to create the pressure to take wickets and make you generally Bowl off the coast of the strain." His work is therefore not of rough to the opposition. Should no not this ridiculous "enforcer".

"He is passionate about playing for England, but he has a responsibility to behave appropriately." It is perfectly aware, because it is intelligent. It must embrace this responsibility and act accordingly.

He was coach of bowling England David Saker, who originally said: "we want to be the executor in our team." It is no better bowler in the world than Stuart bowling bouncers. »

Broad was returned to county cricket week last to return to the front form of the India series. He took six wickets for Nottinghamshire against Somerset and has 50 overs in a match for the first time in his career, but broad has yet to discover if he was convinced of the flower and pickers colleagues that he is back at its best.

"We always select our best XI and Stuart has been a large part of recent years."

"This is the criteria we will use when gathering with the warlords." It is in the team, but we still have to make a decision about the best XI, "flower said."

The series of the India will be pit England against their former coach Duncan Fletcher and flower against a side that it looked like last winter as a successor of Gary Kirsten. Flower has subsequently signed a new contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board country.

"It was an investigation by year last to see if I would be interested." But I am very committed to this work, "he says.

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The ashes of 2010: Australia high flyer Usman Khawaja waiting behind the scenes for his big chance

The elegant left-hander, which can also boast be a driver called on his CV was appointed in Ashes 17-man squad of the Australia this week after having collected a pulse irresistible in the last year, on average more than 50 years in cricket first class, where he bats No.3 and earn a place in team who tour this summer in England for the series against Pakistan.

Selectors will have the opportunity to examine credentials more this week he chose to "A" Australia team which plays in England the mardi.Si bad shape or bad fortune assented to all Australian top agenda Khawaja is likely then online.

Technically, it has a few défauts.Strong soil and confident however short ball, Khawaja quickly but not flamboyant scores. A number of observers, such as Mark Waugh, think that it should be in the part for the first test.

"It is a very talented player, promising," said Waugh. "Selectors should strike so that the hot iron.»

Born in Islamabad, Khawaja moved to Australia when he was seven and his Sydney twang betrays no proof of its heritage, and unsurprisingly Khawaja is reluctant to brand itself.

"I see the big fuss about me in the team, but for the account that I never feel as I am always different", he said.

"All boys me deal with the same, and I realize indeed never until élever.Je media does really think sincerely on this subject that much."

He never claimed to have experienced any form of discrimination. "Never. It is very multiculturelle.surtout in the West end of Sydney, where I live. "As all Australians Trues, ash is anchored in the consciousness of the Khawaja.

"Which is more in mind is this series in 2005," says j. ' I literally stayed up and watched every day.I never test cricket match as much as I did it then. »

Just over five years later, it could be found in the heat of a pressed cendres.Il pot representations more with a double century against the Southern Australia, last month.

"Since I was young I was to play in the Australia," he said. "This is the only thing that I never thought about my life.But I don't like going too far in advance.It is difficult to see someone getting kicked out of the game, but if an injury and a place arises, I would love the opportunity.»

The drummer Idol Khawaja, however, is not an Australian - is not a Pakistan. ""I loved Brian Lara as he had as the West Indian flair", he said."I loved the way he played and it is the kind of guy I loved track and attempted to copy into the backyard if it wasn't him was Adam Gilchrist.".

Now, on the left the University Khawaja pilote.Lorsque licence, he took lessons with the intention of becoming a pilot if cricket wasn't flights. ""It was a backup plan," he explains.

"Cricket was going well, but to get from under-19 to first-class cricket is not only facile.Si it wasn't, I was going to shoot myself .but I fly much plus.Lorsque I have down time I want just to relax and play with my guitar."

Don't expect a repeat of 1990-91, ash tour and then, when David Gower and John Morris hired a Tiger Moth and sounded the soil where played their teammates who themselves both earn a heavy fine.

"I think I would have enough game to do this," riant.Il Khawaja will no doubt be hope that his own trip rather more happily ends.

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Surrey hit bullseye against Essex

During the break rounds Monday evening, darts stars Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis were invited on the off-field to take part in a demonstration.

In the end, however, the pinpoint throwing weapons and clinical finishing belonged to Surrey, who looked at the best of the order on the whole.

It was a curious game, punctuated by arrows and tainted by tragedy: of a pigeon with a fatal error would be on the path of a crushing blow Tom Maynard. Even with the bat, kept Surrey hit the bullseye and duly claimed their second victory of the competition in five games.

For a County so simply focusing on the format, Essex have been disappointing. They have overthrown property, restricting Surrey to a score they would have felt comfortable, hunting, but considers evil and ran miserably. Surrey, shown at the same time, the value of sharp out-cricket.

The game was based on two run-outs private Essex two of their biggest batting stage only when they are in themselves. Sharp of Jade Dernbach throw at short fine-leg represented Scott Styris, while Ryan ten Doeschate has brilliantly run out by Zander de Bruyn, who collected the ball off the coast of his own bowling and threw off-balance in a manner reminiscent of compatriot Colin Bland it.

The third race of the channel simply added a glug of farce to a pot of nonsense: as Tim Southee and Adam Wheater deliberated on the opportunity to take a single by Steve Davies, guardian of Surrey underarmed the ball in the stumps to run out Southee.

It embodied a bizarre effort of Essex, who found themselves in the curious position of five for one after a ball. After slinging down five wides, Yasser Arafat found the outside edge of the Owais Shah, ball flight to the third man to dismiss him for a golden duck.

Ravi Bopara watched atrocious form and was trapped LBW on the fold, while the tail folded as an Ordnance Survey map. Only weather and James Foster, struggling valiantly in a lost cause, offered any type of resistance. It was perhaps a touch unhappy to be caught out in the depths of what appeared to be a navel-high full toss, but at this time, the game was already understanding of Essex.

Maynard was the best of the batsmen, scoring 45 as Surrey recovered from a bad start. Graham Napier removed the two openers, but Maynard and Jason Roy 1600th sleeves.

But he was a student of geography Zafar Ansari, 19, down from Cambridge, which won the match award. And bowling four overs of steady left-arm darts, he lifted Surrey with a cameo butch of 30 years of 18 balls. It included a remarkable six off the coast of the last ball of the channel, which has seen through its stem and cut the ball over square-leg in the crowd.

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The ashes of 2010: leader bowler Australia Mitchell Johnson fails to its own hype

But while Anderson won respect Saturday with disciplined bowling type that we expect from the Australian, Johnson had once troubled the Gabba on Sunday.

He took his first race with no 65 less window and capture dropped leaving once more the Australia questioning on the mental strength which most macho cricket figures, faster melon team.

At the end of a day, almost sterile for launchers Australia as drought in Queensland, Shane Watson asked whether Johnson was an image of dark introspection in Australian cloakroom.

He stopped to say: "' we cannot differentiate Mitch now seldom launchers have not exercised and singling out Mitch is harsh, because in both group we could not keep long enough." "

In major Australian sides, bowling has worked within teams, but it has no depth of meaning of talented individuals as Johnson, experienced and talented, have to take responsibility.

His main weapon is his mastery of the bouncer and he made a bold its prediction that it would be the bomb Andrew Strauss with short balls.

Due to its round-arm action, it must be planting the ball almost under his nose to Bowl a bouncer for success.

This requires him to be with its fast, otherwise arises harmless, especially in the field as flat as it.

Strauss was marred by a bouncer Johnson once but it is in a few overs before closing Saturday when England were nervously focusing on survival.

Sunday, there just simply did not get the right path and Strauss was to be able to sway which facilitate the left - arm by the side of the leg for running.

Johnson did not open bowling in a test for Australia since his Lord collapse last year when he conceded 200 extends 38 overs and England seized control of the series.

He visited the match under control of the media at home after a public line between mother and girlfriend.

Vocal support from England to the Gabba section were pleased to remind him of conflicts familiaux.Quand doubts began to creep in mind, they can mess with the mechanics and the Johnson case which can be expensive.

His unconventional action is vulnerable to lower its standard deviation, and his left arm came to stagnation became more unlikely it would produce an of deliveries of wonder.

There was speculation before the match that Doug Bollinger would be selected in advance of Peter Siddle.

Six-wicket Siddle in the first round trip seems to justify its selection and perhaps the door series, rather than Johnson could have come under threat.

The change is unlikely to be the Australia rapide.Si feel they need refresh the attack after this test, the concern is how would react Johnson was abandoned after a game of a series of ash.

The third test is also the Waca his home shield cricket ground and where he took his best test bowling figures of eight 61 against South Africa, two years ago.

Old Waca playgrounds have been famous for its cracks and a few gaps were introduced therein at the Gabba.

But Australia cracks are usually only useful if a bowler constantly hitting their with sewing, which is probably why Ben Hilfenhaus beat the bat more than any other player.

It only comes second test Hilfenhaus Australia, both have been played at the Gabba, but Sunday, it was very likely the source of Ricky Ponting window.

In the end, which was conducted by Marcus North, inverted part-time meter advance specialist team, Xavier Doherty.Il was not a good day to be a left - arm Australian.

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V England India: first Test live

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OVER 24: IND 70/1 Swann gets one to rag quite sharply to VVS but Laxman sees it off. We're seeing on the internets that Gambhir may have just bruising rather than a break. That would be a huge relief for India.

OVER 23: IND 69/1 Stirring stuff for the Indian fans! Three fours in a row from VVS off CT. A short-arm jab through leg; a sweet glide with lovely timing through cover; then a flashing drive that goes backward of square through the offside, which I thought was perhaps a touch risky. Tremlett keeps the next three safely away, wide outside off.

OVER 22: IND 57/1 Was there a suggestion of a hint of a puff of something when that ball from Swann landed? Tiny bit of crumbling? Or perhaps just a bit of dust. Swann finds an inside edge as Dravid pokes uneasily, but the ball lands way short of mid on. But then Swann drops short, not a massive amount, but you can't give this cat anything. Dravid's onto that for a neat two through cover.

OVER 21: IND 55/1 Chris Tremlett returns, replacing StuBo. Dravid gets off strike with a single. VVS is able to play out five balls without alarm; there's no bounce and no nip off the pitch. Even from that horrifying height.

OVER 20: IND 54/1 Interesting. First ball from Swann to Laxman and VVS aims a very un-Laxmanish slog to cow-corner for four. Perhaps they fancy attack might be the best form of defence against the spinner - who has 23 wickets in six matches at this ground (average 21). That's a bloody good effort at this spinners' graveyard.

OVER 19: IND 48/1 Another fine over from Broad. He tries going a little wider on the crease to VVS. Just one off it, when he strays legside.

OVER 18: IND 47/1 It's Swann. Good stuff. Oh, but the first ball is a long-hop loosener and Dravid cuts that away for four. Next ball, Dravid stretches to drive through cover for two. Strauss responds by putting silly point back on the boundary. Come on, Andrew! Courage! India need 411.

OVER 17: IND 41/1 StuBo tries the bouncer but it's not quite throaty enough: VVS is onto it very quickly and pulls for four. But New Improved Stuart Broad doesn't try to knock his block off with another bouncer (or call him a swear). He gets back to his mark and the remainder of the over is full and straight. Ball four is a beaut and seams back up the slope. Too good even for a man of VVS's brilliance. This hs been an excellent spell of Test cricket: especially when Broad has been bowling.

OVER 16: IND 37/1 Too wide from Jim: Rahul cuts that away for four. The rest all in the channel: Rahul leaves or blocks. And that, in a nutshell, is how to score 12,000 Test runs.

TMSscorer tweets: "Tendulkar can't bat til 2.13 tomorrow or 5 wickets down. Just time for match saving or even winning 100?"

OVER 15: IND 33/1 Broad continues his interrogation of VVS; who is keeping his cards very close to his chest. Tell you an advert I really hate. That opticians one with the shouting kids. Shut up shut up shut up.

OVER 14: IND 33/1 Jimmy has a go from the Pavilion End but he's not quite at his best. It takes a heroic stop from Ian Bell in the covers to save four after Rahul forces him off the back foot. But even Warwickshire's finest cannot save Jim when he throws in a very wide one; Rahul doing well to reach it, and guiding it through cover for a boundary.

OVER 13: IND 29/1 Quality leg glance from Rahul brings him four off Broad; then a single to keep the strike.

DRINKS India 24/1 (Dravid 6* Laxman 5*) "chasing" 434. Back in a sec.

OVER 12: IND 24/1 Good battle between VVS and Tremlett. Chris does him on the outside edge, but VVS is able to hang back to a few deliveries before he gets one that is short enough to pull away for four.

OVER 11: IND 20/1 I've not been his biggest fan on many occasions, but this is total class from Broad. He beats Rahul Dravid on the outside edge with a perfect leg-cutter. Next ball he slices him in half with the ball that jags back in off the seam and beats the inside edge. Next ball keeps a bit low and Rahul uneasily jabs it out. The whole over is out of the top drawer. Maiden.

OVER 10: IND 20/1 More good stuff from Tremlett at the Pavilion End. He brings one back down the slope and hits VVS in front; but that's thigh-pad and as such is too high to be given against a tall batsman from a tall bowler. The umpiring in this match has been top class. CT then baffles VVS outside off and he's lucky not to get an edge. Another excellent over.

OVER 9: IND 20/1 VVS Laxman comes the wicket at number three to face a buzzing Stuart Broad. He gets off the mark with a single and Dravid then survives an lbw appeal against a ball that nipped back. Doing too much; and it was too high. Very good over.

WICKET! Mukund b Broad 12 What a match Stuart Broad is having. His third ball of the day, Mukund wafts cross-battedly at a ball outside off, no foot movement, it swings a bit and he drags it onto his stumps. Mukund's second played-on of the match and he looks as sick as a pike. IND 19/1

OVER 8: IND 18/0 Another impressive over from Tremlett; he has Mukund fishing a couple of times, and Dravid comes down at the end of the over to tell the younger man to cool his jets. Broad is going to have a bowl in place of Jimmy A.

OVER 7: IND 18/0 Jimmy doesn't look especially happy. He seems to be kicking at the foothholes at the Nursery End, and he has nothing to worry Mukund in that over. Just 440 needed to win now.

OVER 6: IND 17/0 Good over from Big Chris, England's most promising yet. He gets some bounce from short of a length, Dravid plays a couple of balls down into the slips, not totally convincingly. The last ball rears from a length and Rahul is relieved to see it travel downwards off his edge.

OVER 5: IND 17/0 A couple for Mukund off Jimmy, but no serious threat.

Says Peter: "So the two players whose places were most threatened have produced two of the best performances for England in the match to date. Well done, great stuff from both of them. But one of the enigmas of cricket today with Prior when you see him perform well in Tests you would think his game would naturally adapt well to ODI form cricket - so why doesn't it?" Peculiar, isn't it? Lack of wristiness? Bad luck? Not had settled position in the order?

OVER 4: IND 15/0 Tremlett to Dravid. Good news: he beats the bat, the first time this has happened in the innings. Bad news: it was a no ball. To go with the 10 he bowled in the first innings.

OVER 3: IND 14/0 First ball of the Anderson over is a pie, short and wide. Dravid = four. Rest is better, fuller.

OVER 2: IND 9/0 Tremlett will take the new ball from the Pavilion End. HIs first ball is onto Mukund's hip and the yougn opener turns that away for four. Chris manages to extract some bounce, but only by giving the ball a fearful bang into the pitch halfway down. This pitch may not have died; but it's in the ICU.

Here's an excellent email from V A Krishnan: "I come from same place as Mukund and have watched him practice and play from close quarters. He is one of the best against fast bowling, specially bouncing deliveries. He would have difficulties with Swann’s round-the-wicket off-spinners (though, may not get him lbw, he can be tested with short-leg close-in and Swann bowls in bouncy spinners; take it). No charges for suggesting this to Andys Flower and Strauss."

While Andrew McNeilis says: "Stuck in the desert 44 degrees - thank you Prior and Broad for stopping me get even more hot under the collar!"

OVER 1: IND 5/0 Here's Jimmy Anderson. Initial impression is that there is not much nip off that pitch, and only a very small suggestion of swing. Mukund works the inswingers away to the leg for two twos.

16.55 India require 458 to win That unbroken 162-run stand has given England a huge total to bowl at, and the bruised and battered Indian line-up will have to use all their vast experience, skill and heart to avoid defeat here. Their first task is to survive until close of play: 30 overs, it should be. Rahul Dravid will be opening with Abhinav Mukund.

OVER 71: ENG 269/6 Broad edges past Dravid and they run two. Prior wanted three, but it wasn't to be. In lieu of getting his mate on the strike with all the field now up for the single, Broad bashes two fours. Brutal. He then manages to get a single. Prior can't get ball five away... but off the last ball of the over he laces one through the covers and that's his century! A very impressive 103* off 120 balls; England were in all sorts when he came to the crease. He apes the KP & Dravid kneel-punch, while Andrew Strauss joins the rest of Lord's in giving Matt Prior a very warm ovation; and then calls his batsmen in. England declare on 269/6 (Prior 103* Broad 74*)

OVER 70: ENG 254/6 Prior scampers for two, twice. Prior's on 99* but he can't get the vital one. There's four byes in the Dhoni over; and the 250 is up. Surely as soon as Prior gets it, that will be that? Still, nobody could begrudge him the chance to get his sixth Test ton.

OVER 69: ENG 246/6 Prior's going for it; he swings Raina into the midwicket stand for a six. A pair of hard-run twos and a couple of singles and he's suddenly on to 95*. The lead is 434. That's 67 in the ten overs since tea and you can't say fairer than that.

OVER 68: ENG 233/6 More slogging, this time off Dhoni. Prior top edges one into the air but it lands safely clear of the leg-side sweeper. Broad outside edges for four; then Prior gets four to fine leg and there's fully 11 off that over. Lead is 421. Prior 83* - are we waiting to see if he can get a ton? This is England's highest seventh wicket stand v this oppo.

OVER 67: ENG 221/6 The Indian fielders have scattered; Prior and Broad are throwing the bat at everything. Prior gets four to cow. Indian injury news: Raina, as I suspected and indeed may have said prematurely, is off to hospital for an x-ray. Sachin was off for 4 hours 20 mins. Dhoni swaps the pads with Dravid. This all eats up a bit of time. He is seriously going to get an over-rate ban, isn't he?

OVER 66: ENG 213/6 Naughty from the England pair: both Stuart and Matt are running right up the wicket. Five off that over from Sharma; and the lead is 401. England have sent a message via the 12th man. Come on Straussy, pull the cord. SB 54* MP 71*

OVER 65: ENG 208/6 Stuart Broad brings up 50 to add to a very impressive four-fer in the Indian first innings. And 50 valuable runs as well; England were in a pickle when he came to the crease. Six runs from the over. Re tickets: I beg your pardon, I was wrong Under 16's are free; over 65's a tenner. You'll need proof of your age either way, or it's twenty pounds if you are 16-64. Damn good value, I'd say. The lead is 396

OVER 64: ENG 202/6 Six off that over, including a Like A Boss pull from StuBo that rattles away for four. Prior 65* Broad 49*

Aggerscricket can reveal: "20,000 tickets go on sale at 0830 at North and East Gates. Cash only. Get there early!" I understand that they are 20 quid for adults and a ten-spot for the under-16s.

OVER 63: ENG 196/6 Who'd be a bowler, eh? Prior tries the big straight shot against Harbie but skies it high in the air... surely... must be... but it lands safely, pretty much exactly between various onrushing fielders. They run two, then a single, then Broad tries the same lofted straight shot. But he gets it spot-on and that thumps into the boundary. Oh, Bhaji. Seven off the over. Lead is 384.

OVER 62: ENG 189/6 Ooh, Ishant nearly does StuBo with the Chris Cairns/CA Walsh special. Very slow ball, very full from the Nursery End, and Broad totally loses that. He turns away and is lucky to see it wobble by. The lead is 377.

Pete mails: "Go on Matty - smash a few windows from the middle! No on will tell you off this time!"

OVER 61: ENG 184/6 Fancy a bit of DRS, Indian chums? Broad is struck bang in front by Bhaji, and that looks very out indeed. Not to Asad Rauf though, and him say "naaaah". Would have been out on review, looking at Hawkeye. Oh well. I guess I should say that he was a good way down the deck, but that just looked plumb.

OVER 60: ENG 180/6 Ishant Sharma resumes but doesn't look like he fancies it much. Not sure I can blame him, especially after a stupid overthrow turns one leg-bye into four. Pretty floaty stuff from Ishant. Six off the over. In other news, Sachin is back on.

15.59 Right then. We're ready. Should be a fun slog for five or ten overs, I hope.

TEA England 174/6 (Broad 36* Prior 55*) lead by 362 That session was England's by a long way. Dhoni set a disappointing tone by opening with Suresh Raina rather than Ishant Sharma and, the wicket of Morgan to a poor shot aside, there was only one side in it. India's injury woes got even worse when Gambhir was smacked on the elbow at short leg and take to hospital. The visitors were staggering by the end. Expect some big shots after tea, and then we will see if the wounded Indian batting can see out three and a half or three and threequarter sessions for a draw.

OVER 59: ENG 174/6 Broad blocks out Raina's over and that's tea.

OVER 58: ENG 174/6 The lead extends to 362 as Prior works the leg side fielders with a two and a three. Praveen Kumar has an lbw shout against Broad, but Billy B says that he got an inside edge. Flower and Strauss are in conference on the balcony. I'd guess that they will bat after tea...

OVER 57: ENG 168/6 Dhoni and his boys are on the ropes, trying to cover up. Suresh Raina is on for a bowl, the field is spread and they're just hanging on now and hoping for the declaration. Come on England, shove it down their throats with a quick slog and then let's get into that injured batting line-up. Matt Prior brings up his 50 (78 balls) - a very important one that has steadied England and allowed them to get right back on top. Only two fours in it, and lots of hard running. Prior 50* Broad 35*

OVER 56: ENG 165/6 Stuart Broad is going after Praveen Kumar now. Firm smack to point for one, Prior then hustles for two to long leg, pressure on the tired fielders. India looking rough. Prior takes a single and then Broad unfurls a splendid drive for four. Shot! Eight off the over, the lead is now over 350 and India are reeling.

OVER 55: ENG 157/6 Oh blimey, that is a sickener. Poor Gautam Gambhir is at short leg and Matt Prior pulls one, full contact, hit like a rocket right into his elbow. He's off the ground right away and straight to the hospital for an x-ray. It has already swollen up massively; they're saying on the TV that the ball was travelling at 72mph when it left the bat. And he was - what? - eight feet away. Yuk. That's a maiden. India have three sub fielders on now (Sachin, Zaheer, Gautam all in the sick bay with matron for various reasons).

OVER 54: ENG 157/6 Nice stuff from Praveen, full and swingy but Broad is seeing the ball now. He has a big arcing drive at the third ball and sends it majestically to the mid on boundary. But Praveen is right back at him with one that is aimed at leg but moves away a mile. Far too good for Stuart, and he's lucky to miss it.

OVER 53: ENG 153/6 Four singles from the Harbhajan over.

OVER 52: ENG 149/6 Chance! More iffy keeping from Dhoni in this match. Kumar finds the edge of Broad's bat as the blond drives loosely. Dravid is very, very wide at first grabber, but Dhoni just stands there like a statue as the ball flies through the gap. Nearer the keeper, and that is not Test class glovesmanship. Six off that over; and I make that 29 off the last five.

OVER 51: ENG 143/6 Chance! (Kinda) Harbhajan totally does Stuart Broad with a quicker one, but the edge flies so quickly at Dhoni that it would be harsh to blame him for not gathering. Would have been a wonder catch. Single. To add further pain, Prior then strokes Harbhajan away for four through cover. Sachin needs to get back on that field: he can't bat for the length of time he was off. That's already 3 hours 45 mins. Or he could come in at number seven.

OVER 50: ENG 136/6 StuBo is hanging on the back foot v Ishant. He makes a mess of a pull and is lucky that is plops away safely. But then he gets hold of the same shot perfectly and cracks it for four. Then a nice middled shot, but only for one, to deep cover. Oooh, but steady on, Mat Prior! He works to square leg and calls for a very tight two. Broad is running to the bowlers end and he's well short - but the throw is weak. Risky two, that. Nine off that over.

Aggerscricket tweets: "Very sad to see Morgan not walk for that catch. And also that Bowden did not make the decision on the field. It was 10 yards away max."

OVER 49: ENG 129/6 A single each for the batsmen off Harbhajan. Sachin is back in the ground.

OVER 48: ENG 127/6 Ishant resumes. Broad drives him on the up, off the back foot, through cover for three. Slightly dicey steer to slips from Prior, and then more pathetic fielding from India: Mukund lets the ball through his legs and two becomes three for the England keeper-batsman. England lead by 317 and, if by no means totally safe, are definitely heading in the right direction.

OVER 47: ENG 120/6 Another impressive over from Harbie; trying to get Prior driving outside off. Sloppy from India: they let him nick the strike off ball six.

Drinks England 118/6 (Prior 30* Broad 6*) lead by 306 One wicket for 46 runs in that hour; and I'm giving that round to England on points 10-9.

OVER 46: ENG 118/6 Matt Prior proves, once again, that he is superb square of the wicket on the off side. Width from Ishant and a sweet four through point. The lead is now over 300. A single to leg as the young bowler over-corrects. It's lanky young pacer on lanky young pacer action as he tucks Broad up with a short one, but then fair play to the Notts man: he gets up to his full height to force away on the back foot through extra cover for three. Well played. That's drinks.

"Utter filth that from Morgan," says Dan Lucas. "He's a great one-day batsman, but has consistently got a start and got out in Test cricket. England aren't going to run through this Indian line-up twice and cheaply with four bowlers unless one of them is Curtly Ambrose quality. Prior's good enough for 6, Morgan isn't, so we need a fifth bowler I reckon."

OVER 45: ENG 110/6 Broad gets a couple through square leg; but this is a testing over from Harbhajan. Turn, bounce, flight... and he does well to hang on.

OVER 44: ENG 108/6 That man Ishant has done the biz for his skipper and he now has four wickets. I wish we would just get rid of those replays for low catches. It always makes them look much more iffy than they are. Let's go back to the honour system. Broad survives the king pair and then races a nervy single. Praveen Kumar fields, dives and hits the stump, but the boy Broad was in by a long way. Sharma then beats Prior with a snorter that fizzes past off. Oh crikey - Kumar has called for the physio and looks to be hurting in the shoulder.

WICKET! Morgan c Gambhir b Sharma 19 Short ball from Ishant surprises Morgan, who pulls. Far too close to the body for that shot, Eoin. It loops off the splice and Gambhir runs in from midwicket to dive forward and catch very low. Looks out for all money - but Morgan stands his ground. Bit of camera tomfoolery with the third umpire - and, once again, the more you look at it, the more some doubts creep in... But ultimately, that is out and it is given thus. Yeah, I'd say that definitely carried.

OVER 43: ENG 107/5 Bit of a frustrating over for Harbhajan: a loose shot from Prior leading-edges airily to no-man's land. Then Prior is able to turn one into two as Kumar at point has a long way to run.

OVER 42: ENG 105/5 Ah, here hell Ishant. Can he wrest back the initiative after 10 overs went for an unalarmed 32 after lunch? Not in this over. One for Prior; cautious defence from Morgan. Nice bit of analysis on Sky points out that Ishant has delivered the ball from nearer the stumps in this innings (as opposed to a wide release in the first); and the results speak for themselves. Morgan 19* Prior 23*

OVER 41: ENG 104/5 Five easy singles from the Harbhajan over as this pair start to look quite comfortable. Where hell Ishant?

Cricketer_John tweets: "Sachin indisposition good news for MCC money men. Almost guaranteed not to bat today. might be one or two queuing at the gates tomorrow"

OVER 40: ENG 99/5 Prior is able to single easily to deep point, and then Morgan is hawkish in defence to the rest of the Kumar over. Whisper it, but England are guiding themselves back into a commanding position. 289 is the lead.

"Culinary incantations from Guy Perry to Peter in Colombia: “Senor Pedro, despaireth ye not. What with my consumption of sacred rice pudding in Kerala, and your consumption of sacred mate tea, we can invoke cricketing gods on two mighty continents...and get the Indian cricket team running scared....”

OVER 39: ENG 98/5 Quality over from Harbhajan. He gets one to turn back from the rough into Prior, who tries to run that away off the blade on his back foot. Risky shot that, and he’s lucky to miss it. Prior sweeps for one; again a somewhat brave shot given the bounce and overspin this bowler can find. Morgan on strike, and Bhaji nearly slides the ball through his defence, the delivery that slides on. Well bowled.

OVER 38: ENG 97/5 Sympathies for Praveen Kumar here. He's obviously figured out/been told not to give Prior width, but that means he keeps getting a bit straight. A couple and then a single turned to leg with no worries. Not easy, this bowling caper.

OVER 37: ENG 94/5 Prior has a mow and is struck on the pad - but Harbie's lbw appeal is rightly turned down because that hit him outside the line of off. Morgan cuts through the gully/slips, bit of an odd shot, but he gets four. The lead's 282 and this partnership has crept to 32 very welcome runs.

OVER 36: ENG 89/5 Kumar checks the scoring rate with a maiden, although that's partly because three balls were very wide of Morgan's off pole.

OVER 35: ENG 89/5 Morgan sweeps Bhaji for three, Prior likewise sweeps for a single, and then a misfield at deep extra turns Morgan's one into three. India have been absolutely pants since lunch and England are fighting back.

"Like Guy, have just seen the score because it's early morning here in Colombia - would you adam and eve that scoreline? Have the rooks left the tower - what's going on?" asks Peter Rowntree. Meanwhile, Guy writes: "I don’t want to build up a nation’s hopes. There could be more to us winning the first Test it than my eating sacred rice pudding in Kerala, and praying. But, Lordy, it’s tasty, very tasty."

OVER 34: ENG 81/5 Praveen Kumar on to bowl. So Raina’s over was just for an end-change. Okay. I guess. Not sure why Ishant isn’t on, mind you. Full from Praveen to Prior, and there’s a swing and a miss outside off. Then a misfield from Yuvi at midwicket: three runs. Cheers. Sachin, we hear, is on his way to the ground.

OVER 33: ENG 78/5 Harbhajan continues - and he tempts Morgan into a leading edge that loops up, but lands safely between mid off and extra cover. Lucky Morgs!

OVER 32: ENG 76/5 Okay, that was a really odd bowling change. Suresh Raina's modest off-spin wasn't really on target, it certainly wasn't threatening, and Prior was able to help himself to a two and a one, while Morgan also had a single into a well spread field. Just the sort of gentle first over after lunch that England would have wanted.

13.39 The Indians are back out, and they look like keen. Suresh Raina, oddly enough, is having a bowl from the Nursery End. Prior and Morgan need to counter-attack here.

Guy Perry has a solution: "Just read of our collapse. It’s lunchtime in England, and teatime for me in Kerala. I will eat sacred rice pudding (palpayasam), do some cricket-sort-of-chanting with the dogs (they’re a bit disinterested, mind you) and pray for a miracle. Do you think this will work?" If dog-assisted rice pudding can't do the trick, what can? GO ON GUY.

Tweets scyldberry: "Ishant Sharma and Duncan Fletcher targeted England achilles heels: early bouncer to Pietersen, Bell opening the face, jagging back to Trott."

13.20 This parade is pretty funny. Athers, Nasser and Sourav are sharing a golf cart. Cor, look at the size of Farokh Engineer. Pity that poor buggy.

13.15 While we mull over Cheetan's question, I am going to get something to eat. 67 runs for five wickets in that 26-over session. If India bowl England by tea, I reckon they'll have 350 to chase in four sessions. I personally would fancy India in that scenario; although I guess it would be nice to know how poorly Mr Sachin is feeling... back in a sec

"Just like to ask one question," writes Cheetan Malhotra. Ask away, my friend. Ask away. "Why does English media become so cocky so quickly? They dismissed India so quickly in their morning reaction to the 3rd day on skysports and on TMS. Maybe a little lesson there."

LUNCH England 72/5 Prior 5* Morgan 5* The lead is 260; but that morning belongs to India. A rather quiet first hour, with just the lost of Cook. And then things suddenly came alive with a great spell from Ishant. Andrew Strauss opened the door with a brainless slog-sweep off Harbhajan; Sharma kicked it in with three wickets for one run - KP with a snorting lifter, Bell with a full ball that nibbled away, and Trott driving at one that nipped back. Superb bowling. Lest we forget, England are still 260 ahead, but they will need a partnership of substance from Prior and Morgan.

During the lunchbreak at Lord's, there will be a parade of former England and India skippers. In golf carts. Jolly good.

OVER 31: ENG 72/5 My man Praveen Kumar replaces Harbhajan. He's right on the money with his off-stump line; Prior gets a thick outside edge through the slips, and Yuvraj Singh (on the field for virus-stricken Sachin) makes a game stop on the boundary to keep it to three. Praveen doesn't quite find the line to the leftie right away and Morgan is able to clip for two. Morgs, who looks like he means business, sees out the rest of the over and we will have our lunch.

OVER 30: ENG 67/5 Prior, not unwisely, gets off the strike with a single from the first ball, leaving Morgan to face five balls from Ishant. He guides past point for a couple and survives the over; leaving the ball with impressive control.

OVER 29: ENG 64/5 Eoin Morgan shows good judgment to leave the turning ball from Harbhajan outside his off-stump. He and Prior both get singles in the over to get off their marks.

OVER 28: ENG 62/5 A wicket maiden from Ishant and England are in serious trouble. As I type, India are 11-2 to win this game and I would say that's not a bad bet.

WICKET! Trott b Ishant 22 More brilliance from Ishant. Full-ish, it nips back off the seam and Jonathan Trott is driving, loosely, at thin air. Bowled all over the shop as the ball zips through between bat and pad. This young man is bowling his team into a winning position here. ENG 62/5 and Ishant has three wickets for one run.

OVER 27: ENG 62/4 Finally a bit of respite for England. Harbie bowls a wide one - it's turning, Harbie, but not that much - and Trott is able to slap that away through point with ease for four.

OVER 26: ENG 57/4 Another hostile over from Ishant; good pace and getting some lift off a length. There's just one off it, as Trott manages to work one away to leg.

Writes Nimish Varadkar: "There is a belief in Indian culture, Alan, that if something good happens with someone's arrival, then the person that has arrived has lucky feet. So I guess you are the man for us today, Alan. Not Ishant, not Praveen, but you." Nimish, if what you say is true, then I shall buy a lottery ticket on the way home and fill it in by gripping the pen with my toes. It's all India right now.

OVER 25: ENG 56/4 Harbhajan keeps the pressure on with another fine over; he's finding some turn and rips one back into Trott. It would have slid past leg; good decision - but India are all over the hosts at the moment.

OVER 24: ENG 55/4 What an over from Ishant! A double wicket maiden. Never mind about setting a target, England now need to survive for a bit; after three wickets in ten balls. Morgan 0* Trott 15* Lead 244

WICKET! Bell c Dhoni b Sharma 0 Ishant Sharma is bringing it to England. Superb bowling! Another really excellent ball, it pitches and leaves Bell, he nibbles at it and is caught at the wicket.

WICKET! Pietersen c Dhoni b Sharma 1 Bring back Giles Mole! That's another one and India are electric at the moment. Ishant to KP and Kevin's confidence runs away with him. He gets onto the front foot, but that ball is short of a length and the bounce surprises him, flicking the shoulder of the bat for a regulation caught-behind. That is poor batting really; a bit of arrogance you might argue. Simply not possible to get on the front foot to a tall bowler banging it in short at 86mph. Bell comes in.

OVER 23: ENG 55/2 That's a really good over from Bhaji. He's getting turn and bounce. KP comes to the crease and edges his first ball towards slip, albeit into the ground. Harbie looks a different bowler today.

WICKET! Strauss lbw Harbhajan 32 Blimey, sorry everyone. Alan Tyers here and I'm afraid my very first duty is to tell you about the wicket of Andrew Strauss. You were much better off with Giles. A good over from H Singh, he bustles one past Strauss' edge, perhaps unsettling the skipper. Next ball, Strauss aims a rather wild slog-sweep and totally misses the ball which bounces and holds it line. He's struck on the pad and there's no question about that one. LBW.

OVER 22: Eng 54/1 Sharma back into the attack but still no joy for the lanky seamer. One off the over and England lead by 242 runs with nine wickets remaining. I am now handing over to Mr Alan Tyers

OVER 21: Eng 53/1 Kumar continues and he's starting to get some swing out there. Trott doesn't look content with leaving the ball alone and the odd shuffle of the feet is showing his impatience. Maiden over.

OVER 20: Eng 53/1 Strauss so very nearly bottom-edges onto his own stumps off Harbhajan, looking to drag the ball from outside off and fortunately seeing it bounce over the wickets. England now lead by 241.

OVER 19: Eng 50/1 Poor fielding from Sharma at point allows a cut by Strauss to go right through him and reach the boundary. Kumar looks displeased to say the least, as does India's fielding coach Trevor Penney. However, a bad bit of fielding is followed by a very good one from Suresh Raina who sweeps in from cover and hurls at the sumps, claiming a direct hit. This will be close. Trott, judging by the replays, is just in. And I mean just. And he's not out! Time for drinks.

OVER 18: Eng 44/1 Graeme Swann will be watching Harbhajan's overs very carefully and he's certainly getting some turn.

OVER 17: Eng 42/1 Englands batsmen are rotating the strike well and three runs off the face of Trott's bat towards wide long-on do no harm at all. England now lead by 230 and Harbhajan Singh comes into the attack.

OVER 16: Eng 34/1 A lovely pull by Trott off a rare short ball from Sharma flies for four. Great instinctive shot. Dhoni is gesturing for the helmet, so he may well be coming up to the stumps in the next over. Sharma looks as though he is bowling much tighter to the stumps, something the ever-creative Duncan Fletcher has maybe asked him to do.

OVER 15: Eng 28/1 A couple of sliders down the leg side by Kumar suggest he's trying to get Trott moving across his stumps. And there's a loud appeal off the third delivery as England's No 3 is rapped on the pads in front, but umpire Rauf shakes his head, signalling too high. It was just missing, though, and only because he was standing outside his crease. Good tactics from both sides.

OVER 14: Eng 25/1 Sharma continues to steam in but without reward. The form he showed in West Indies hasn't been carried over to Lord's and its one off the over.

OVER 13: Eng 24/1 Kumar's tail is up and he's receiving plenty of encouragement from his team-mates, he even seems to have found a bit of extra zip. Unusually for Jonathan Trott he is standing outside his crease straight away and very nearly gets an edge. However, the reason he's standing so far forward is so he doesn't get pinned on the back foot by Kumar right in front of his stumps, as happened in the first innings.

OVER 12: Eng 23/1 Having just lost his opening partner, Strauss has become watchful and a bit of extra bounce from Sharma has the Indian fans in the crowd ooohing and arrrrhing. Maiden over. England's lead is 211.

OVER 11: Eng 23/1 Kumar may be bowling nice and straight but his lack of pace is giving the England batsmen an easy ride at the moment. He only seems effective when the ball is swinging and at the moment it just isn't. And just as I say that he bags the wicket of Cook who nicks a regulation edge behind to Dhoni. Bloggers curse.

WICKET! Cook ct Dhoni b Kumar 1
Fine delivery from Kumar - little bit of bounce, little bit of movement and comfortably caught by Dhoni behind the stumps

OVER 10: Eng 22/0 Cook misses out trying to pull a wide one down the leg side from Sharma... normally he disptaches those to the boundary. Lots of deliveries are carrying though really low to Dhoni, or not at all, and the longer this sun beats down on the pitch the more variable the bounce will become... and it will become variable! Maiden over.

OVER 9: Eng 22/0 Kumar is back over the wicket but his foot is getting remarkably close to the danger zone and there's always the risk that the umpires will warn him, and he could eventually be hauled off, just like what happened in West Indies. He's treading a fine line but England won't mind, the more he scuffs up the pitch the better for Swann and co. A boundary for Strauss off the final ball takes England to 22/0.

OVER 8: Eng 18/0 Good running from the England pair who look as though they are determined to set a good tempo to this innings. Solid cricket and thats two off the over.

OVER 7: Eng 16/0 An indication of Praveen Kumar's lack of pace can be seen from his first delivery, 72mph, which fails to carry through to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and raps the wickie on the shins. First boundary of the morning goes to the England captain as he helps the next ball down to the fine-leg boundary. And that's followed by a cracking pull for four to midwicket from a medium-paced dobber pitched half-way down the track. 10 off the over.

OVER 6: Eng 6/0 Ok, the stage is set and here we go. Yuvraj Singh and Wriddhiman Saha are on the field for India in place of the injured Zaheer Khan and sick Tendulkar. England will probably be looking to add another 250 to their overall total at least. Without Zaheer the India bowling attack is a bit thin and Ishant Sharma doesn't look threatening as he opens proceedings. One off the over.

@VaughanCricket - "Lots of Indian fans here at Lords.. Btw Dhoni is 7/2 to be the leading wicket taker in the 2nd innings!!!!"

10.40 News coming out of the India camp this morning is that Sachin Tendulkar has a viral infection and is resting under doctors orders. He may take the field later, though

10.35 Before play gets underway, let's have a quick recap to set the scene for today's action. England are currently 5-0 in their second innings having bowled India out for 286, meaning Strauss' men already have a 193-run advantage.

10.30 Good morning and welcome to a belter of a day at Lord's. The Sun is shining, Lord's looks a picture, this morning's papers are signing England's praises and I have just been handed a free cup of tea... could it get any better?

First things first, a quick weather report...

... and as you can see, we've got a fantastic Sunday and Monday so expect two full day's cricket, just don't forget your sun block.

The big question at the moment is how long do England bat for? Geoffrey Boycott has told Andrew Strauss to be positive this morning, build a mammoth total quickly and ensure plenty of time to dismiss India dangermen Dravid, Tendulkar, Dhoni et al. We might even get a tea time declaration, only time will tell.

While we wait for the players to take to the field, some required reading is in order so why not check out...

Simon Briggs on the English crowd's mixed feelings when Sachin Tendulkar fell cheaply.

Steve James congratulates Rahul Dravid on becoming the first of this India team's batsmen to have his name etched on the Lord's honours board.

Simon Hughes analyses why Stuart Broad went from almost being dropped to Saturday's bowling sensation.

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