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England 75 for 0 (Strauss 38*, Cook 34*) v India
Given the way England have conquered this series it wouldn't be difficult to suggest that the only thing that will stop them accomplishment a whitewash is the weather. Rain wiped out play after lunch on the opening day at The Oval, but during the two hours possible Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook formed a solid platform against a very unsatisfactory India assault as England reached 75 without loss.
This was as weakly as India had bowled all series as they wasted whatever helps was on offer under cloudy skies. There was barely a chance shaped during the session and the whole approach portray by the visitors was of a team low on self-assurance and waiting for the series to finish. Defeat here will leave them third in the world rankings but it's difficult to see them preventive England's in-form batting line-up with a better forecast for Friday.
RP Singh, on his go back to the Test team after a three-year nonappearance for the injured Praveen Kumar, didn't set a good tone with his opening over. The first ball was sprayed down the leg side and the batsmen were offered some gentle leg-stump delivery to open their accounts. He was also about the same pace as Praveen, but with less swing, which wasn't completely astonishing considering he hadn't played first-class cricket since January.
Even though a couple of early boundaries came to third man they were played with soft hands by Strauss and Cook. There was a disturbing lack of strength from India, both with the ball and in the field, as they failed to make any use of the cloudy conditions. Sreesanth's first spell was poor with too many deliveries on leg stump which ensure the scoreboard kept ticking over with Cook, for the time being at least, taking his average over 50.
India showed somewhat more energy during the second hour - though all is relative - and Strauss had his most painful moment when he was strike on the helmet by an Ishant Sharma bouncer that took a chunk out of the lid. From that moment Strauss was more unwilling to get forward, but was still able to play a good-looking off drive against Sreesanth.
Ishant remain the pick of the three quicks, inquiring away outside off and finding a touch of worrying bounce, but there were few alarms for the openers. Even with two left-handers at the crease it was a surprise when Suresh Raina's part-time offspin was used ahead of Amit Mishra who detached Strauss at Edgbaston.
Earlier, James Anderson had been approved fit to take his place in the England side as they remain unmovable. A thigh grumble had created doubts about his fitness, but he came through a net on Wednesday so Graham Onions or Steven Finn, who left to play for Middlesex next to Kent, were not necessary. On the proof of the first session, and with the impact of the weather, Anderson might not be wanted until well into the weekend.
Given the way England have conquered this series it wouldn't be difficult to suggest that the only thing that will stop them accomplishment a whitewash is the weather. Rain wiped out play after lunch on the opening day at The Oval, but during the two hours possible Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook formed a solid platform against a very unsatisfactory India assault as England reached 75 without loss.
This was as weakly as India had bowled all series as they wasted whatever helps was on offer under cloudy skies. There was barely a chance shaped during the session and the whole approach portray by the visitors was of a team low on self-assurance and waiting for the series to finish. Defeat here will leave them third in the world rankings but it's difficult to see them preventive England's in-form batting line-up with a better forecast for Friday.
RP Singh, on his go back to the Test team after a three-year nonappearance for the injured Praveen Kumar, didn't set a good tone with his opening over. The first ball was sprayed down the leg side and the batsmen were offered some gentle leg-stump delivery to open their accounts. He was also about the same pace as Praveen, but with less swing, which wasn't completely astonishing considering he hadn't played first-class cricket since January.
Even though a couple of early boundaries came to third man they were played with soft hands by Strauss and Cook. There was a disturbing lack of strength from India, both with the ball and in the field, as they failed to make any use of the cloudy conditions. Sreesanth's first spell was poor with too many deliveries on leg stump which ensure the scoreboard kept ticking over with Cook, for the time being at least, taking his average over 50.
India showed somewhat more energy during the second hour - though all is relative - and Strauss had his most painful moment when he was strike on the helmet by an Ishant Sharma bouncer that took a chunk out of the lid. From that moment Strauss was more unwilling to get forward, but was still able to play a good-looking off drive against Sreesanth.
Ishant remain the pick of the three quicks, inquiring away outside off and finding a touch of worrying bounce, but there were few alarms for the openers. Even with two left-handers at the crease it was a surprise when Suresh Raina's part-time offspin was used ahead of Amit Mishra who detached Strauss at Edgbaston.
Earlier, James Anderson had been approved fit to take his place in the England side as they remain unmovable. A thigh grumble had created doubts about his fitness, but he came through a net on Wednesday so Graham Onions or Steven Finn, who left to play for Middlesex next to Kent, were not necessary. On the proof of the first session, and with the impact of the weather, Anderson might not be wanted until well into the weekend.
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