Broad rescues England from total collapse

NOTTINGHAM: Stuart Broad again proved a thorn in India's side with the bat as he rescued England from total collapse on the first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge here on Friday.England collapsed to 88 for six after losing the toss in overcast, swing-friendly, conditions.But Broad, batting at number nine on his Nottinghamshire home ground, top-scored with 64 in a total of 221.India at stumps were 24 for one in reply, a deficit of 197 runs, as they looked to level this four-match series at 1-1 after losing the first Test at Lord's by 196 runs. Rahul Dravid, who made an unbeaten century at Lord's, was seven not out and Venkatsai Laxman 13 not out after India lost opener Abhinav Mukund to the first ball of their innings when he pushed at James Anderson and was caught in the gully by Kevin Pietersen.Earlier, India's pace trio of Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, recalled in place of the injured Zaheer Khan, all took three wickets apiece.England captain Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell were the only other batsmen apart from Broad to make more than 30.The hosts came into this match knowing they would replace India at the top of the ICC's Test rankings if they won this 2-0 or better.But during the last decade India have either won or squared several series after losing the first Test.And although they were without left-arm quick Zaheer due to the hamstring injury that had forced him off the field early on at Lord's, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to field after winning the toss.Sharma made the breakthrough when he had Alastair Cook lbw for two before Sreesanth had Jonathan Trott, on four, caught by second slip Laxman.Pietersen, who made 202 not out at Lord's, survived a huge lbw shout from Kumar on 17.Kumar, risking disciplinary action, angrily questioned South African umpire Marais Erasmus's decision -- there are no lbw reviews this series because of Indian objections to ball-tracking technology -- at the end of the over before being pulled away by Harbhajan Singh.England, 69 for two at lunch, lost six wickets for 55 runs in the second session with Kumar striking twice in four balls.Five balls after lunch, Pietersen, on 29, was squared up by Sreesanth and nicked to third slip Suresh Raina.Swing bowler Kumar rocked England with a Test-best five for 106 at Lord's and, on Friday, the medium-pacer dismissed Strauss when a full-blooded drive was well-held by Raina.That same over saw 85 for four become 85 for five when Kumar's outswinger to Eoin Morgan had the left-hander lbw for nought.att Prior had frustrated India with an unbeaten century after England had collapsed to 62 for five in their second innings at Lord's.But on Friday he made just one before edging Sreesanth to first slip Dravid.Bell was dropped on 22 by Dravid but he got himself out when he flat-footedly cut at Sharma and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dhoni.Broad and Nottinghamshire team-mate Graeme Swann hit out during an entertaining stand of 73 in just 70 balls.But their ninth-wicket partnership ended when Swann, who needed an X-ray as a result, gloved a rising delivery from Kumar to Mukund on 28.Left-handed batsman Broad, who made an unbeaten 74 in the second innings at Lord's, on-drove Kumar for his seventh four to complete a 56-ball fifty featuring seven fours before he was last man out when he holed out to off-spinner Harbhajan.

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England reduced to 124-8 at tea by India

NOTTINGHAM: India's seamers reduced England to 124 for eight at tea on the first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge here on Friday as they looked to level the series.India, albeit in helpful, overcast conditions, took six wickets for 55 runs in 24 overs after lunch as they ripped through England's top order.Stuart Broad (six not out) and Graeme Swann (nought not out) were unbeaten on their Nottinghamshire home ground.England, 69 for two at lunch, lost four wickets for 15 runs in a dramatic slump at the start of the second session, with Praveen Kumar striking twice in four balls.Five balls after lunch, Kevin Pietersen, on 29, was squared up by fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, in for the injured Zaheer Khan, and third slip Suresh Raina held the edge to leave England 73 for three. Kumar had rocked England with his command of swing while taking a Test-best five for 106 in the hosts' 196-run series-opening victory at Lord's.The medium-pacer had England captain Andrew Strauss, who'd 'got in', out for 32, when the left-hander's full-blooded drive flew to Raina, who held an excellent catch.And that same over saw 85 for four become 85 for five when a full-length outswinger to left-hander Eoin Morgan pitched in line and had the former Ireland international lbw for nought.Matt Prior had frustrated India with an unbeaten century after England had collapsed to 62 for five in their second innings at Lord's.But on Friday he managed just one before, playing at a ball from Sreesanth that left him, the wicketkeeper nicked straight to Rahul Dravid at first slip.England, in the face of some high-class swing and seam bowling, had lost three wickets for three runs in 23 balls to be 88 for six.Tim Bresnan, replacing injured fast bowler Chris Tremlett, was undone on 11 by a ball from Ishant Sharma that nipped away.Ian Bell, the last of England's frontline batsmen, was dropped on 22 by Dravid but he got himself out for 31 when he flat-footedly cut at Sharma and was caught behind by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.England came into this match knowing they would replace India at the top of the ICC's Test rankings if they won this four-match series 2-0 or better.But during the last decade India have fought back to either win or square series after losing the first Test. And although they were without left-arm quick Zaheer due to the hamstring injury that had cut short his participation at Lord's, Dhoni fielded first.Sharma made the breakthrough when he had Alastair Cook lbw for two.Sreesanth struck with his fourth ball when Jonathan Trott, on four, drove at an outswinger and edged to Venkatsai Laxman at second slip.Pietersen, who made a man-of-the-match winning 202 not out at Lord's, survived a huge lbw shout from Kumar on 17, after walking across his stumps. Kumar, risking disciplinary action, angrily questioned South African umpire Marais Erasmus's decision -- there are no lbw reviews this series because of Indian objections to ball-tracking technology at the end of the over before being pulled away by team-mate Harbhajan Singh

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England lose two early wickets after put into bat by India

NOTTINGHAM: India removed Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott cheaply as England reached lunch on 69 for two on the first day of the second test at Trent Bridge on Friday Captain Andrew Strauss was 29 not out and Kevin Pietersen unbeaten on 26 after runs were difficult to find in cloudy conditions which often produced prodigious swing.Cook was lbw to Ishant Sharma for two, though television replays suggested the ball may have gone over the stumps, while Trott was caught for four at second slip in Shanthakumaran Sreesanth's first over. England, who lead the four-match encounter 1-0 after winning the first test at Lord's, are seeking a sixth straight series victory. Strauss, on two, survived an appeal for lbw by Praveen Kumar when replays showed the ball may have pitched just outside leg stump. Pietersen injected some urgency, getting off the mark with a quick single off his first ball and later pulling Sreesanth through mid-wicket from two consecutive deliveries. When he was on 17, Pietersen was fortunate as he played across a straight ball from Kumar. He was hit on the pads and received the benefit of the doubt from South African umpire Marais Erasmus. At the end of the over an angry Kumar remonstrated with Erasmus and had to be dragged away by team mate Harbhajan Singh. Kumar could receive a caution from the match referee for his conduct.

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