Rejuvenated Anderson earns England lead
Sunday, 22 July 2007
James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom shared nine wickets to continue England's impressive bowling performance as India were shot out for 201 during the first session of the third day at Lord's. Anderson again produced the eye-catching dismissals as he nailed Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni, to finish with a Test-best 5 for 42, but Sidebottom's accurate swing provided equally vital breakthroughs as England secured a priceless lead of 97, reports Cricinfo.
As with India when they began bowling on Friday, England were on the mark straight away as Michael Vaughan opted for the swing of Anderson and bounce of Chris Tremlett. Ganguly was set up beautifully by Anderson, who continued where he left off on the second evening with a probing line and length. A series of deliveries swinging across Ganguly's body were followed by a pearling inswinger which went between bat and pad as Ganguly failed to get forward. It completed a full set of the main three for Anderson who has taken on the senior role in a junior attack.
RP Singh outlasted Ganguly more through luck than judgement as he wafted at Anderson's outswingers without getting very close to any of them. However, he was turning into an irritation as he edged Tremlett between third slip and gully then drove him more convincingly down the ground. England's first change of bowling ended his 40-ball stay as Singh tried to launch Sidebottom over the top and offered Anderson a simple catch at mid-off.
Anderson was at the centre of most things during the morning. He switched to the Pavilion End and troubled VVS Laxman with late swing before targeting Dhoni with short deliveries. Dhoni almost guided one straight to second slip and next delivery succeeded in finding third slip with a shot more akin to the catching routines a team goes through before play. It presented Anderson with his 50th Test wicket - four years after he made his debut against Zimbabwe at Lord's - in what has been a stop-start career.
Sidebottom then took over and made life tough for Laxman and the lower order with his late movement. Anil Kumble squirted a couple of boundaries, but England were always sensing another breakthrough and Sidebottom duly trapped Kumble on the crease. He then guaranteed England a healthy advantage when Laxman nibbled outside off stump at one which angled across him as Sidebottom showed all his variation.
It was fitting that Anderson wrapped up the innings - having Zaheer Khan taken at first slip off a gloved hook - and it completed his third five-wicket haul in Tests. His career has been hit by injury and loss of form, but time in county cricket has allowed him to develop his skills and, along with Sidebottom and Tremlett, has put more pressure on England's absent big guns.
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook negotiated two overs before lunch, Cook again gifted a rapid start by two loose deliveries from Sreesanth, and an afternoon of accumulation will be their aim. India need a repeat of yesterday's quick wickets to stay in the match.
Scorecard
England 1st innings:
AJ Strauss c Dravid b Kumble 96
AN Cook lbw b Ganguly 36
MP Vaughan c Dhoni b Singh 79
KP Pietersen c Dhoni b Khan 37
PD Collingwood lbw b Kumble 0
RJ Sidebottom b Singh 1
IR Bell b Khan 20
MJ Prior lbw b Sreesanth 1
CT Tremlett lbw b Sreesanth 0
MS Panesar lbw b Sreesanth 0
JM Anderson not out 0
Extras: (b 9, lb 10, w 7, nb 2) 28
Total: (all out; 91.2 overs) 298
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-218, 3-252, 4-255, 5-272, 6-286, 7-287, 8-287, 9-297, 10-298
India 1st innings:
KD Karthik lbw b Sidebottom 5
W Jaffer c & b Tremlett 58
R Dravid c Prior b Anderson 2
SR Tendulkar lbw b Anderson 3
SC Ganguly b Anderson 34
RP Singh c Anderson b Sidebottom 17
VVS Laxman c Prior b Sidebottom 15
MS Dhoni c Bell b Anderson 0
A Kumble lbw b Sidebottom 11
Z Khan c Strauss b Anderson 7
S Sreesanth not out 0
Extras: (b 4, lb 7, nb 4) 15
Total: (all out; 77.2 overs) 201
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-27, 3-106 , 4-134, 5-155, 6-173, 7-175, 8-192, 9-197, 10-201.
England 2nd innings:
AJ Strauss c Tendulkar b Khan 18
AN Cook lbw b Khan 17
MP Vaughan not out 3
KP Pietersen not out 7
Extras: (b 8, w 1) 9
Total: (2 wickets; 18.4 overs) 54
Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Strauss, 10.5 ov), 2-43 (Cook, 12.1 ov)
Toss: England, who chose to bat first
As with India when they began bowling on Friday, England were on the mark straight away as Michael Vaughan opted for the swing of Anderson and bounce of Chris Tremlett. Ganguly was set up beautifully by Anderson, who continued where he left off on the second evening with a probing line and length. A series of deliveries swinging across Ganguly's body were followed by a pearling inswinger which went between bat and pad as Ganguly failed to get forward. It completed a full set of the main three for Anderson who has taken on the senior role in a junior attack.
RP Singh outlasted Ganguly more through luck than judgement as he wafted at Anderson's outswingers without getting very close to any of them. However, he was turning into an irritation as he edged Tremlett between third slip and gully then drove him more convincingly down the ground. England's first change of bowling ended his 40-ball stay as Singh tried to launch Sidebottom over the top and offered Anderson a simple catch at mid-off.
Anderson was at the centre of most things during the morning. He switched to the Pavilion End and troubled VVS Laxman with late swing before targeting Dhoni with short deliveries. Dhoni almost guided one straight to second slip and next delivery succeeded in finding third slip with a shot more akin to the catching routines a team goes through before play. It presented Anderson with his 50th Test wicket - four years after he made his debut against Zimbabwe at Lord's - in what has been a stop-start career.
Sidebottom then took over and made life tough for Laxman and the lower order with his late movement. Anil Kumble squirted a couple of boundaries, but England were always sensing another breakthrough and Sidebottom duly trapped Kumble on the crease. He then guaranteed England a healthy advantage when Laxman nibbled outside off stump at one which angled across him as Sidebottom showed all his variation.
It was fitting that Anderson wrapped up the innings - having Zaheer Khan taken at first slip off a gloved hook - and it completed his third five-wicket haul in Tests. His career has been hit by injury and loss of form, but time in county cricket has allowed him to develop his skills and, along with Sidebottom and Tremlett, has put more pressure on England's absent big guns.
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook negotiated two overs before lunch, Cook again gifted a rapid start by two loose deliveries from Sreesanth, and an afternoon of accumulation will be their aim. India need a repeat of yesterday's quick wickets to stay in the match.
Scorecard
England 1st innings:
AJ Strauss c Dravid b Kumble 96
AN Cook lbw b Ganguly 36
MP Vaughan c Dhoni b Singh 79
KP Pietersen c Dhoni b Khan 37
PD Collingwood lbw b Kumble 0
RJ Sidebottom b Singh 1
IR Bell b Khan 20
MJ Prior lbw b Sreesanth 1
CT Tremlett lbw b Sreesanth 0
MS Panesar lbw b Sreesanth 0
JM Anderson not out 0
Extras: (b 9, lb 10, w 7, nb 2) 28
Total: (all out; 91.2 overs) 298
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-218, 3-252, 4-255, 5-272, 6-286, 7-287, 8-287, 9-297, 10-298
India 1st innings:
KD Karthik lbw b Sidebottom 5
W Jaffer c & b Tremlett 58
R Dravid c Prior b Anderson 2
SR Tendulkar lbw b Anderson 3
SC Ganguly b Anderson 34
RP Singh c Anderson b Sidebottom 17
VVS Laxman c Prior b Sidebottom 15
MS Dhoni c Bell b Anderson 0
A Kumble lbw b Sidebottom 11
Z Khan c Strauss b Anderson 7
S Sreesanth not out 0
Extras: (b 4, lb 7, nb 4) 15
Total: (all out; 77.2 overs) 201
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-27, 3-106 , 4-134, 5-155, 6-173, 7-175, 8-192, 9-197, 10-201.
England 2nd innings:
AJ Strauss c Tendulkar b Khan 18
AN Cook lbw b Khan 17
MP Vaughan not out 3
KP Pietersen not out 7
Extras: (b 8, w 1) 9
Total: (2 wickets; 18.4 overs) 54
Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Strauss, 10.5 ov), 2-43 (Cook, 12.1 ov)
Toss: England, who chose to bat first