Ind vs Eng: England 340/5 at stumps on Day 4, lead by 10 runs

November 18, 2012

Cook

Ahmedabad, November 18: Captain Alastair Cook led a remarkable England fightback with a heroic unbeaten 168 as the defiant visitors wiped out India's mammoth first innings lead with a gritty batting display to raise hopes of saving the first Test on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Cook displayed immense concentration and skill to not only notch up his 21st Test century under pressure but also keep his team in the game as he steered England to 340 for five at close on the penultimate day which saw the Sardar Patel track ease out quite a bit.

The England captain found an able ally in Matt Prior (84) as the duo put on an unfinished 141-run partnership to leave the Indians frustrated.

The spinners, who were expected to do the bulk of the damage, found it difficult to get the wickets.

England, who conceded a mammoth 330-run first innings lead and were asked to follow-on, have now taken a lead of 10 runs, setting the stage for an interesting fifth day's play tomorrow with all three results possible.

India will look to claim the remaining five wickets as quickly as possible on Monday and push for a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

England, on the other hand, will try to bat as much as possible and may even put pressure on India by taking a substantial lead on a tricky fifth day track.

Resuming at the overnight score of 111 for no loss, England lost the wickets of Nick Compton (37), Jonathan Trott (17), Kevin Pietersen (2), Ian Bell (22) and Samit Patel (0) but it was Cook who stood like a rock to hold the English innings together showing superb endurance.

Cook batted the whole day with exemplary patience, determination and composure to remain unconquered.

Cook, who has faced 341 balls and struck 20 fours, was given splendid support by Prior, who was not out on 84 that came off 190 balls and contained 10 fours.

The duo batted resolutely even as Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni constantly shuffled his bowling attack that lacked the bite of the first innings.

India can still come back strongly with a few quick blows tomorrow morning and press for victory on a track which is offering slow turn.

But the day belonged entirely to Cook after a couple of quick blows by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and wickets off successive balls by pacer Umesh Yadav on either side of lunch. Prior, on the other hand, played the ideal foil to his captain.

It was the sixth 150-plus score by Cook who had scored a century on debut in Nagpur in 2006. His other three-figure effort against India (294) was made at Edgbaston in the last series between the two teams in 2011.

Cook also became the eighth English batsman to score more than one hundred on Indian soil, by joining the ranks of Ken Barrington (3), Andrew Strauss (3), Colin Cowdrey (2), Tony Greig (2), Mike Gatting (2), Ian Botham (2) and Paul Collingwood (2).

The Indian bowlers toiled hard throughout the day against the resolute England skipper and, after lunch, against his more aggressive partner Prior without success.

Cook's composure and patience was creditable right through and he hardly played a false shot.

While Ojha was easily the more impressive of the two Indian spinners, getting some bite with his flighted deliveries, Ashwin bowled mostly flat through the air but was also guilty of not maintaining a tight line outside the off.

Ojha ended the day with figures of 2 for 102 in 44 overs to add to his 5-45 of the first innings while Ashwin, who got three in the first innings, went wicket-less in his 41 overs in which he gave away 104 runs.

Yadav, another successful bowler of the day, had 2 for 60 in 19 overs. Zaheer Khan bowled economically, giving away 38 runs in 18 overs for the wicket of opener Nick Compton in the first session.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought on Yuvraj Singh to bowl his first over in the England second innings after 10l overs without success in breaking the sixth wicket partnership.

In the second session, Yadav struck two body blows by making the ball reverse swing to trap Ian Bell (22) and Samit Patel (0) leg before wicket off the fifth and sixth balls of his first over of a new spell to leave the tourists gasping at 199 for 5 in the first hour.

Ojha had done similar damage in the first session by dismissing Jonathan Trott (17) and Kevin Pietersen (2) within a space of seven balls spread over two overs to push England on the back foot after Cook and Nick Compton (37) had put on a stand of 123 runs.

These four batsmen's dismissal by Ojha and Yadav on either side of lunch, in the space of 20 overs and for the addition of only 45 runs, pushed England firmly on the back foot.

But Cook stood tall with his reach, excellent technique and calm demeanour against the spinning ball as he cracked his third century against India and the 21st in his 84th game.

Cook, who made 41 in the first essay, and Prior prevented further damage till close to renew the battle on Monday.

Prior edged Ojha once but the catch fell short of a diving Virender Sehwag at slip while Cook's edge also fell short once off Ashwin. But otherwise they batted without much trouble.

Dhoni took the second new ball in the 83rd over when England were 219 for 5 just before the end of the first hour in which the visitors added 42 runs in 14 over for the loss Bell and Patel.

Earlier, in the first session, some tight bowling by Zaheer Khan and Ojha kept them down to 71 runs from 31 overs for the loss of Compton, Trott (17) and Pietersen (2), the opener falling to Zaheer and the last two to Ojha.

Senior pacer Zaheer Khan gave the initial breakthrough after 28 minutes into the fourth morning by dismissing debutant opener Nick Compton, who had a charmed life, for 37.

Compton was lucky not to be declared out when he was rapped in front by Ashwin and then survived a clear stumping chance off the same bowler before he fell to Zaheer.

Cook and Bell, who was out first ball to Ojha in the first innings when he charged out to the bowler, prevented further damage after the fall of Trott and Pietersen in quick succession.

Compton, 34 last evening, was lucky to escape a leg before appeal off Ashwin, umpire Aleem Dar turning down the vociferous shout from the Indians.

The right handed debutant was again fortunate when on 36, wicketkeeper Dhoni missed an easy stumping chance off Ashwin who drew him well out of the crease.

However, his luck did not hold out for long as after the addition of one more run he was trapped leg before by Zaheer when he played across.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Northamptonshire, Jul 31: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus, and as a result, he will miss the British Grand Prix.

The Racing Point driver was absent from the circuit on Thursday after self-isolating following what his team called an "inconclusive" test. Perez then re-tested later in the day and it returned positive.

Formula 1 is following a strict testing regime as part of the safety protocols put in place when racing resumed earlier this month, and this is the first time a driver has tested positive.

"Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities," Formula 1 and the FIA said in a statement.

"With the assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined," the statement added.

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News Network
May 30,2020

St John's, May 30: The Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Saturday announced a temporary 50 per cent reduction in salaries and cricket funding across the entire regional cricket system, effective from the start of July due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which resulted in the suspension of all the cricketing activities across the globe since March.

"This decision has been necessary in the face of debilitating economic challenges which have resulted from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With no international cricket currently being played anywhere in the world, and with great uncertainty of when regular cricket activity will resume, CWI - like many other international sporting organisations worldwide - is facing a significant loss of income, whilst also being uncertain of the long-term impact of the crisis on our operations," the CWI said in a statement.

During Thursday's teleconference, CWI's Board of Directors received recommendations from the Financial Strategy Advisory Committee (FSAC). The FSAC was formed in April by CWI president Ricky Skerritt, to make recommendations on how CWI could best manage its resources in order to continue its core business over the next few months in view of the changing and uncertain economic environment created by the global pandemic COVID-19. These recommended measures followed close consultation with all stakeholders.

"Cricket is the beating heart of our region for many individuals, communities, and economies. This pandemic is hurting every West Indian and this decision to cut staff and player incomes has been a very difficult one to make; one that will impact so many members of the cricketing family around the Caribbean," Skerritt said.

"This business continuity plan, unfortunately, requires all stakeholders to make a huge sacrifice, but I am confident that it won't be long before CWI will be in a position to ensure that the sport we love can restart and be enjoyed once again by the thousands of cricket fans across the region and diaspora," he added.

CWI has kept staff, players, umpires and coaches on full-pay since the outbreak of COVID-19 and have tried our best to avoid any cuts for as long as possible. CWI hopes that these temporary measures will only be in place for not more than three to six months. These measures will also include a 50 per cent reduction in funding for Territorial Boards, Territorial Board Franchises and WIPA, as well as a 50 per cent cut in all retainers and allowances for Directors and Executive management.

Earlier in the day, CWI gave its approval for a 'bio-secure' Test tour to England.

West Indies were first slated to play three Tests against England in June, but the original starting date of the series was pushed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is looking to go ahead with the series against West Indies in July and then the Three Lions will play three Tests against Pakistan.

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Agencies
July 7,2020

Mumbai, Jul 7: Australias second largest city Melbourne is set to go for another round of lockdown — for six weeks — from midnight Wednesday as the coronavirus has reared its ugly head in Victoria. And this has further confirmed that this years T20 World Cup in Australia is practically not possible. Even as the ICC keeps delaying the announcement, BCCI hopes that the official call will now be taken with this latest development.

Despite ICC's Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) chief Ehsan Mani as well as Cricket Australia making it clear time and again that hosting a T20 World Cup in the October-November window is practically impossible, the ICC hasn't made an official announcement and that hasn't impressed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Speaking to media persons, a BCCI official said that it is only the ICC which has kept speaking about delaying the inevitable — announcing a postponement — even as Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings wrote to the international body that it looks highly unlikely that a T20 World Cup can be hosted in these trying times.

"As it is there were so many logistical difficulties and that is perfectly understandable. The Australian government has been addressing the public health issue efficiently and there are regulations in place which are crucial to address the challenges. In that background even Cricket Australia has been practical in their assessment of the situation.

"With this present situation where Melbourne is in lockdown, the ICC really must take the final call of closure on the issue if they have any concept of responsible decision making," the official said.

Not just CA chairman Eddings, but also Mani — who is also the PCB chief — recently told the media that the T20 World Cup cannot be held in a bio-secure environment.

"We have had a lot of discussions and the feeling is it (T20 World Cup) would not be possible this year. ICC has World Cups lined up in 2021 and 2023, so we have a gap year where we can adjust this event. God forbid if some player(s) falls ill or mishap occurs during the tournament, it will have a big impact and create panic in the cricket world and we can't take that risk. Having a bio-bubble environment is feasible for say a bilateral series like Pakistan in England, but it is very difficult when 16 teams are involved," he had said.

Cricket Australia's interim CEO Nick Hockley echoed the sentiments when he said the biggest challenge was to get the players from so many teams into the country.

"Our biggest challenge is getting 15 teams into the country. If I compare it with the prospect of a bilateral tour, you're talking about bringing one team in and then playing individual matches. But the prospect of bringing 15 teams in and having six or seven teams in one city at the same time, it's a much more complex exercise," he had said.

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