The Hindu : Dravid, Tendulkar in good nick

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 05, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Dravid, Tendulkar in good nick

By G. Viswanath

England bowler James Kirtley is congratulated by Andrew Flintoff, after he took the wicket of Indian opener Virender Sehwag in the fifth match of the NatWest tri-series at Chester Le Street. A crestfallen Sehwag prepares to walk back to the pavilion. — Photo: N. Sridharan

Chester-le-Street (Durham) July 4 . Darren Gough's opening burst put India on the backfoot before Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar got together and staged a superb rally through a century plus stand for the fourth wicket. The big and bustling England fast bowler and also the leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals, got rid of the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly off the very first ball at the Riverside venue for the fifth league match of the NatWest Trophy III triseries.

By the end of the 42nd over India was 205 for three wickets with Dravid on 76 and Tendulkar on 73. Gough was in full cry for six overs in the course of which he struck another blow having Dinesh Mongia flicking to Andrew Flintoff at short mid-wicket. An airy fairy shot by Virendra Sehwag saw England making early inroads, leaving India's most experienced pair in Tendulkar and Dravid to repair the damage.

The 31-year-old Gough never ceased to make news after he returned from the tour of New Zealand where he damaged his cartilage. He is such an important cog in the wheel of England's fast bowling attack that every detail of his surgery - he had undergone two after his return from the Southern hemisphere in February - and subsequent rehabilitation was a source of encouragement for captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher. But Gough was not making sufficient progress to make himself available as a spearhead for the series against Sri Lanka. England struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batsmen in the first Test, but called the shots once the likes of Andrew Caddick and Alex Tudor fitted the bill. A side strain ruled out Caddick for the NatWest competition. This was a double blow as England prepared for the tri-series.

The England selectors included Gough in the 15-man squad because they were confident he would recover in time, but not for the first two matches against Sri Lanka and India. That he broke down playing for the Yorkshire second XI caused genuine concern to the extent that the entire English media sat on judgment and ruled him out of the series. Even skipper Hussain appeared to be pessimistic about Gough's comeback in the England team. But the fast bowler who has a big heart was in no doubt that he would be back into international cricket at some stage of the NatWest. He was sent back to play a match for the Yorkshire second XI for which he bowled ten overs and did not suffer from any reaction or irritation. Gough was cleared for the match against Sri Lanka at Headingley. He was also picked in the eleven for left-arm spinner Ashley Giles. Gough brought life into the England attack. Though he was not in full control in the first spell, he showed why is rated as England's best fast bowler in business. He picked up three wickets for 40 plus runs, but was obviously girding up his loins for England's first return match against India at this venue where a first Test match will be played against Zimbabwe next summer.

Fast bowlers like to bowl on a fresh pitch and do not like to waste deliveries. At least, Gough did not on on Thursday afternoon. He ran straight and directed a ball to Ganguly which made him cover the line, but the delivery, which might have swung a bit perhaps, had the Indian captain plumb in front. England could not hide its delight for Ganguly and Sehwag had spoiled its chances at Lords with a big opening stand.

Gough was able to generate some pace and kept the second wicket pair in Sehwag and Mongia in check. But India still advanced at more than five runs an over, with both batsmen easily working away James Kirtley for runs. Matthew Hoggard did not share the new ball because, England decided to rest him and bring specialist left-arm spinner Ashley Giles. England also dropped the out of form Graham Thorpe and replaced him with Michael Vaughan.

After flicking Kirtley for a four and getting another four off a lucky edge, Sehwag threw his wicket away, chipping Kirtley to Marcus Trescothick, who took the catch running to widish mid on. Kirtley conceded 29 runs in his first spell, and was promptly substituted by Andrew Flintoff. Mongia who seemed to be growing in confidence cutting Gough for a four, took too much of a chance against the same bowler and flicked him straight into the hands of Flintoff at short mid-wicket.

By the eleventh over India was down to 52 for three, a tricky situation that brought together Tendulkar and Dravid together. Tendulkar took time to settle down, but Dravid was confidence personified. His straight shot off Collingwood and a sweep off Giles were classic strokes. Tendulkar was beaten by a beauty by Flintoff, but after changing his bat, he made some attacking shots, including a six off Collingwood. By the 36th over Indias fourth wicket pair had already added 100.

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