India was ambushed by Stuart Broad, who can seemingly do no wrong, in the second Test, which, though only two-days old, is already a ripper.
Rahul Dravid's outstanding 117 — and his associations with V.V. S. Laxman (54) and Yuvraj Singh (62) — appeared to have put India in a position to dictate terms. But Broad (six for 46 including a hat-trick) bombed the touring side, reducing its batting to rubble: from 267 for four to 288 all out. And this, on what appeared to be a better day for batting.
The sun dripped across the sky like a blood orange slit. Although the clouds — thinner than Friday's — pulled in over Trent Bridge from time to time, Saturday was brighter. The wicket was cut and heavy-rolled, activities known to dull its vivacity. The ball still swung and seamed, but less than it had on the first day.
After a Broad maiden to Dravid, the fours began to arrive; nineteen came before lunch. Laxman finessed eight of them, delicate, hand-crafted artistry accounting for six. The eighth was a forceful pull, the stroke that cost him at Lord's.
Secret of success
Laxman's off-side play against James Anderson's swing showed why he has had such remarkable success at this level despite what many see as limited footwork. Firstly, he left well, forcing the bowler to start his out-swinger straighter.
When Laxman made a stroke, it was late — not thrillingly late as it is when men with high back-lifts and blinding bat-speed play, but late with time to spare, however anachronistic it sounds. Because of how late he played the delivery, he often met it after it had done its thing; if it was continuing to do it, his hands went with the swing, shape-shifting at speed.
Dravid, like Laxman, left the ball impressively, though his was a crisper, more urgent shouldering of the arms. And like Laxman, his hands got out him out of trouble. They also brought boundaries, several to untenanted third-man off dabbed steers. Often, his strokes were flash-fast, as if he were reacting principally off the pitch.
Resolute Dravid
With Dravid, it isn't so much about the stroke-production — which is a curious blend of the classically orthodox, the awkwardly adjusted, and the studiously singular — as it is about his resolution. He hasbatted longer than anyone in Test cricket, and he has done this despite being hustled out of position and struck throbbing blows, like he was in this innings. He is, with every fibre of his being, the teamman.
Tim Bresnan broke the 93-run partnership with a delivery that lifted and left Laxman. It was a sudden end, no signs of struggle. He was there one minute; he wasn't the next.
Sachin Tendulkar was allowed to get off the mark against Jonathan Trott's medium-pace. But it wasn't the Little Master's day. The sixth ball after lunch, from Broad, begged to be cut for four. Perhaps it bounced a touch more than he expected, perhaps he was just late on the stroke, but Tendulkar top-edged it to Matt Prior behind the stumps.
Suresh Raina was indecisive against the short ball and he departed after carving a wide Anderson delivery to backward-point. Yuvraj was just as unsettled against the bouncer, and should have been out forfour, but Kevin Pietersen dropped him at gully.
It is on such moments that innings turn. England could have had India on 139 for five and an anxious M.S. Dhoni to bowl at. Instead the seamers, who had bowled through the day, were exasperated by the left-hander.
In between looking roughly as comfortable as a vegetarian at a slaughterhouse, Yuvraj struck two glorious fours. He found the off-spin of Graeme Swann more pleasant, helping himself to 25 runsin 23 balls.
34th hundred
Dravid brought up his 34th century with a hat-tip to the old (literally, for he dispensed with the helmet) and a concession to the new (a fine lap-sweep for four). Dravid and Yuvraj took all they couldfrom Swann and Pietersen, batting aggressively, knowing a seminal battle with second new ball awaited them.
Broad, who Yuvraj was reprieved off, had his man caught-behind before the hat-trick. M.S. Dhoni (caught second slip), Harbhajan Singh (lbw), and Praveen Kumar (bowled) gave Broad his moment.
Harbhajan was unlucky because he had chopped the ball onto his pad, but the others couldn't protest. Dhoni's was a slack stroke; Praveen's was a terrific ball.
Dravid fell in the quest for quick runs before Broad completed a magnificently hostile bowling performance with his sixth wicket.
It wasn't the last to fall on Saturday. Ishant Sharma extended AlastairCook's poor series, bringing Ian Bell to the wicket instead of Jonathan Trott, who hurt himself fielding. India, ahead by 43 at stumps, needs nine more — and quickly
Scoreboard
England— 1st innings: 221.
India — 1st innings: A. Mukund c Pietersen b Anderson 0 (1b), R. Dravid c Cook b Bresnan 117 (235b, 15x4), V.V.S. Laxman c Prior b Bresnan 54 (112b, 10x4), S. Tendulkar c Strauss b Broad 16 (34b, 3x4), S. Raina c Morgan b Anderson 12 (22b, 2x4), Yuvraj c Prior b Broad 62 (115b, 10x4), M.S. Dhoni c Anderson b Broad 5 (9b, 1x4), Harbhajan lbw b Broad 0 (1b), Praveen b Broad 0 (1b), Ishant c Bell b Broad 3 (12b), S. Sreesanth (not out) 7 (6b, 1x4); Extras (b-4, lb-3, nb-1, w-4): 12. Total (in 91.1 overs): 288.
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Abhinav), 2-93 (Laxman), 3-119 (Tendulkar), 4-139 (Raina), 5-267 (Yuvraj), 6-273 (Dhoni), 7-273 (Harbhajan), 8-273 (Praveen), 9-273 (Dravid).
England bowling: Anderson 26-8-80-2, Broad 24.1-8-46-6, Bresnan 21-6-48-2, Trott 4-1-18-0, Swann 12-0-76-0, Pietersen 4-0-13-0.
England — 2nd innings: A. Strauss (batting) 6 (34b), A. Cook c Yuvraj b Ishant 5 (11b, 1x4), I. Bell (batting) 9, (21b, 1x4); Extras (b-4): 4; Total (for one wkt. in 11 overs): 24.
Fall of wicket: 1-6 (Cook).
India bowling: Praveen 4-1-9-0, Ishant 5-3-9-1, Sreesanth 2-0-2-0.
