The Hindu : Sport : Bresnan, Broad make Indians toil

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Saturday, Jul 14, 2007
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Bresnan, Broad make Indians toil

Ted Corbett

Powar impresses on a benign pitch; Zaheer Khan scalps three

Strauss’s poor form continues
Denly takes full advantage of the pitch

— Photo: AP

ONE THAT GOT AWAY: India’s Ramesh Powar fails to hold on to this sharp return catch.

CHELMSFORD: India toiled in the lukewarm sun as England A, designated the Lions to camouflage the fact that they are not even B-list celebrities, milked a benign pitch at five runs an over in the second tour warm-up match.

Afterwards that cuddly cat Ramesh Powar and Zaheer Khan, who is more of a tiger but hardly a feral beast, tore holes in the middle order so that 142 for two turned into 185 for six in 14 overs.

Century stand

A century stand by Tim Bresnan, who finished with a hard-won 116, and Stuart Broad brought the Lions 379 for eight but that will hardly give India nightmares on a ground where 1,500 runs were scored in two innings last week.

I had the advantage of meeting Graham Gooch before the toss. He still grumbles as he used to when he was scoring mountains of runs for Essex and England but his points are well made. No one wants to bowl on that pitch, he said nodding towards the tan strip which lies only 20 yards from the spot on which Essex scored 700 runs and Nottinghamshire replied with 790 a few days ago.

He told me that 28 sixes in that game meant every available ball was lost, mostly in the River Can behind the press box and that well-worn balls from the coaches’ cricket bag had to be used.

Andrew Strauss, the captain of the Lions, leapt at the chance to bat first but, poor man, it was his last happy moment. He has been out of form, dropped by England and his every step betokened lack of confidence. So it was not a shock when he chose the wrong ball from Zaheer Khan to drive and had his off stump removed. His dismissal was watched by the selector Geoff Miller who cannot have felt it was time for his return to the Test side.

India should be grateful this outstanding batsman is so out of sorts. It must all stem from the decision to prefer Andrew Flintoff as captain in Australia last winter.

Denly comes good

Miller will have one good report. The young Kent opening batsman Joe Denly took full advantage of the pitch, raced to 43 off 28 balls, paused for 21 deliveries before he reached fifty and was 76 out of 128 for two off 25 overs at lunch. He had the good sense to rest for a couple of overs just before the interval and although a wise voice criticised minor faults in his innings it looked sensible as well as talented for a 21-year-old.

Just after lunch he watched Jon Trott hit Powar over mid-on and tried to follow suit, mistimed his shot and was stumped. Owais Shah was out for 11; still an enigma, still able to play a foolish hook shot from Sreesanth, and neatly caught at long-leg after a chase of 20 yards by Zaheer.

Trott, a 26-year-old, born, like Strauss, in South Africa, eased his way to 46 but at 174 he gave Zaheer his second wicket leaving a frail middle order to regain the initiative for the young Lions.

Instead Zaheer added Tim Ambrose to his bag while Powar caught and bowled Adil Rashid, the leg break bowler who I am told on the highest authority is a capable batsman; but even Geoff Boycott can be wrong.

Off the last ball before tea at 225 for seven Ravi Bopara, the local hero, was caught at short leg off Sachin Tendulkar’s first over.

Is he a part time bowler or all-round shock force?

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