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Test matches take a test that you'll never pass unless you know what you're doing. Young fast bowlers from asia have always been guilty of over-doing those tests ever since cricket became a global sport, & dead-pitch bowlers got a chance to bowl in seaming/swinging conditions for the first time in their lives..

Story of Day 1, India vs England 1st npower test match at Lords was no more than a sorry statement from rookie quickies from India!

I got a feeling that someone from English camp had read the innitiative trick I wrote a month ago, cause England openers, Alaister Cook & Andrew Strauss (after Michael Vaughan won the toss) were quick to sieze the early advantage. First over from Zahher Khan was a maiden, but second from Sreesanth saw 2 delieveries ending past the baundary ropes. 0,10,9,7,14 is how first 5 overs went for India, & then on - leather chase had begin.

What is needed when you lose innitiative, is to keep your cool & look for good/morale boosting fielding from other 10 team mates. but Indian boys looked slow in simmering english cold, & even safe hands of Dinesh Karthik dropped an easy catch of Strauss at backward point, who went on to make his first half century after 13 failed innings. Cook, however, was done in by smart stump-to- stump medium pace by Sourav Ganguly in the 14th over - first by former skipper.

Michael Vaughan, tipped to be the best England test captain ever, looked determined. His drives were flowing, & leaves outside off stump equally good. Sreesanth did come back with 6 successive maidens after the lunch, but wickets were what India required.. which I must say, they didn't look like coming from anywhere.

218 read the scoreboard when 2nd wicket came for Indians, AJ Strauss Caught Dravid bowled Kumble. Then arrived the bad light. But before the close, umpires called the players for one more try, which England batters didn't quite asked for. Vaughan lost patience to drive around the wicket bowling RP Singh, whereas Paul Collingwood was slow to bring his bat down to a quicker one from Anil Kumble - his typical method of taking new batsman out.

Those last two wickets, made the end of Day one score by England (268 for 4) 30% in favour of India. Still, 70% of Thrusday belonged to home team. What will be the ratio of 2nd day - well, we'll soon find out & my fingers can't wait to type them for itsonlycricket.com readers.

One tip - you can listen to running commentary of this india-england test match through BBC, read this. & cricket fans in India can also catch the highlights of the test series on Doordarshan - read this.

The score card :
England 268 for 4, End of Day 1.
AJ Strauss - 96 off 186 balls with 16 fours.
AN Cook - 36 off 39 balls, 6 fours.
MP Vaughan - 79 off 201 balls with 11 fours.
PD Collingwood - 0 off 3 balls.
Zaheer : 14-3-55-0, Sreesanth : 18-7-56-0.
RP Singh : 15.3-5-54-1,S Ganguly : 9-3-24-1.
A Kumble : 22-2-56-1, Tendulkar : 2-0-8-0.
Total overs bowled = 80.3.
At crease : KP Pietersen & R Sidebottom on 34 & 0 respectively.

Few Notes :
-Alaister Cook & Andrew Strauss are the only 5th pair of openers who scored a century on their respective debut tests.
-Anil Kumble now has most lbw wickets in test match cricket. Paul Collingwod was his 139th wickets in that mode. The second most lbw taken in International test arena is Shane Warne with 138.
-Andrew Strauss was Rahul Dravid's 150th catch. He is on 6th position behind Mark Waugh (181), Brain Lara (164), Stephen Fleming (159), Mark Taylor (57) & Allan Rober Border who took 156 catches in his test match career.

India vs England One day series - 2006.

Watch India England test match highlights on doordarshan

England in punching mood, India in confusion

India turn 0:100 to 30:70 with late wickets on Day 1

Its 55:45 for England as India rise on Day 2.