Filed under: Cricket, England Cricket, Tests, India Cricket
First Test Day Three (close): England 474-8 dec (Kevin Pietersen 202*, Matt Prior 71, Jonathan Trott 70, Praveen Kumar 5-106) India 286 (Mukund 49, Rahul Dravid 103* Broad 4-37) England 2nd inns 5-0 England lead by 193 runsStuart Broad breathed fresh life into his Test career - and England's hopes of beating India - on another enthralling day at Lord's.
Runs may not have flowed quickly at HQ but this Test match appears destined to become a fine example of an old-fashioned attritional and teasing encounter, perfectly encapsulated by Rahul Dravid's equally superb and patient century late on the third day.
That kept India in the game but England will be much the happier side with a lead of 193 thanks largely to Broad's efforts.
He might be the England Twenty20 captain but his place in the five-day squad has been hanging by a thread in recent weeks, particularly after he was dropped for the final ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
England v India Scorecard
His bowling has been out of sorts since the side strain he picked up in the World Cup but England coach Andy Flower stuck to his guns and refused to drop him in favour of Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan.
And Broad repaid Flower's faith with a brilliant opening spell that set the tone for a day of intriguing cricket.
After Kevin Pietersen's double ton heroics on the opening two days, Andrew Strauss was desperate for his men to fire out of the blocks as India chased down England's 474 first innings score.
Yet India seemed determined to prove why they are the number one Test side in the world at the moment and openers Abhinav Mukund and Gautam Gambhir looked dead set, racing to 63 before Nottinghamshire bowler Broad found his range.
England opening bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Chris Tremlett got nowhere in the opening nine overs of India's innings but Broad then came on a immediately looked a threat.
Mukund escaped one close LBW appeal before Broad then skittled Gambhir and it was soon 77-2 as Mukund played onto his stumps.
India looked shaken but the second wicket brought Sachin Tendulkar to the crease.
The 'Little Master' is the best batsman of the modern era but he has never had any success at Lord's where his top score was is 37.
He is just one ton short of 100 international centuries so the situation seemed to be perfect for him to write another glorious chapter in his career.
However, Broad had other ideas and he managed to get Tendulkar caught at slip by Swann to send the Indian batsman back to the pavilion for just 34.
But Broad was furious soon after when England dropped two catches off his bowling in one over.
Firstly, new batsman VVS Laxman was dropped by skipper Strauss - a chance he would normally take comfortably before Swann dropped Dravid just a few balls later.
Dravid then brought up his 50 soon after to underline what a dangerous player he can be as he leapfrogged Australia's Ricky Ponting into the second highest Test scorer of all time during his innings.
But he could do nothing soon after when England struck twice in no time at all as firstly Laxman and then Suresh Raina gave Tremlett and Swann a victim each.
Skipper MS Dhoni then came to the crease and steadied the ship with Dravid but Tremlett seduced him into edging to Swann at slip for a patient 28 off 103 balls before Harbhajan Singh followed two balls later which reduced India to 241-7.
There was a very real danger India would not avoid the follow on but Praveen Kumar's brilliant tail-ender cameo and the imperious Dravid - who cruised to his 33rd Test century - soon put those fears to bed.
It was a magnificent century for Dravid and underlined that he is as good as ever despite his 39th birthday looming.
India certainly needed his contribution - and they are likely to need an even bigger helping hand in the remainder of this game if England are not to come out on top.
India were finally bowled out for 286 as Dravid finished on an unbeaten 103 before Strauss and Alastair Cook negotiated a testing last 20 minutes of the day without losing their wickets.
REACTION:
Broad was delighted with his day's work and England's position in the game:
"It was pleasing to pick up some wickets today But as a team effort I think we did really well to get India out for 290 because the wicket is playing pretty well.
"It's up to us to get ourselves in a winning position from here. I don't think we will be talking about a declaration in the morning it will be about our batsman getting in."
On his confidence:
"Yes I did feel confident today. It was nice to get the ball thrown pretty early today and nice to settle into a length. I found I bowled a little fuller today which helped me out. I could bowl fuller without getting hit for four."
On taking five wickets for Nottinghamshire last week:
"Last week I bowled against some excellent players and trying to get the nicks and that gave me the confidence for today."
On those who have questioned his recent form:
"Every time you pull on an England shirt it is a very special occasion so you train and try and play and get those wickets to keep the shirt and the cap. It is a great environment to be involved with and it is where I want to be."
On England's bowling attack:
"Bowling is about bowling as a unit. You have to bolw as a unit and we are always communicating to each other and we did that well today. The thing about Lord's is that you get good value for runs so it is important to bowl well."
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Memorable for all the wrong reasons. England let two fine Indian batsman off the hook in the same over as Strauss and Swann dropped takeable slip catches. England will hope it will not come back to haunt them.
PLAY OF THE DAY: Broad's brilliant dismissal of Gambhir set the tone, sent the wickets sprawling and put England in the driving seat.
WHAT IT MEANS: England are firmly in control although this match could still swing in India's way. If the good weather continues and India's bowlers enjoy some good fortune, an exciting conclusion could be on the cards at Lord's.
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