NAGPUR, Mar 4 (BBC): Alastair Cook marked his Test debut with a painstaking century as England built a 367-run lead in Nagpur. Cook reached his hundred off 236 balls and was 104 not out at the close after he and Kevin Pietersen (87) made India pay for their fielding lapses. Three catches were dropped during the day as England reached 297-3 after bowling out the home side for 323. Matthew Hoggard ended India's innings by having Sri Sreesanth lbw to finish with figures of 6-57. But the manner of Sreesanth's dismissal off the seventh ball of the day's play was an early warning for India that this was not going to be their day. TV replays showed the ball clip the inside edge of the number 11's bat before striking the pad, but that did not concern Hoggard, whose figures were his best in a Test since he took 7-61 against South Africa 14 months ago. England began their reply 70 runs to the good and Cook and Andrew Strauss permitted themselves few liberties as both Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth swung the new ball around. Strauss, in particular, was in no mood to repeat the needless waft outside off stump which cost him his wicket in the first innings, while Cook built solidly on the good impressions made in his 60 on the opening day. Indian skipper Rahul Dravid quickly turned to his spinners, however, a shrewd, if predictable ploy to try and prey on Cook's nerves. The 21-year-old was given a thorough examination by Kumble, who looped the ball menacingly into the foot marks outside off stump, but he stood up to it well. England's openers survived beyond the lunch interval and took the score to 95 but Strauss, on 46, nibbled at a good one from Pathan and was caught behind.
|