Natural Herb

Pathirana stars in opening Sri Lanka A win

Sri Lanka A 240 for 5 (Gunathilaka 57, Rajapaksa 52 Pathirana 52*, Bulcock 3-26) beat Unicorns 237 (Burton 44, Rambukwella 3-18) by five wickets Scorecard

Sri Lanka A have opened their campaign in England with a five-wicket win over the Unicorns in a 50-over warm-up, as slow-bowling allrounder Sachith Pathirana made significant contributions in both disciplines.

Unicorns batted first at Gosford but despite a steady opening stand of 61, were hamstrung by the breakthroughs Sri Lanka A's spinners regularly effected.

Pathirana's left-arm spin and Ramith Rambukwella's offspin accounted for five scalps in total, including the top four, as Unicorns were reduced to 138 for 5 by the 34th over.

The seam bowlers took wickets through the middle overs, with legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna also taking one scalp. Unicorns were all out for 237 in the 48th over. Rambukwella finished with the innings' best figures of 3 for 34, and Tom Burton top scored with 44.

Sri Lanka A began their chase with a 95-run opening stand, driven primarily by Danushka Gunathilaka's 57 off 67 balls. Left-arm spinner Toby Bulcock turned that wicket into a mini-collapse - taking three of the four wickets that fell for 15 runs, but Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Pathirana were on hand to right Sri Lanka A's course.

Rajapaksa made 52 off 62, and though he fell with over 50 runs still to get, Pathirana's 52 not out saw Sri Lanka A over the line in the penultimate over.

Unicorns are a one-day outfit comprised of uncontracted players. They were part of England's one-day domestic competition until this year.

Cook's descent into private hell

Eventually, with the batting failures accumulating and his captaincy not compensating, the reasons for persisting with Alastair Cook are wearing out

Chappell: England in dire straits but for Ballance

Had an undertaker taken measurements of Alastair Cook as he made his way back to the pavilion, the signs could hardly have been more obvious: after another poor display in the field on the opening day and another poor display with the bat on the second, time is running out for England's captain.

Cook's failure at Lord's was familiar in every sense. Not just because it extended his run of low scores to the stage where they can no longer be ignored by an England management desperate for him to succeed, but for the manner of his dismissal. Cook, as so often, was caught behind after poking at one just outside off stump without moving his feet. He has now gone 26 innings without a century to 26 and averages 13.37 this calendar year. Those are figures that can no longer be ignored or excused.

The groan that rose from Lord's upon Cook's dismissal spoke volumes. It spoke of a crowd desperately willing Cook to succeed; it spoke of a crowd that understood how hard he is working, how much he is struggling and of their empathy for a decent man descending into his own private hell.

He had looked in better touch. He left the ball well. His defensive strokes all hit the middle of the bat and, in general, went straight back to the bowler. There was a sense that this might be his day.

And it is true that he has enjoyed little luck. While Gary Ballance benefited from a reprieve in the slips early in his century, Cook had no such fortune. And while the ball that struck his thigh pad at Trent Bridge might usually have glanced away for leg byes, it instead cannoned onto his leg stump.

But only fools and losers continually blame luck for their failings. Eventually you have to accept that if a result recurs often, there is an underlying reason.

It has not been unreasonable to keep faith with Cook until now. His long-term record remains good - though his average has dropped to a fraction over 45 - and he is, at 29, young enough to come again. But eventually, with the run of low scores growing longer, it appears ever more as if the England management are desperate for him to succeed as much so save their own face as anything else.

They staked everything on Cook. They sacked Kevin Pietersen and decided to rebuild upon the rock of Cook's run scoring. But perhaps due to the pressure that decision added, he has been unable to sustain the form required for a Test opening batsman. The management's faith and continuity is starting to look desperate rather than loyal and sensible. Just as it is becoming impossible to deny the deterioration in Matt Prior's keeping, so Cook's problems have become impossible to ignore.

While Cook is batting ever more like Mike Brearley - who, speaking on Test Match Special, questioned whether Cook would survive his current malaise - he is no nearer to captaining like him.

After an improved performance at Trent Bridge, he chased the game in the field on Thursday and suggested that all the criticism he has attracted had started to distort his thinking. Just when England needed to patiently persist on an old-fashioned line and length attack, they experimented with three men out on the hook and a round the wicket bouncer barrage. It was, by any standards, poor captaincy.

And eventually, with the batting failures accumulating and his captaincy not compensating, the reasons for persisting with Cook are wearing out. If England lose this match, a match in which they won a crucial toss, Cook's future will be hanging by a thread. We may well be in the end days now.

If and when the end comes for Cook, he might well reflect on the lack of support he has gained from his senior players. For various reasons - fitness mainly - Prior has been unable to provide the support he might have done in previous years, while James Anderson and Stuart Broad let him down with their bowling both at Headingley and in the first innings here. Ian Bell's lack of runs is bringing no respite, either.

Cook is now clinging to his position by the flimsiest of reasons: the lack of alternatives. Neither the candidates for replacement opening batsman or the opening position spring out. If they did, Cook would surely have gone by now.

The most obvious alternative as captain is Bell. He has captained, albeit on a part-time basis, with some success for Warwickshire. He showed himself to be an imaginative leader whose own game seemed to improve with the responsibility.

But not only is his own form a nagging worry - nobody doubts Bell's class but it is now 18 innings since he registered a Test century and, since the start of the Ashes series in Australia, he is averaging 27.53 - but there is some doubt as to whether he can replicate those leadership characteristics at this level.

While at county level Bell is something of a giant, respected by his peers and confident in the environment, most insiders talk of him in very different terms in the England set-up. He is seen more as a follower than a leader and there are doubts whether he could control other senior players as required.

Captaincy might well prove the making of him, but it would constitute a risk.

Joe Root also has his supporters. But just as his premature elevation to the opening spot threatened to derail his progress, so the burden of captaincy might prove unhelpful for a 23-year-old whose game is still in its development phase. He has little experience in the role - his one game as captain of Yorkshire earlier this season ended in Middlesex chasing 472 to win in the fourth innings for the loss of only three wickets - and to promote him now might risk spoiling one of the more exciting prospects in the English game.

Cook has one more chance in the second innings. But if he fails again and England lose the game, his days may be numbered. He will be batting for his future in the fourth innings at Lord's.

'I was probably a bit naive' - Ballance

It was been an 'interesting' week for England's No. 3 but the only aspect of it that should really matter is how he is slotting into a key position in the batting order

Ballance blunts India's attack

It will not be the first time this week that Gary Ballance's picture has featured on the back pages of the newspapers, but this time he may take far more pleasure in it.

Earlier in the week, pictures of Ballance, without a shirt and clearly the worse for wear after a night out, were published in several papers. He had, it transpired, unwound from the demanding Test in Nottingham, by venturing into the city with several team-mates and, after several hours drinking, was photographed in a somewhat unflattering state by other club goers. Batting it seems, is thirsty work.

While the England team management took an admirably mature response to the incident - they reminded Ballance of his responsibilities and the media that he was a young man unwinding on a night off - the player admitted the episode had been "a bit embarrassing."

So it was a relief that, a couple of days later, he should find himself featured in the same publications for reasons that should make him proud. On a pitch that remains helpful to seam bowlers, Ballance recorded the second century of his brief Test career to keep his side in the game against India.

Ballance is a wonderfully no-frills cricketer. There is little pretty about him, little outrageous and little extravagant. He is pragmatic; all substance and little style.

And he is just what England require. After the gaping hole created by the departure of Jonathan Trott, it was thought that either Ian Bell or Joe Root would fill the No. 3 position.

Instead the job was given to a rookie. And Ballance has shown that, despite a reluctance to come forward, he has the talent and temperament to flourish at this level. He leaves well, defends well and is powerful on the cut, in particular, and the pull. He also has another gear - a savage, thrashing sort of mode - that, he hinted at in a nine-ball spell when he punished Stuart Binny for five boundaries including two in succession to reach his century.

Here he enjoyed one moment of fortune when, on 32, he survived an edge off the unfortunate Binny, that flew between the wicketkeeper and first slip. But he has now scored two centuries and two half-centuries in eight Test innings and shown the welcome ability both to grind it out when necessary and accelerate when appropriate. Whatever England's other problems, they appear to have found a gem in Ballance.

His comments on the innings could have been used to describe almost every innings he has played for England to date.

"I just thought 'I've got to scrap hard here," he said. "I thought it's probably not going to be pretty or very exciting to watch. But at the end of the day, it's about doing a job. I tried to be patient.

"I knew I was going to play and miss, so tried to leave as much as I could and just wait for anything with a bit of width or anything too straight. Luckily, I fought hard, got an edge through the slips early on, and it's paid off, being patient."

His record at Lord's is remarkable. After scoring a century here for Yorkshire against Middlesex earlier in the season - his maiden first-class game on the ground - he followed it up with a maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in June in just his second Test. He also scored a century on the ground as a Harrow schoolboy in the historic match against Eton.

While Ballance has made a fine start to life in the No. 3 position, there are those who think he could open the batting. Certainly Dave Houghton, a friend of the Ballance family who has played a significant part in the player's development, feels he has what it takes. The cynical might suggest that, given Alastair Cook's form, Ballance is in effect doing the job already.

But Ballance, of course, maintained the party line when asked about England's beleaguered captain. "Knowing what Cooky is like, he'll still be very positive and upbeat," he said. "He's a fantastic cricketer, a fantastic captain and his scores over the years prove that.

"He'll obviously be disappointed not getting a score today. But he'll keep going hard and I'm sure it will be a matter of time before he gets that big score."

Even if the description of Cook as a "fantastic captain" might raise some eyebrows, Ballance's assessment of the game position was much more to the mark.

"We're 70 odd behind, with still some good batters coming in and who can score quickly," he said. "If we can get two more partnerships, and try to get a lead, on this wicket we can put India under a bit of pressure. The third innings is always a crucial part of the game. So if we can get that lead, and bowl well, we can push for a victory."

And his reaction to the coverage of the night out in Nottingham?

"I didn't see it coming," he said, "It was a bit embarrassing. I was probably a bit naive, but I didn't really break any rules. I was just having fun after a Test match. But I'll learn from that, and probably won't do it again.

"It's been an interesting week. I didn't really expect it, but it's nice to score some runs and put us back in a decent position.

"I felt a bit of pressure turning up on day one, with what happened. But everyone around me was very supportive: the coaches, all the players, my family were backing me and saying 'mistakes happen; you've got to learn from it and move on'. Luckily I took a catch in the third or fourth over and that calmed me down a lot."

Ballance may well be calming the nerves of England supporters just as much in the coming years.

Bowlers allow Dhoni to breathe again

Usually India's bowlers are ridiculed for letting Dhoni down but on a day that Dhoni let them down, they kept their spirits up, didn't let England run away with it, and came up with their best bowling day in a long time

Bhuvneshwar removes four key wickets

It's about 2.40pm on a sultry hot day at Lord's. The sun is out; the food and the cakes and the drinks have flowed; and the mild breeze is threatening to send the stands into naps. But there is some intense Test cricket to follow.

On a pitch that has eased out considerably since the day one that England wasted, India's quicks are showing the hosts how to bowl on this pitch. They have been full, at the stumps, and have given England only a few easy runs, who are 85 for 3 in 37 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been exceptional in that there have hardly been any bally to easily leave. He has used the slope well, bowling outswingers to right-hand batsmen before testing them with the other one once in a while. He has been doing the same to left-hand batsmen: take it away, take it away, then bring one in. Just the threat of one coming back in had Alastair Cook pushing at one and nicking behind. Sam Robson edged short of the cordon, was dropped, and yet didn't have enough patience to outlast the nagging new-ball spell of Bhuvneshwar, who has come came back after lunch to feast on Ian Bell's uncertain state of mind. After bowling 17 overs in well under three hours, for 34 runs and three wickets, Bhuvneshwar needs a rest.

There has been decent support from the other end. Mohammed Shami has bowled a few down the leg side, but if one bowler doesn't, how will the batsmen score a run? Ishant Sharma has generated some heat, and has asked questions of the right-handed Bell making the ball hold its line against the slope. The left-hand batsman Gary Ballance has put him off a little, but he has contributed to Bell's fall. But now we are getting into the stage where India usually let their intensity dip. Bhuvneshwar is tired, the ball has lost its shine, the pitch is easing out in the afternoon, and India need some control.

This is also time when Stuart Binny, their big hunch in this series, is about to be introduced. This next half hour has the potential to make or break this Test. England can easily run away with it if Binny is as innocuous as at Trent Bridge. But a tight spell can leave the other bowlers fresh for a pressure-filled burst before tea. On comes Binny, bowls full and slow, Ballance goes after him and gets away with a thick edge. At the end of the over drinks come on to the field. A moment to get your thoughts together, a moment to wonder if you are in control, a moment to perhaps question your own wisdom in sticking with Binny.

Just after drinks, Binny bowls again. The second ball of the over is a good delivery, pitched up outside off, shaping to swing in, and then holding its line after pitching, Ballance plays at it, and edges it. It goes to MS Dhoni's left and Shikhar Dhawan's right. It is high enough. Dhoni takes half a step towards it and lets it go. Dhawan is surprised and reacts late. Before you know Ballance has got four more runs.

This is a horrible miss. This is clearly Dhoni's catch, but he doesn't go for it. Nor is this the first time he has done that. He is an exceptional wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps, grabbing thick edges, making stumpings without a reverse follow-through at all. But standing back he has this annoying habit of not going for the catch between him and first slip. VVS Laxman has seen this often, today is Dhawan's turn. It seems he goes by the height of the ball, not its line. Earlier in the day he caught Cook, an offering that was wider than this but wouldn't have carried to first slip. This one is sailing at a comfortable height so he lets it go for Dhawan, although that can be no excuse.

This is, as they usually are, a keeper's catch, but what is Dhawan doing here? The best slippers are usually seen diving even when the wicketkeeper takes the catch in front of them. You have to expect, nay want, the ball to come to you. Here Dhawan is caught by surprise. He doesn't react at all. This is a huge moment in what is likely to be tight Test on a testing pitch. Over their last two tours, India have squandered winning positions because they tend to switch off. This is becoming a big problem: India just don't stay intense for long enough in Tests. The slips are stacking up.

Ballance capitalises on the mistake and scores a hundred. Moeen Ali, positive but not reckless, adds 98 with him. But here is the difference. India remain disciplined when it would have been easy to start thinking "Here we go again." The first square-cut boundary arrives 19 overs later, at the end of the 57th. Dhoni remains aggressive even as the partnership builds. He has seen there is turn on the pitch, and pulls M Vijay out of the hat. He feels under no pressure to justify Binny's selection and overbowl him. The fielding remains intense too.

Usually India's bowlers are ridiculed for letting Dhoni down. On a day that Dhoni has let them down, they kept their spirits up, didn't let England absolutely run away with it, and come back with two wickets just before stumps. This has been India's best bowling day without Zaheer Khan or spinners playing a lead role in a long time. It has come on a pitch made to order for the home team, and it has left India with yet another chance to post that elusive away Test win. Those who are used to India's bowlers letting the team down will need to sit down and have a seat belt on before even imagining what if Dhoni had taken that catch?

Bowlers take Tallawahs to convincing win

Jamaica Tallawahs 97 for 2 (Walton 43*, Gayle 37) beat Antigua Hawksbills 96 (Vettori 3-14) by eight wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

The decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired in spectacular fashion for the Antigua Hawksbills as they stumbled their way to 96 all out before the Jamaica Tallawahs cantered to an eight-wicket victory at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The Tallawahs move to 2-0 with the win and continue to look as sharp as their title-winning squad from a year ago. Meanwhile the Hawksbills, who missed the playoffs last year, remain winless and could be in for a rough season.

The Hawksbills suffered their first setback in the second over when opener Shacaya Thomas was trapped in front for 1 playing across the line to Jerome Taylor. Hawksbills captain Marlon Samuels looked unflustered by the early loss and hit Taylor for boundaries off three consecutive deliveries, a pair through fine leg followed by a lofted drive over cover, later in the over. The early burst was halted at the start of the third when Samuels was pinned on the back foot by a quicker ball from Daniel Vettori. The frame ended as a wicket maiden when Danza Hyatt played down the wrong line to Vettori for the third lbw decision of the innings to make it 15 for 3 and the Hawksbills struggles only got worse from there.

After brief resistance was offered by Ben Dunk and David Hussey, Rusty Theron came on and struck in the eighth over to bowl Hussey for 15 with a fullish length ball that kept a touch low. Vettori got back into the fray in the ninth while fielding at short fine leg as he seized on some confusion between Dunk and Devon Thomas between the wickets, firing a throw to Carlton Baugh over the stumps at the striker's end to remove Dunk for 12.

Two overs later, Thomas attempted to sweep left-arm spinner Nikita Miller but a top edge went straight to Owais Shah at short fine leg to make it 51 for 6. It was the only caught dismissal of the innings. Carlos Brathwaite missed a flick across the line to give Vettori his third wicket in the 14th before Sheldon Cottrell was bowled in the following over by a yorker from Andre Russell for an innings high score of 21. Russell was on a hat trick after gaining the Tallawahs fourth lbw decision of the match with a full and straight delivery that was too good for Ben Laughlin to make it 80 for 9.

Miguel Cummins and Brad Hogg managed to squeeze out 16 runs between them before another yorker from Taylor accounted for Cummins to wrap up the innings in just 18.3 overs. Vettori finished with 3 for 13 in his four-over spell and later received Man-of-the-Match honors for his efforts.

Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton negotiated the swing provided by the new ball during the first three overs taking their side to 14 for 0. Gayle started to open up at the end of the fourth over smashing Samuels' offspin down the ground and into the sightscreen for his first six before the opening pair tore into Cummins in the fifth for 22 runs to take the score to 45 for 0. Gayle ended the over with back-to-back blasts for six over midwicket.

The Hawksbills had a glimmer of hope in the ninth when Gayle miscued a slower ball from Brathwaite to Samuels at short midwicket for 37. Jermaine Blackwood fell two balls later without scoring when a short ball was gloved to the keeper Thomas to make it 62 for 2. Hogg entered the attack two balls later to start the ninth with his left-arm wrist spin but his first ball was a half-tracker and was duly disposed over long-on for six by Walton. Hogg found his length for the start of the 12th, but it didn't matter for Walton, who shuffled down the track and lofted him over long-off for another six.

Walton and Adam Voges combined for an unbroken 35-run stand to end the match with Walton finishing the job by striking the winning runs with a pulled four over midwicket three balls into the 15th over. Voges finished 12 not out while Walton was unbeaten on 43 with two fours and three sixes.

England squander golden opportunity

They wasted the new ball, they dropped chances and they reverted to the type of tactics that made little use of the sort of pitch of which England seamers should dream

#politeenquiries: England's tactics to tailenders?

Statistics are, very often, misleading. Just as the average person has one breast and one testicle, so scorecards can provide an inaccurate picture of a day's play.

A glance at the scorecard from the first day of the second Investec Test might lead you to conclude that England had bowled pretty well. You might conclude that James Anderson had been tight, that Stuart Broad had been probing and that Liam Plunkett and Ben Stokes had lent disciplined support.

But the truth is England squandered a golden opportunity. They wasted the new ball, they dropped chances and they reverted to the type of tactics that made little use of the sort of pitch of which England seamers should dream. They bowled substantially worse than they had at Trent Bridge.

They had, at last, a green pitch offering carry. They had, at last, an opportunity to test an Indian batting line-up who have questions to answer against the moving ball. And they had a muggy morning on which to bowl. They could - should - have seized this series by the neck and bowled out India for under 200. As it is, India have already recorded their highest first innings total in a Test at Lord's and built a challenging platform.

England wasted their chance. With conditions at their most helpful, England's most experienced seamers bowled too short and too wide. Only one delivery in the first 10 overs would have hit the stumps and, though James Anderson's first five overs were maidens, not a single delivery in them would have bowled a batsman. The Indians were, on the whole, delighted to leave them and see the danger subside.

England's tactics were, at times, baffling. If the sight of Plunkett, on a green surface, banging in the ball with three men out for the hook was frustrating, the sight of Anderson, the man who has taken more Test wickets in England than anyone in history, the man who has the most Test wickets at Lord's, the man who had the second new ball, bowling to India's No. 10 with six - yes, six - men out on the boundary was utterly baffling.

In such helpful conditions - the conditions England have said they wanted for weeks - all the bowlers needed to do was pitch the ball up, bowl at the stumps and allow the swing and the tentative Indian batting to do the rest. But, perhaps through impatience, perhaps through a lack of confidence, perhaps unable to adapt to the conditions after a succession of slow, low surfaces, England bowled short and wide and failed to make the Indian batsmen play at enough deliveries.

There can be no excuses. England's attack leaders have more than 600 Test wickets and 150 Test caps between them. They have, in David Saker, an experienced bowling coach who must surely have suggested they target the stumps more frequently. They were brought up on pitches like this and have the experience to adapt. And, if weariness is a legitimate excuse in the final session, they might reflect that, had they bowled better in the first two hours, they might have had their feet up by tea.

The frustration was that, when they did pitch the ball up, the wickets soon followed. Virat Kohli was the victim of a fine delivery that forced a stroke but then left him to take the edge, while MS Dhoni pushed at a ball he could have left and Murali Vijay played across one. Indeed, when Stuart Binny was the unfortunate victim of an umpiring error, it reduced India to 145 for 7 and left England on the brink of a decent result despite their own modest performance.



	Evidence is mounting that Matt Prior is no longer able to do what he could before. His misses are no longer aberrations. They are occurring too often and costing England too much

But they failed to take advantage. Plunkett was inexplicably instructed to bowl around the wicket and test the batsmen with short bowling - deliveries that were later dismissed as "a little bit easy" by Ajinkya Rahane - and Broad, despite the trouble he caused when he hit a good length, also banged in far too many deliveries. Rahane, leaving well but brutal on anything short, responded with a masterful century that may yet prove the defining contribution in this game.

"There is a bit of frustration," Stokes admitted afterwards. "The last session has turned things around a bit. We were extremely unlucky.

"We were pretty happy with our lengths, but our lines could have been better. We talked about it and corrected it. And we had them 140 for 7. So, on the positive side, we keep knocking over their top order."

If such words seem somewhat delusional, the fault was not all England's bowlers. They also suffered, once again, from poor support from their wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, who put down two chances and conceded his 50th bye of the Test summer in the evening session. Such a number includes, inevitably, some deliveries speared down the leg side which no keeper could prevent, but that by no means accounts for all of them.

Prior has enjoyed an illustrious career. He was a key part of the team that rose to No. 1 in the Test rankings and nobody doubts his commitment to the cause. To see him struggling, through no lack of good intentions or hard work, to maintain the standards he once set brings no pleasure.

But cricket can be brutal. And the evidence is mounting that he is no longer able to do what he could before. His misses are no longer aberrations. They are occurring too often and costing England too much. If Jos Buttler is not ready for Test cricket - and it would be asking a lot of a man who has been a first choice wicketkeeper at his county for less than four months - England may well have to turn to James Foster or Chris Read as an interim.

The first chance Prior missed here - Murali Vijay before he had scored - was familiar: it was low and it was to his right. It was, by a generous assessment, the fifth such chance he has failed to take this summer (there have been two other chances which have been closer to his body), with the suspicion mounting that his creaking frame is unable to move quickly enough to low chances to sustain a career at this level.

It might seem that neither chance - the second one a straightforward outside edge offered by Kohli in Moeen Ali's first over - cost England. But in conditions that eased, reprieving Vijay and Kohli allowed Rahane and the lower order to come in against tiring bowlers and a softer ball.

England may also have squandered the best time to bat. By the close of play, a few balls appeared to be keeping low and, if the sun continues to bake this pitch, uneven bounce may become a serious impediment. If they find themselves chasing a challenging fourth innings target, they will only have themselves to blame.

Rahane quietly bedding in as India's No. 6

Tough enough to score crucial runs, prepared for innings that don't have proper structure, content with not cashing in on flat ones, Ajinkya Rahane could be just the man for India

Highlights: Rahane century keeps second Test even on Day 1 at Lord's

When little Ajinkya Rahane used to lug his cricket kit in crowded Bombay local trains, from Dombivli to Victoria Terminus, an hour in fast services, longer in the slow one that stops at every station, it is highly unlikely he wanted to become a No. 6 batsman.

Fathers don't tell their kids, "Son, my only dream is to see you bat at No. 6." No. 6 is not sexy. You don't face the bowlers at their freshest, you don't get to set the tone, you are just reacting to the stage that has been set for you, sometimes really tough conditions even settle down by the time you come in to bat. When the pitch is easy you hardly get to bat; when the pitch is difficult, you get the tail for company. Your No. 6 has to be tough enough to score crucial runs, prepared for innings that don't have proper structure, content with not cashing in on flat ones, and happy with the opener or the No. 4 being the man.

Rahane, although an opener by training, might just be that man for India. He scored this Lord's hundred - special because everybody he knew built Lord's up massively by Wednesday night - from No. 5, but he is a No. 6 for all practical purposes: MS Dhoni comes in immediately after him. That century scored, rescuing India from 145 for 7, Rahane sought to sit back and deflect attention onto others. He kept repeating the innings was thanks to the top-order batsmen who had seen off the most difficult conditions. He thanked Bhuvneshwar Kumar for sticking around with him.

But if you looked up at the players' balcony when he brought up the hundred, with a push for four off James Anderson, England's best bowler and the bowler whose behaviour India have complained officially against, the sight of every member of the squad applauding that hundred told you he was the man. He had weathered the storm, shown enough discipline to score just one run behind square on the off side, played some gorgeous push-drives before lofting Anderson for a delightful six over long-on.

On Wednesday night Rahane had been nervous. Everyone kept reminding him how special a Lord's century could be. He had himself played a nervous shot to get out in the second innings of the last Test, just a nervous poke at a delivery he could have left alone. Rahane is prone to that. He is a nervous starter. He needs to watch for that push lacking intent early in the innings. This was Lord's, the ball was swinging and seaming, and wickets were tumbling at the other end.

Rahane did show signs of those nerves at the start; his first three balls: an edge that fell short of the cordon, beaten outside off, a single off the inside edge. But in the 37th over things clicked. He had faced nine balls by then. Now he began to get a solid forward stride in, and drove at a wide half-volley with an open face. Later in that over, he pushed one down the ground for four. The innings was underway, except that by the time he had faced 38 balls, Rahane had lost Cheteshwar Pujara and Dhoni. Now he would need to change his game.

Rahane didn't change. With every new batsman he had a chat. Were they comfortable if he took the single early in the over? It took you back to that endearing conversation he had with Ishant Sharma in Durban, with the latter saying he didn't want to face Dale Steyn. There, Rahane fell two short of what would have been a maiden century. He says he has made an attempt to not think of the hundred after that.

Ravindra Jadeja and Stuart Binny could not keep him company for long, but Rahane found an ally in Bhuvneshwar, who nearly scored a third fifty of this series. Like VVS Laxman before him, Rahane trusts tailenders, and doesn't try to hog the strike unless they ask him to. He also says he has been watching videos of Michael Hussey to learn how to bat with the tail. One of the important skills while batting with the tail is to be able to play big shots. You never know if the next over will leave you stranded.

Rahane has made that addition to his game of late. About three years ago, some domestic stalwarts used to fear Rahane would not make it because he did not have the bottle or the big shots. In this innings he showed he had both. Bottle in surviving the early spell, big shots when England were waiting for the new ball. His fifty came in the 71st over of the innings with the new ball almost certain to inflict damage. But by the time the new ball came, Rahane had raced along to 74, cutting Liam Plunkett in front of square repeatedly to avoid the third man trap, and pulling him emphatically.

When the new ball arrived, Rahane went after Anderson. Four, six, and he is 88. Four, four, and 98. Discipline, timing, placement, power, aggression had all been on display. When he reached the hundred, Rahane didn't make a big deal out of it. He showed more emotion when Bhuvneshwar got out, to a bit of a shooter. Bhuvneshwar was half way off the ground when Rahane caught up with him, patted his back, a little thank you there, and a big thank you in the press conference. This No. 6 is quietly bedding in.

Sammy signs with Hobart Hurricanes

Darren Sammy, the West Indies Twenty20 captain, will make his BBL debut this coming summer after signing with the Hobart Hurricanes. Sammy is expected to be available for the first six matches of the tournament before joining West Indies for their training camp ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

Sammy was captain of West Indies in all formats until last year, when Dwayne Bravo was handed control of the ODI side, and Denesh Ramdin became Test captain earlier this year. However, Sammy remains in charge of the West Indies T20 outfit. He will join England's Alex Hales as the two international signings for the Hurricanes in 2014-15.

"With players like George Bailey, Alex Hales and Ben Dunk, there is a lot of exciting talent in the team already," Sammy said. "I am really looking forward to coming to Tasmania and taking part in the Big Bash League.

"I have heard so much about coach [Damien] Wright, he seems like a West Indian, very cool and an amazing fellow. A few of my [West Indian] team-mates might also be playing in the Big Bash League so I'm looking forward to the contest with them."

Sammy's lower-order striking has made him a dangerous batsman in the shorter formats and his canny bowling has allowed him to take 99 T20 wickets at 25.18 with an economy rate of 7.37. Wright said Sammy would be a fine addition to the Hurricanes' line-up.

"He's a really talented cricketer who can do a little bit of everything," Wright said. "He's a great leader as well and he's been captain of the West Indies for a number of years now also captaining the team for the T20 World Cup in 2012. Sammy will give us that lower-order hitting too which is something we didn't quite have last season."

Pietersen cameo keeps up Surrey hopes

Surrey 137 for 7 (Pietersen 39, Waller 2-24) beat Somerset 136 for 9 (Trego 30, Dunn 3-8) by three wickets
Scorecard

The scrimmage for the quarter-final berths in the ultra-competitive South Group is becoming increasingly fraught. Having coasted into a position of influence, Surrey's hopes of advancing had suffered a setback of late but Kevin Pietersen played his most significant hand to date with an assured cameo to ensure his side were on the right side of the fine margins this time around. They are now within touching distance of the knock-out stages.

If things had been different, Pietersen would have been across the other side of the capital resting up on the eve of a Test match. As it was, he - for the first time this season - showed why many regard the ECB's decision to discard him as risible. Two trademark cover drives had the crowd purring and Surrey motoring in pursuit of Somerset's 136 for 9.

But his dismissal, succumbing to spin on a surface conducive to slow, take-all-the-pace-off bowling for 39, opened a window of opportunity for the visitors. But, unlike Surrey's astute operators, Somerset weren't able to apply the stranglehold to induce a middle-order wobble.

Pietersen powerfully cut Max Waller to the boundary first ball of the tenth over but fell next delivery, attempting to replicate the stroke. When Robin Peterson haphazardly ran himself out in comical circumstances after a mix-up with Azhar Mahmood, a tense silence engulfed a sold-out Oval as another edgy finale loomed.

But, with the equation set at ten required off two overs, Somerset were up against it and a couple of lusty blows from Chris Tremlett was enough. Had Marcus Trescothick - playing as a makeshift wicketkeeper in the absence of Craig Kieswetter - been able to throw down middle stump or Colin Ingram manage to scamper around from long-on to snaffle Mahmood in the final overs, things may have finished differently - but such are the fine margins in the shortest format.

A two-wicket victory with a couple of deliveries to spare all but ends Somerset's hopes of finishing in the top four but ensures there is a realistic chance of another sell-out crowd at The Oval this season. True, there was no Jason Roy fireworks - he fell for just 4 in the first over - and a two-paced surface didn't allow flamboyant strokeplay but that suited the hosts.

Gary Wilson hardly had to affirm the inevitable when the coin landed in his favour but that alone doesn't guarantee his bowlers will execute the gameplan. Successive defeats hinted that their dependable strategy was unravelling.

Glamorgan's thrilling victory here five days ago apart, the team chasing at The Oval in the last ten domestic Twenty20 games had come away with the points and the hosts ensured Friday's blip in the trend was just that. True, they were aided by a surface fabricated to suit their strengths but isn't that what home advantage is about?

While it would be easy for Wilson to turn to his slower bowlers to roll their fingers over the ball on a two-paced surface for all 20 overs, he placed just as much faith in his battery of seamers. Matthew Dunn is another promising cab off the Surrey ranks and highlights that there is more to the club that meets the eye of many. An inspired spell of 3 for 8 proved decisive and enough for him to earn the plaudits.

Having being crashed to the fence first ball by Nick Compton, he stuck to his guns, bowling fast and full and was duly rewarded. Just as the visitors were beginning to motor, Compton played an atypically ugly heave to be caught at point. It was a needless shot as Somerset raced along at close to ten an over during the Powerplay.

To that point, he had crunched and punched four boundaries in quick succession as he took Tillakartne Dilshan for 13 in the first over; that was the last we saw of the Sri Lankan with the ball. But, Somerset were unable to attune themselves to the pitch and Surrey's astute methods. Their innings became stagnant fairly quickly after a brisk start.

By the time Dunn returned to bowl the penultimate over, the wheels had come off the innings. He The quashed any hopes of a late burst as James Hildreth was caught by Zafar Ansari and next delivery, he exhibited his unerringly accurate yorker - it was far too good for Tim Groenewald. Alas, the hat trick ball was safely negotiated by Waller. but Dunn had already inflicted the damage.

England hit Jadeja with Level 2 charge

ECB to lodge Jadeja counter claim

India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has been charged with a Level 2 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct for his alleged role in the incident involving England fast bowler James Anderson on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test. The charge against Jadeja was brought by England team manager Phil Neale, in response to India charging Anderson with a Level 3 offence.

"It is alleged that after the players left the public area and entered the pavilion [for lunch], Jadeja turned suddenly and took steps towards Anderson in an aggressive and threatening manner," the ICC said. Anderson is alleged to have abused and pushed Jadeja.

All Level 2 breaches carry a fine of between 50-100% of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points and come under the match referee's purview. Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs.

Jadeja was reported under Article 2.2.11, which states: "Where the facts of the alleged incident are not adequately or clearly covered by any of the above offences, conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute."

Echoing the initial ECB response to India's reaction to the incident, England captain Alastair Cook expressed surprise that the exchange had generated such a serious response, describing it as "a big mountain out of a molehill." The India captain MS Dhoni, however, suggested there had been physical contact and appreciated how Jadeja had handled the incident by not losing his cool.

The Indian team's complaint against Anderson was brought to the ICC's notice on Friday, July 11, around 24 hours after the incident. Before formal charges were laid against Anderson, it is understood an ICC lawyer flew to England on Friday and spoke to both sides to see if the issue could be resolved. Anderson faces a ban of at least two Tests if he is found guilty as the minimum sanction for a Level 3 violation is four suspension points and two points equates to missing one Test.

Dhoni implacable on Anderson

James Anderson has riled many opponents in an illustrious Test career, but when it came to his disagreement with Ravindra Jadeja, India's captain MS Dhoni saw a chance to make a stand

ECB to lodge Jadeja counter claim

It is usually the other way around. MS Dhoni likes to keep his India team in a bubble, he does not acknowledge the grandness of things because he believes such an approach keeps them from performing at their best. WACA, Wankhede; Test, Twenty20 - they are all the same, or at least he tries to keep it that way until the games begin.

Yet in the middle of his press conference a day before the second Test of this series, Dhoni reminded the journalists: "Let's talk about Lord's. We all know the importance of Lord's." What irony.

This is, of course, Lord's. This is, of course, an important Test match, the second of a series that refused to take off in the first because of a drab pitch. But there was a reason Dhoni wanted to talk about Lord's.

This also involves two players who could be banned by the time the third Test starts. James Anderson could miss two to four, Ravindra Jadeja could miss one. They might not miss any. They might someday play for the same IPL team. They might even get into exhibition bouts once they are retired. One thing that will not emerge, however, is a boastful spat with two different versions such as in the altercation between Ian Chappell and Ian Botham.

The sketchiness of the legal language as the information emerges is quite laughable yet this is a serious matter that has potential of becoming messy. This is the first time an international player has been charged with a level 3 offence since 2007-08 when Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds collided. There is no video evidence here, which could make this one team's word against the other.

No one is talking facts right now, but what we know is this. On day two of the Trent Bridge Test, walking back for lunch, between the playing field and changing rooms, Anderson allegedly pushed Jadeja who had allegedly turned around suddenly in an aggressive manner. There had been continuous sledging in the last over before lunch when Jadeja survived an lbw shout. The ICC will now go through its process of appointing a commissioner to rule on the matter.



	Alastair Cook told BBC he will be surprised if Anderson is banned, an India squad member said off the record that Anderson toh ghus gaya. In essence: he is a goner.

The players and BCCI and ICC are giving out precious little, but what ESPNcricinfo has been able to establish is this. Dhoni initiated the process the next day, which was Friday. There was pressure from both respective boards, now part of the exclusive clique of three that runs international cricket, to resolve the issue without an official complaint, but Dhoni put his foot down.

An ICC lawyer travelled to England on Friday, but could not broker peace, and on Tuesday this charge became official. On Wednesday England responded with a level 2 charge against Jadeja. With video evidence lacking, India's witnesses have been Gautam Gambhir and R Ashwin. Both the sides are claiming off the record to have at least one clinching neutral witness on their side.

Alastair Cook told BBC he will be surprised if Anderson is banned, an India squad member said off the record that Anderson toh ghus gaya. In essence: he is a goner.

What we are getting from the two teams is inferences. Cook is saying this is India's way of eliminating England's best bowler, also the Man of the Match at Trent Bridge. There might be merit to this, what with India being the most powerful board and with Duncan Fletcher, who does not mind a bit of gamesmanship, as their coach. After all, aren't they trying to get the ODI playing conditions changed just before the World Cup because the new ones are hampering their slower bowlers?

Then again Dhoni's India are not known to playing cricket in this confrontational manner. At Trent Bridge, three years ago, he called back Ian Bell, who was well and fairly run out. In an ODI in Brisbane in 2011-12, they retracted a mankading appeal against Lahiru Thirimanne, who continued to back up too far in the same match, and whose team-mates incidentally mankaded an England batsman earlier this English summer.

When Dhoni was told of this Cook allegation, it was the first time he became expressive in an otherwise cool and collected press conference. He suggested Jadeja was the victim here, not Anderson. He also spoke of how at times in the past his team-mates have been goaded into ill-advised actions by the opposition's sledging. India are indignant in an enough-is-enough way. Another member of their touring party said: "This is like being blamed for coming to police when your house has been burgled."

This is not as ugly as the last time a level 3 offence was registered - and that could be because nobody has seen this - but it has similarities. Back then Anil Kumble went to the Australian dressing room, but Ricky Ponting would not have any of it. It is England this time who are aggrieved that this has become a big official issue.

Just like the two protagonists of Sydney 2007-08, the two individuals involved here have a history of rubbing opponents the wrong way, although this should in no way establish anyone's guilt or innocence.

Anderson is known to be a gentle person off the field, which comes across in his press conferences, but moody and confrontational on it. For some reason he ends up riling the opposition more than, say, Stuart Broad, who is far from mealy-mouthed on the field too. It was Anderson whose "f****** elbow" Michael Clarke wanted broken.

In Modern Masters, an ESPNcricinfo series on the 14 best bowlers he has faced, Rahul Dravid also said Anderson, verbally, the nastiest. Anderson has also bowled more Test overs - 996 - over the last two years than anyone in the world has; Broad is next with 826. He might have been near the edge.

Jadeja, he who turned around suddenly, is ironically not known for turning - he turns only the odd ball in a spell. He is ridiculed for having scored three first-class triple-centuries on flat pitches in India; he is not much of a batsman as we have seen. Yet India have insisted on him, and his bowling has shown merit enough to become a Test spinner.

He has a fat IPL contract with Dhoni's team, and is managed by Dhoni's best friend and manager. Cricket players are a small world, they notice these things, and they are not known for liking Jadeja much. If Anderson is the habitual sledger, Jadeja is that annoying successful and rich man who not many believe should be.

There is one dissimilarity from Sydney, though. No one is going to threaten to take his bat and ball and go home. These two are part of the Big Three. The cricketing world is not big enough to be able to have just one friend. This will end much more amicably.

The only positive to have come out of this is that two boards have left the cricketing issue to the cricketers, and have not pulled any punches. There have been some efforts to keep this down, but eventually the bosses have trusted the judgement of Dhoni and Cook in a cricketing matter that has the potential of souring their financial ties. One can always hope.

Australia call on uncapped Beams

Legspinner Kristen Beams will be hoping to make her one-day international debut after being named in Australia's squad to take on Pakistan next month. Australia are hosting Pakistan for four ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast from August 21, and 13-player squads for the two series have now been named.

Beams was the leading wicket-taker in last summer's Women's National Cricket League with 14 victims at 13.21 and also impressed the selectors during tour matches against England last season.

The only inclusion from outside the T20 squad from the group that took out the World T20 title in Bangladesh in April was seamer Megan Schutt to replace Holly Ferling, who is recovering from a back injury. Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney, who were in the World T20 squad, missed out on selection.

"This series against Pakistan will be a great challenge for our players and an opportunity to perform strongly in front of our home crowds which continue to support the development of the women's game," Julie Savage, the women's national selection panel chair, said.

"It is also the first series we have contested that will count towards qualification for the next ICC Women's World Cup. As the current title-holders, we are determined to ensure we qualify well for this event, so it is imperative our squad performs in this series and continues to play an exciting and entertaining style of cricket.

"In the one-day international area, it's exciting for Australian cricket to have a legspinner included in the squad. Kristen Beams performed extremely well at domestic level last season and thoroughly deserves this opportunity.

"Megan [Schutt] has been a consistent performer at domestic level for South Australia but hasn't been able to cement a spot in the starting XI for the Southern Stars so she will be itching for an opportunity and that pressure for positions is encouraging."

Gurney's cover drive brings Read relief

Nottinghamshire 261 (Mullaney 82, Chapple 4-73, Smith 3-44) and 170 for 9 (Read 40*, Smith 3-38, Chapple 3-59) beat Lancashire 225 (Buttler 52, Adams 4-45) and 205 (Khawaja 53, Gurney 4-22, Fletcher 3-33) by one wicket
Scorecard

It was an astonishing afternoon when Lancashire found they had supporters in Leeds, a teatime when Nottinghamshire discovered temporary fans in Newcastle. Such are the transient fealties produced in the second half of the County Championship season when one team's result affects everyone else's fortunes.

When all was done, it was the Novocastrians who were celebrating on Tuesday evening after a tremendous cricket match had ended with Chris Read's team securing a nerve-shattering one-wicket victory which will live in everyone's memory utterly regardless of their loyalties.

Any relief on Tyneside or the banks of the Wear will be felt because Lancashire's defeat leaves the Old Trafford side 11 points adrift of seventh-placed Durham having played a game more. Yet the keenest joy will, of course, be felt in Nottinghamshire's cricketing heartlands like Caythorpe and Cuckney, for their county had completed a win which puts them 11 points clear of Somerset after 12 games and 16 ahead of Yorkshire, albeit that Andrew Gale's men have a game in hand.

Yet great matches also need great finishes and this contest filled that box with more ticks than one. Such matches also need a hero: this game provided many, but none more worthy of the laurels than the teak-tough Read. Needing 170 to win, Nottinghamshire were 119 for 7 when Luke Fletcher joined his skipper. The only time issue was whether the match would end on the third evening or not.

Coolly, the Nottinghamshire pair added 44 runs in 18 overs, Fletcher blocking capably and nudging singles where possible, Read batting with all the skill and nous Trent Bridge supporters know well and love greatly.

A three-wicket victory seemed very probable when Kabir Ali had Fletcher well-caught at third slip by Tom Smith. Enter Andre Adams, who can really only play in one uncomplicated way. A whacked four wide of mid-on and a skied two over Jos Buttler's head followed. Then Adams pulled his fifth ball from Ali to deep-backward square-leg, where Stephen Parry sprinted round and held a fine catch low down: 169 for 9. "When was the last tie in the Championship?" someone asked

That, though, was also the end of the over and the batsmen had crossed. Step forward Harry Gurney, who cover drove Chapple's first ball as stylishly as you like for a single. The Nottinghamshire players on the balcony of the Aigburth pavilion erupted in untrammelled joy. Who know what this win might mean in mellow September? Lancashire's players trooped off, although they may also have been contemplating the eventual results of defeat.

Read was unbeaten on 40, his runs accumulated over 117 minutes off 66 balls. "It was relief in the end," said the captain when queried as to his feelings after the game. "It should have been excitement needing only seven runs with three wickets still in the shed but in the end when Harry Gurney hit those runs I was flapping.

"Harry shouldn't have been on strike and I was not particularly happy with losing two wickets in that penultimate over. It was relief but that's the best shot I have ever seen Harry Gurney play. I'll remember that for the rest of my life."

In that respect, the Nottinghamshire skipper will be joined by the vast majority of the spectators at Liverpool, where Chapple's men have fought out so many tight finishes in recent years. Throughout the day, supporters had sat enthralled by the drama unfolding before them. Newspapers were cast aside, their crosswords barely started.

The second-hand bookstall resorted to a major sale at teatime but no one wanted to read about cricket when there was so much of it to watch. October will come soon enough. The ice-cream van did progressively less business despite the fine warm weather which had replaced Monday's tent-tugging winds. At the tensest moments a frenetic calm settled on the ground.

Yet perhaps we should not be surprised that a game between these two sides should have produced an extraordinary finish. Nottinghamshire secured their 2010 title in dramatic circumstances when they secured a bowling bonus point against Lancashire, and Chapple's men only lost April's opening match of the season at Trent Bridge by 45 runs after a noble run-chase. The teams have a history of producing toughly-contested matches and this result will have pleased nobody more than Steven Mullaney who has represented both counties.

The absorbing dénouement to this game had been set up by morning and early afternoon sessions in which Lancashire had extended their overnight 55 for 2 to 205 at the cost of their eight remaining wickets, Usman Khawaja making 53.

All but one of the wickets had been claimed by Gurney, who took 4 for 13 in 29 balls during a high-quality spell of left-arm seam bowling, and by the Brobdingnagian figure of Fletcher, who removed three batsmen in five balls immediately after lunch. A valuable last-wicket stand of 36 between Parry and Ali probably gave disproportionate encouragement to Chapple's attack but even the most imaginative and experienced cricket-watchers could not envisage the stomach-clutching tension to come.

Initially wickets were almost traded for runs in the visitors' second innings. Four of the top six batsmen reached double figures but no one made more than Riki Wessels. On a wicket which had always rewarded good cricket, Smith removed Mullaney, Michael Lumb and James Taylor to become Division One's leading wicket-taker. Nottinghamshire stumbled to 79 for 5 but had recovered to 116 for 6 when Wessels drove Hogg to Ashwell Prince at cover. The crowd tried to settle, wondering how things would turn out. They little knew.

Madsen, Slater lead strong Derbyshire reply

Derbyshire 216 for 2 (Madsen 79*, Slater 70, Chanderpaul 50*) trail Gloucestershire 356 (Tavare 135, W Gidman 125, Taylor 5-58) by 140 runs
Scorecard

Skipper Wayne Madsen led from the front as Derbyshire hit back strongly on the second day against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Having bowled out their hosts for 356 from an overnight position of 304 for 6, the visitors replied with 216 for 2, Madsen ending the day unbeaten on 79, having faced 147 balls and hit nine fours.

Opener Ben Slater made 70, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dangerously poised on 50 not out, with his side trailing by only 140 at stumps.

Gloucestershire had earlier been indebted to Will Gidman for his second century in successive Championship games. Unbeaten on 88 overnight, the allrounder was last man out for 125, having faced 216 balls and hit 19 fours.

Tom Taylor finished with 5 for 58, his first five-wicket haul in Championship cricket. It will not be the last judging by some penetrating spells from the 19-year-old seamer, who hails from Stoke-on-Trent.

The home side's hopes of a fourth batting point hinged on scoring 46 runs from 14 overs at the start of the day. They were dealt an early blow when Adam Rouse was bowled by Tony Palladino shouldering arms without adding to his overnight score of 2.

Gidman suffered some anxious moments moving from 88 to three figures, none greater than the edge to third man off Palladino, which brought up his century off 178 balls, with 16 fours. It followed the 119 he scored against Hampshire at Southampton last week.

Taylor helped Palladino keep a tight rein on the scoring rate and was rewarded with the total on 319 when Tom Smith, on 2, edged to first slip where Madsen parried the ball for second slip Wes Durston to take the catch.

It was 329 for 9 when the impressive Taylor found the edge of namesake Jack Taylor's bat and this time Madsen took the catch himself. Liam Norwell then helped to add a useful 27 with Gidman, who was finally bowled by Mark Footitt to end the innings. Both teams collected three bonus points.

Derbyshire had to negotiate four overs before lunch, which saw them score eight runs. The total had progressed to 30 in the afternoon session when Gidman broke through with the ball, pinning Billy Godleman lbw for 11, having just switched to the College Lawn End.

Slater played positively to reach a half-century off 85 balls, with six fours, with Madsen settling in to add 81 for the second wicket. Their partnership was ended by Hamish Marshall's medium-pace as he had Slater caught behind by Rouse, standing up to the stumps, for 70.

It was 115 for 2 at tea and Gloucestershire should have claimed Chanderpaul's prized wicket soon after the break when Rouse failed to stump him on 14 as he advanced well down the pitch to left-arm spinner Smith.

Home supporters must have feared that the error would be costly. By stumps Chanderpaul and Madsen had put on 105 for the third wicket, with power to add on Wednesday morning.

Madsen reached a fluid half-century off 101 balls, with seven fours, and looked in prime form, despite a pitch that was offering occasional turn for Gloucestershire's two spinners. Chanderpaul played with increasing freedom and followed his partner to 50 off 103 deliveries, with five fours.

At the close Gidman said: "I've struck a bit of form with the bat and I'm feeling confident at the crease. It was difficult facing the second new ball, but other than that I went in at a good time on a decent pitch.

"We're disappointed with how we have bowled this afternoon because the new ball was doing a bit and there were signs of turn. Now two dangerous players are well set."

Derbyshire's Slater, who is still waiting for his first Derbyshire hundred, said: "I thought today might be my day, but it wasn't to be. The pitch is not as good as the scores suggest. It's okay when you get in, but it's tricky getting in."

Ballance enjoying the challenge of No. 3

Jonathan Trott was always going to be a tough man to replace at No. 3, but the early signs are that in Gary Ballance England have someone with the all-round game to take hold of the position.

Since assuming the role in the first Test against Sri Lanka he has made 23, 104 not out, 74, 0 and 71 - his hundred, in his previous outing at Lord's, was England's first from No. 3 since Trott made 121 against New Zealand, at Wellington, in March 2013.

The elevation up the order to a position Ballance had barely occupied in his professional career - and which had also been filled by Joe Root and Ian Bell after Trott left Australia - has meant the attacking batting he has come renowned for on the domestic circuit has largely been locked away, although he hinted at his potential when he charged towards three figures last month and reached the landmark with a six.

However, he is more than happy to take on a more cautious role and has provided a stabilising effect on the top order to help counter, somewhat, the poor form of Alastair Cook. The latest he has come to the crease so far this season is in the 19th over.

"I am happy to play the patience game, to bat for time and bat for as long as possible," he said. "It would have been nice to have kicked on in those last few games but that's how it goes and hopefully I can build on that. If you bowl straight or with tight lines then it is hard to score so you've got to be patient."

After a hostile debut against Mitchell Johnson in Sydney, Ballance is now starting to feel at home at international level. "I think so, I feel like I have brought some good form in to it, like I said, a few decent scores, it would be nice to kick on and get a really big score and a match-winning one to try to get us a win for England and get us going for the summer."

While batting remains the reason Ballance has been selected he showed unexpected promise with the lesser known skill of legspin, albeit during a light-hearted finish to the Trent Bridge Test when he sent down the penultimate over of the match. He had previously bowled 24 wicketless overs in first-class cricket but he may now put in some extra work in the nets.

"To be honest I was quite nervous before I bowled, I wasn't really expecting it," he said. "I was just glad the first one landed and then after that I had a little bit of confidence and I bowled six balls, probably a bit slow, but I might get a few more overs in the nets and we'll see where we go from there.

"It is quite tough as a part time wrist spinner, it is difficult and although I bowled a lot in the nets a Yorkshire I never had the chance to bowl in a game.

"Every captain does want that that extra option and maybe as a wrist spinner there might be an opportunity on a flat wicket where the game is going nowhere. Maybe I need to work on it a bit harder, but at the moment it is about concentrating on the batting and getting big scores."

Anyone who is able to offer Cook another viable option to give his quick bowlers a break should be encouraged to take his chance seriously.

Wright and Beer earn grand home finish

Sussex 153 for 5 (Wright 66) beat Glamorgan 151 for 8 (Rudolph 62, Beer 3-14) by five wickets
Scorecard

Highlights: Wright's 66 helps Sussex topple Glamorgan by five wickets

Luke Wright hit three sixes and seven fours as his swashbuckling 66 off 39 balls dented Glamorgan's NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final hopes and powered Sussex to a five-wicket win at Hove.

Wright virtually settled the match, as Sussex chased down Glamorgan's 151 for 8, by clubbing Jacques Rudolph's legspin for three fours and a six in a 13th over that cost 19 runs.

Hethen fell to the first ball of the next over, with Dean Cosker taking a juggling catch at midwicket from a pull against Andrew Salter's offspin, but only another 36 runs were then required from 41 balls as Wright walked off to great acclaim from a near-5,000 crowd.

Matt Machan, with 33 not out from 35 balls, then eased Sussex home with nine balls to spare as they ended on 153 for 5. Sussex's fifth win of the group stage still keeps their mathematical chances of last eight qualification intact, while Glamorgan may live to regret their fourth defeat as they battle to get out of the fiercely-contested South Group.

Glamorgan, who would have gone second in the group table if they had won, were also undone by Will Beer's legspin as his brilliant four-over spell of 3 for 14 pegged them back when they looked to be on course for a challenging total.

Having won the toss, Glamorgan were given a superb start by Rudolph and skipper Jim Allenby, on form the best opening pair in the T20 Blast this season.

At the end of the six-over Powerplay Glamorgan were 57 without loss, with Rudolph setting the tone by taking three fours from the opening over, bowled by left-arm seamer Lewis Hatchett. Rudolph caressed the first ball of the match to the extra cover boundary for four, and there were also classy boundaries through square cover and midwicket as 16 runs in all came from the over.

The third over, from Chris Liddle, cost 12 more before Allenby pulled the returning Hatchett out of the ground over mid-wicket for six - the ball clattering into the brickwork of one of the block of flats that line one side of the Hove ground.

Beer's introduction, however, slowed Glamorgan's progress and his first victim, in the seventh over, was Allenby. Bowled for 24, inside-edging an attempted slog-sweep, he has now scored 474 runs from 10 innings in this year's T20 competition at an average of 52.66.

Mark Wallace was Beer's next scalp, bowled for 3 as he missed an ambitious reverse sweep, and the 25-year-old leg spinner then tossed one up a little bit higher to have Stewart Walters smartly caught and bowled for a duck when the batsman could not keep down a straight drive.

It was not long before big-hitting Chris Cooke was also back in the pavilion, holing out to Craig Cachopa at deep square leg as he mishit a pull at Steffan Piolet's medium pace.

At 79 for 4, in the 11th over, Glamorgan's innings was in danger of spluttering out, but after Beer's excellent spell a fifth wicket stand of 50 between Rudolph and Murray Goodwin revived it.

Goodwin, in his 41st year and playing against the county he left in 2012 after 12 seasons, was given a good reception by the crowd and reached 35 from 24 balls as he pulled a Piolet full toss for six and also plundered successive fours from Chris Nash's offspin.

After Goodwin fell to the last ball of the 17th over, miscueing to long on, Rudolph was bowled by Steve Magoffin for 62 off a thin inside edge in the following over.

Magoffin was making his T20 debut for Sussex in his third season with the club and it was only the ninth short-form game of his career. Indeed, the last time the country's current leading County Championship wicket-taker played a Twenty20 match was five-and-a-half years ago.

Sussex lost Nash and Luke Wells early but Cachopa, a 24-year-old trialist, hit a six and three fours to impress in a quickfire 24, before being stumped advancing at Cosker's left-arm spin,while Wright was always in command.

Nash, the Sussex captain, said: "It was nice to be able to win our last group home game. Our crowds have been brilliant all season for Twenty20, even though we haven't performed as well as we would have liked overall.

"I was also glad Will Beer was in at the end and hit the winning boundary. He has been exceptional with both ball and bat in this competition, and he deserved that moment of getting us over the line here.''

Glamorgan skipper Allenby added: "I always thought our total was on the low side. Around 160 would have been par, but Will Beer bowled exceptionally well to peg us back and full credit to him for that.

"We are still in contention to finish in the top four in the group, however, and I'm happy with that with two games still to go."

SA sweat on de Villiers fitness

South Africa are sweating on the fitness of regular Test wicketkeeper AB de Villiers, who is suffering with a tight right hamstring and was unable to keep wicket during Monday's practice session. CSA said de Villiers is likely to play the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday though there are doubts over whether he will keep.

De Villiers' injury worry increases the chances of 21-year-old Quinton de Kock making a second Test appearance, five months after making his debut, and this time he may find himself behind the stumps as well.

It was during his century in Saturday's ODI in Hambantota that de Villiers first experienced discomfort in his hamstring. He spent an hour and 41 minutes at the crease and scored a blazing 108 off 71 balls to take South Africa to their highest-ever total against Sri Lanka and a first ODI series win on the island.

He did not take part in any wicket-keeping drills in Galle as a result. In a media release, CSA said he will "continue to receive treatment," and that he is "likely to be available for selection for Wednesday's match." However, de Villiers has previously suffered from back problems and the management may choose to err on the side of caution if they feel he is not fully fit.

Should de Villiers be forced out of the starting XI, de Kock would take his place behind the stumps but will probably bat in the lower-middle order. Although de Kock's Test selection appeared premature in the only Test he played - against Australia in March - the youngster has hit form in Sri Lanka after struggling through the first two ODIs and struck a century alongside de Villiers on Saturday.

If de Villiers misses out, it may also create room for a Test debut for Stiaan van Zyl - the Cobras' top-order batsman who is part of the squad but is thought to be competing with de Kock for the No. 6 spot. Dean Elgar remains set to open with Alviro Petersen.

Philander targets new-ball damage

South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander believes the key to succeeding in Sri Lankan conditions lies in picking up wickets while the ball is still new. Philander, on his first Test tour of Sri Lanka, feels that seam bowlers can fetch wickets in spin-friendly surfaces by maintaining a simple off-stump line and making the batsmen play.

"The more damage you can do with the new ball the better," Philander said on Monday in Galle two days before the first Test. "You want batsmen five, six and seven batting against a newish nut. In these conditions you want to be striking with the new ball, our lines upfront need to get the batsmen to play.

"I wouldn't really say that lengths change, its more the line of attack. You need to sit on that off-stump line, and make sure you get the lbw into the game, the wider ball becomes the nick-off. Hopefully we can adjust really quickly and assess conditions accordingly."

Philander said he had recovered from the viral infection that ruled him out of the third ODI in Hambantota on Saturday. If he makes the starting XI, it will be his first Test in the subcontinent. Since his Test debut in 2011, Philander has played the majority of his 23 Tests at home in South Africa and toured England, Australia and New Zealand. He played two Tests in the UAE last year - his first Test series in Asia - where he picked up six wickets in two games.

Spinners have performed well in Galle but Philander was hopeful of getting some swing, given the occasional showers.

"There is a bit of moisture and overhead conditions around which will favour the swing bowlers," he said. "We have to wait and see what the deck looks like tomorrow and on the morning of the Test."

Philander was also confident his team would be able to negate the threat of Sri Lanka's lead spinner Rangana Herath, who has 48 wickets at this ground, the second-highest behind Muttiah Muralitharan (111).

"Spin is always a factor when you come to the subcontinent. That's why they prepare wickets to suit their bowlers," Philander said. "He (Herath) is going to be a big threat, but our batsmen played him quite well in the last one-dayer in Hambantota, so hopefully we can continue to do so. I'd like to see our guys stepping up against the spinners and playing them to the best of their abilities."

Kieswetter facing face surgery

Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter has confirmed he will need to undergo surgery after suffering a serious facial injury while batting against Northamptonshire - but says there will be no lasting damage to his eye.

He tweeted: "Injury update: broken nose and a fractured orbital socket. Surgery is required but thankfully no lasting damage to the eye."

Kieswetter, 26, sustained a fractured cheekbone and broken nose after being hit by a David Willey bouncer during the opening day of Somerset's County Championship match at Wantage Road on Saturday.

Kieswetter, who posted a picture on his Twitter account of the damage caused, with his right eye swollen shut, went to hospital on Sunday for tests where the extent of his injuries were confirmed and on Monday he gave an update to his situation.

Kieswetter was forced to retire hurt against Northamptonshire after a short ball from Willey went through the gap above the grill on the batsman's helmet and struck him flush on the right eye.

It is not known how long Kieswetter will be absent for, with replacement wicketkeeper Alex Barrow taking his place behind the stumps in the current fixture.

Hain century gives Bears control

Durham 62 for 3 trail Warwickshire 472 (Hain 109*, Clarke 54, Hastings 5-94) by 410 runs
Scorecard

Sam Hain scored his second century in seven first-class matches as Warwickshire took a grip over Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Hong Kong-born Hain reached his hundred off 188 balls and remained unbeaten on 109 after enjoying a seventh-wicket stand of 101 with Rikki Clarke in the morning.

Durham's reply was twice interrupted by rain and bad light, cutting 21 overs from the day's allocation, and they struggled against impressive bowling from Keith Barker.

Clarke hit two sixes in one Scott Borthwick over and added seven fours in his classy half-century, made off 71 balls, but departed for 54 when he drove at John Hastings and edged to Phil Mustard.

When Warwickshire resumed on 256 for 5, Hastings had three of the wickets and he struck with the day's 10th ball on his way to figures of 5 for 94.

Tim Ambrose shouldered arms and a ball which barely deviated shaved his off stump, then Hain, still on his overnight 12, survived his one big scare in Hastings' next over. The Australian looked astonished when umpire Steve Gale turned down his lbw appeal but, although some hostile bowling and angry glares followed, Hain remained unperturbed.

There were nine overs to be bowled with the old ball at the outset and it was during that period that Hastings carried the greatest threat.

When Graham Onions took the new ball he conceded 23 runs in six overs and made way for Hastings to return, while Borthwick was tried at the other end. In the legspinner's second over Clarke advanced to drive a six over long-off, then pulled another one in front of midwicket. He was looking in complete command when he got out.

Jeetan Patel confidently stroked 32 off 26 balls before edging a cut to Mustard off Onions, who had one for 121 on his return from a two-month lay-off with back trouble.

Hain was on 82 when he was joined by last man Boyd Rankin and continued to show maturity beyond his years in keeping the strike as much as possible. An upper cut for his 12th four off Onions took Hain to his hundred and in the next over Rankin was lbw to Borthwick, who finished with 3 for 70, his best Championship analysis for over a year.

Chris Wright took the first Durham wicket when Mark Stoneman inside edged a flat-footed drive to be well caught by Ambrose.

After the second break lasted an hour they had to come back out for 12 overs and Barker caused all kind of problems. He swung one past Keaton Jennings' forward defensive stroke to hit off stump then Michael Richardson edged a drive to Clarke at second slip.

Borthwick twice drove Wright handsomely through extra cover in his unbeaten 24 and Gordon Muchall made a confident start in reaching 13.

"Sam Hain showed great concentration," Durham skipper Paul Collingwood said. "We tested him with all sorts, but he came through it. He's a bit like Jonathan Trott with some of his mannerisms.

"It was a tricky decision whether to take the new ball in the morning. The old ball was giving us some reverse swing but when we did take the new one nothing happened.''

Burnout worries after deathly slog

The opening Test ended with the levity of Alastair Cook taking a Test wicket in a match where his captaincy showed encouraging signs but England should be assisted more by their system rather than hindered

Alastair Cook claims his maiden Test wicket

A few years ago, a Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was abandoned and the game re-scheduled for the Recreation Ground a few miles down the road. Despite the ground having fallen into partial disuse - football was played there and goats grazed upon the grass - it still produced a passable Test wicket and an exciting finish.

So a herd of hungry goats produced a better wicket than the monstrosity on which England and India played the first Investec Test at Trent Bridge. The sight of Gary Ballance and Alastair Cook bowling in tandem as five days of cricket proved inadequate to finish even the third innings underlined the futility of this game. The pitch was unbeatable; cricket was the loser.

The match ended in light-hearted manner as Cook indulged himself with a spell of bowling and took the wicket of Ishant Sharma while doing an impression of Bob Willis.

But amid the smiles, there is growing frustration at the obstacles the home team have to endure.

The system is broken. Instead of all facets of the English game pulling in the same direction, the counties are forced to compete to hosts Tests and, having won the right to do so at great expense, are obliged to make the matches last as long as possible in order to maximise tickets and concessionary sales.

Meanwhile, instead of the ECB helping the England team with a manageable schedule and sympathetic pitches, they are instead hampering their ability to perform at their optimum with a relentless schedule designed only to exploit every last pound from broadcast revenue. When you add in the drainage issue, you have a recipe for little other than tedium.

Cricket should not be this way. It is not meant to be primarily a test of perseverance and endurance. Eventually, spectators and players will tire of being fleeced for such poor entertainment. Just as Elvis Presley, who allegedly shot his television after paying for every possible channel and finding there was still "nothing on," found, more does not always equate to better.

And the pitches will go on being awful until someone at the ECB is strong enough to bring the counties and the groundsmen to heel. A better system of allocation and centrally contracted groundsmen would solve many of these problems in an instant.

"That pitch was unique," Cook said diplomatically afterwards. "The only one I can remember that was similar was that Nagpur pitch where we batted out for the draw in 2012.

"Both sides will say you can't read too much into it until we get back to some English conditions where it bounces above knee height. The lads were brilliant. They never once got angry or frustrated about playing India in these conditions.

"The groundsman has put his hand up and said he got it wrong. We asked him a-week-and-a-half ago for a pitch with some pace in it. You're not asking for excessive movement. You just want some pace in it like a good Trent Bridge wicket."

The result stretches England's winless run to nine Tests in succession. While it is nowhere near as long as the bad old days of the 1980s - England went an eye-watering 18 Tests in succession without a win between January 1987 and August 1988 - it is their worst run since 1992-93 when they went 10 Tests in a row without a win.

Yet, between the obvious concerns about the captain's form, another batting collapse, the wicketkeeper's fitness and the ability of Moeen Ali to fulfil the role of lone spinner, there were some encouraging signs in this game for England.

Stuart Broad was impeccable with the ball and impressive with the bat, while James Anderson showed that, given even a hint of assistance from the conditions, he can test a batting line-up that, on the final day at least, appeared timid against the moving ball and under cloudy skies.

Most of all, Cook enjoyed arguably his best game as captain. While his batting form remains a concern - not since May 2013 has he registered a Test score as high as Anderson's here - he fiddled with his field and managed his bowlers impressively in difficult conditions. Many of his problems will melt away once the runs return and, aged 29 and with 25 Test centuries behind him, they surely will.

"I know I need to start scoring runs," Cook admitted. "I haven't done it for a year now and I need to do it. I have to believe that the wheel will turn at some stage. If you suddenly change everything, you are not being true to yourself.

"I've had a couple of chop-ons and been bowled off the thigh pad. It is a testing game and these things happen when you're not in the best of form."

After three Tests on low, slow wickets, England will have only three days to rest and prepare before the next Test starts at Lord's. Anderson and Broad contributed 113 overs in this game and Broad, who left the field an hour before the end, has a long-standing knee problem. Chris Woakes, who was omitted from Warwickshire's Championship team to play Durham on the ECB's order, and Chris Jordan stand by.

Simon Kerrigan will also be withdrawn from Lancashire's game at some stage to ensure he is relatively fresh and could play at Lord's. Moeen has bowled in desperately tough conditions and shown, at times, that he can be a dangerous spinner. But he continues to concede around four-an-over and England may be tempted to trust Kerrigan to give them more control in the field. He is certainly a far better bowler than he showed on his Test debut at The Oval though the pitch at Lord's in unlikely to offer much assistance.

In the longer run, the ECB must look at the conditions in county cricket which are hampering the development of young spinners. Squeezing the first half of the County Championship season into April and May is the most obvious problem, as it allows sides to operate seam-heavy attacks and exploit green pitches.

They may also reflect on the policy of providing new balls to sides after 80 overs, another rule that makes spin increasingly superfluous, and the preponderance of specialist limited-overs 'spinners' who will never threaten in the longer formats.

As with the scheduling and the pitches, the system that is meant to help build a successful England team, is often its greatest impediment. Whoever becomes the ECB's next chief executive - and the likes of Gordon Hollins, Wasim Khan, Steve Elworthy and Richard Gould will be among the most attractive candidates - will have plenty of work ahead of them.

Dhoni pleased with lower-order resistance

Dhoni surprised with conditions

This is the third overseas Test India have failed to close out, out of their last five. This wasn't as clear-cut an opportunity as Johannesburg and Wellington were, but the disappointments are piling up. Before the series began, Ajit Agarkar questioned India's ability to close out Tests away from home; many an Indian fan shares that doubt. However, MS Dhoni, not for the first time, chose to look at the positives, that the team at least got into a position from which they could force a result.

When asked if it was a big disappointment that from a winning position on day three, India went on to rely on Nos 7 and 8 to save the match, Dhoni said: "That's a part and parcel of the game, and it doesn't really matter who has scored runs or taken wickets because at the end of the day it is a team game and you go with the strategy of winning the game. It doesn't really matter if No. 11 is scoring the runs or No. 7 is scoring the runs. Overall, it is important that we have put runs on the board, and we need to defend that. But plenty of positives we can take out of this game."

One of the positives was the partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Stuart Binny when India were just 145 ahead with four wickets in hand and two-and-a-half sessions to go. "That was a very important partnership looking at the game because we were not really safe at that time," Dhoni said. "We had at least half a day's play or more at that stage. Had it not been for that partnership we could have struggled to defend the amount of runs we had scored at that stage. That partnership was much needed.

"The other good thing about that partnership is that not many of our players have the experience of batting under pressure and save a Test match if the need arises. Games like this really gives them the exposure and teaches them what really needed to be done. I feel it is nice that some individuals stood up when the pressure was put on us."

Binny was part of an experiment that meant India were playing only five batsmen outside Asia for the first time under Dhoni's captaincy. He wasn't quick at judging how the move went, although he said the only change he felt with batting at No. 6 was that he had to change into his whites earlier than usual.

"The wicket was not suiting Stuart Binny's kind of bowling," Dhoni said. "Jadeja could use the rough on the wicket, so I was not really forced to give too many overs to Binny. So, overall I though it helped me to keep the bowlers fresh. Though Stuart bowled only 10 overs, I felt it was a good effort from his side. As the series progresses, we will watch him as he is someone who can swing the ball well, and can give rest to the other bowlers, and he will be more effective on pitches that offer some assistance to the bowlers."

The pitch was a soul-sapping patch, which annoyed the hosts no end because of its likeness to Indian surfaces, but Dhoni wasn't happy with it either. "I always said that when you come to a country you want to play on wicket that's the specialty of that country," Dhoni said. "You know, there's no fun in going to India and expecting flat wickets where people can score 200 or 250 runs. But it's very good if you score a hundred on a turning track. When you come out of India, you would like the wicket to be slightly quicker."

Binny's selection does not prove trivial

Why had Stuart Binny been picked in this Test? It was probably not with a match-saving innings in mind, but that's what he produced just when India were threatening to topple apart

Highlights: Binny struck a composed 78 on Test debut to ensure a draw at Trent Bridge

At 3.42pm, Stuart Binny let one Moeen Ali offbreak turn past his inside edge and was given out lbw. Immediately the traffic on the player page of Andy Ganteaume came down. Ganteaume is the only man who was dropped and never picked again after scoring a debut century, although Rodney Redmond had one hundred in one Test but he would have played again barring contact lens problems.

Binny had fallen 22 short of a century on debut after four days of giving the impression India had made a selection error and were playing with 10 men only. It was a century for the taking after the match had been saved and enough time of gentle part-time spin remained, but trivia lovers had to rein in their horses.

At 12.15pm, such trivia was not on anyone's mind. India had somehow managed to get into a position where they were hanging in desperately to save this match. Three specialist batsmen had fallen, and Ravindra Jadeja was batting as if blindfolded with one arm tied behind his back. At effectively 145 for 6, with two-and-a-half sessions to go, India now looked to a man that had been invisible on the field for the first four days. He was brought in to the side to bowl some steady seam and get an extra half batsman in the lower middle order.

Binny played a nervous shot in the first innings to get out for 1, and then looked so innocuous with the ball he bowled only 10 overs in the innings while his role was to bowl 10 in a day. Suddenly he walked in for what the team would have looked at as the most important innings of the Test. Binny was not even playing for his place in the side, for there were no guarantees he would be retained even if he scored a hundred here. He needed to play a team innings. Go on, lad, this could be your last innings; how do you want to be remembered?

Binny might or might not play ever again, but at least he will not be remembered as the selection error in a Test that India made quite a few other errors to lose to England. At various stages India switched off to find themselves trying to save the Test that you would have to play exceptionally poorly to lose.

Binny came in with a mix of nerves and energy. Allowance should be made for the fact that the most incisive spells of James Anderson and Stuart Broad were all but over, but Binny moved positively, showed he could bat, but was also part of two near run-outs. It almost seemed he did not fancy the strike too much at the start of the innings. The first single he took to get off the mark was tight. The next single he took could have been two, but Binny sent Jadeja back. An over later the third he took was a late decision, and Jadeja nearly got run out.

After that, Binny was in, and took the pressure off Jadeja, who had been playing and missing regularly. If Binny is retained, there could be a case for batting him higher in the order. The key part of Binny's innings was the scoring rate and the positive stroke-play. However, it was not based on reckless shots. MS Dhoni's shot to get out - across the line to the first ball bowled by someone other than Anderson or Broad - was reckless and showed clearly he had premeditated to try to hit Liam Plunkett off his rhythm. Binny batted naturally, and was obviously helped along by a flat and slow pitch.

The quality of the innings is hard to tell on such a pitch, but the value of it is obvious. This is only the fourth time out of 17 that India have not begun an England tour with a loss. On the other three occasions India went on to win the series. India will need to improve drastically if they are to keep that pattern going - it will be hard to get such favourable pitches, win the toss, and have good starts in the other Tests of the series - but Binny has - by fulfilling part of his role - made sure it will not be easy to drop him.

It will come down to the conditions at Lord's, and it should also come down to if the team feels Binny could be relied upon on the first four days to provide the main bowlers a break or if the conditions here hampered him in that pursuit.

Even if Binny does not play Test cricket again, it will not be down to attitude. Ganteaume was left out because he allegedly batted too slow despite team instructions and cost West Indies the time they could have used to force a Test win. The team said Ganteaume failed them. Binny, on the other hand, did his team job all right at least on the final day; it was when going for the personal glory that he failed.

Adams enjoys another Lancashire haul

Nottinghamshire 69 for 1 trail Lancashire 225 (Buttler 52, Adams 4-45) by 156 runs
Scorecard

According to all reports this will be Andre Adams' last season at Trent Bridge. The allrounder celebrates his 39th birthday on Thursday and he has apparently decided to retire on his own terms when people are asking him why, rather than why not.

That seems reasonable enough, yet on the evidence of the first day of this game at Aigburth Mick Newell and Chris Read may be wondering whether their veteran's decision is set in granite. They may even be toying with the idea of persuading him to turn out only against Lancashire, should they and Nottinghamshire be in the same division next year.

Statistics make such a bizarre notion seem almost thinkable. Adams' four wickets on Sunday brought his total against Glen Chapple's side to 29 in the last six innings. He claimed the important scalps of Usman Khawaja and Ashwell Prince, both caught by Steven Mullaney in the slip and gully cordon, as the home side stumbled to 45 for 4 in the first session. Adams then returned after tea to have the in-form Tom Smith pouched by Alex Hales for 32 before ending the innings by bowling Simon Kerrigan for a duck.

So far, so very impressive. Adams swung the ball, kept it up to the batsman and earned his rewards. He has clearly recovered from the calf injuries which have blighted his cricket recently. But he also played a significant role in the field, leaping at mid-off to catch Jos Buttler off Harry Gurney for 52 and then diving from a similar position to grab the fine one-handed snare which removed Kyle Hogg and gave Peter Siddle his first wicket on what will be his last appearance of the season for Nottinghamshire.

In and around Adams' displays of skill, the rest of the Nottinghamshire attack offered excellent support and Lancashire's first innings total of 225 looked ever more inadequate as the wicket eased in the evening sunshine. Read was no doubt delighted to have won the toss but such strokes of good fortune are only valuable if they are exploited to the full.

Thus it will have pleased Read to see Luke Fletcher strike the first blow when Andrea Agathangelou nicked the seamer to him in the sixth over of the innings, although some in the crowd were probably still musing on the fact that Agathangelou had been preferred to Alex Davies in the Lancashire side. The visitors' fine first hour or so also included the dismissal of Paul Horton, who edged Gurney to Read when tempted by a delivery which was pushed across him in the time-honoured fashion of left-arm seamers.

The repair work effected by Buttler and Steven Croft in bringing their side into lunch on 81 for 4 could not disguise the damage that had been inflicted by an attack which had made the most of early moisture and morning cloud. Even the flurry of shots on the resumption merely excited the home supporters only to disappoint them when Croft departed for 31, his push at a ball from Fletcher only edging the ball to Hales at second slip.

Six overs after that 80-run stand for the fourth wicket ended, Buttler was also on his way back to the great old pavilion when his rather careless drive only found Adams. His departure for a fifty stylishly made off 84 balls was all the more disappointing given that he had reached his half-century off the previous delivery and that he had done most of the hard work preparatory to making a really major, match-defining contribution.

The rest of Lancashire's innings, notably Chapple's 38 and Smith's 32, was filled with brief entertainments which delayed Nottinghamshire progress without affecting the tenor of the day. The home skipper clipped Samit Patel to James Taylor at midwicket and Smith top-edged an attempted pull off Adams, both dismissals being self-inflicted wounds by a side which has suffered far too many of them this summer.

Indeed, despite being 212 for 7 at tea, Lancashire lost their last three wickets to Adams and Siddle for 12 runs in 25 balls and the home fans were left to hope that their bowlers could make significant inroads in the 24 overs that remained.

It was not to be - and again Lancashire's players had only themselves to blame. Although Hogg had Hales lbw for 8, Mullaney was unbeaten on 48 at close of play, by which time he had been dropped three times. Kabir Ali shelled a dolly on mid-on before Horton could not cling on to a two-handed chance at slip and Hogg failed to hold a tough skier running back from mid-off.

All of which means that it will, as they say, be a big first hour in the morning. For Lancashire, this season, it has often been that way. Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, will reckon they have done the groundwork upon which important victories are often based.

Natural Herb

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Archive

Pathirana stars in opening Sri Lanka A win

Cook's descent into private hell

'I was probably a bit naive' - Ballance

Bowlers allow Dhoni to breathe again

Bowlers take Tallawahs to convincing win

England squander golden opportunity

Rahane quietly bedding in as India's No. 6

Sammy signs with Hobart Hurricanes

Pietersen cameo keeps up Surrey hopes

England hit Jadeja with Level 2 charge

Dhoni implacable on Anderson

Australia call on uncapped Beams

Gurney's cover drive brings Read relief

Madsen, Slater lead strong Derbyshire reply

Ballance enjoying the challenge of No. 3

Wright and Beer earn grand home finish

SA sweat on de Villiers fitness

Philander targets new-ball damage

Kieswetter facing face surgery

Hain century gives Bears control

Burnout worries after deathly slog

Dhoni pleased with lower-order resistance

Binny's selection does not prove trivial

Adams enjoys another Lancashire haul

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