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James Anderson produced a superb piece of bowling to remove Rahul Dravid
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Unexpected turn of events cropped up everywhere on the second day at
Lord's. When the ground resembled a lake shortly after midday any play
appeared a remote possibility but, after the drainage system worked
its magic, the Test took a dramatic twist as India sparked a collapse
of 6 for 26. However, England's green attack more than held their
own, with James Anderson removing Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar
while Chris Tremlett impressed on debut.
For those spectators who hung around during the morning monsoon the
action was worth the wait. Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth did the bulk of
the damage as England's innings, which resumed on a healthy 268 for 4,
subsided in less than 11 overs. Although it was a rapid slide, there
was still time for some controversy involving Kevin Pietersen, who
walked for an edge to MS Dhoni before turning around halfway back to
the pavilion after Steve Bucknor asked Simon Taufel whether the
ball carried. TV replays reprieved Pietersen but two balls later another edge brought his downfall and India burst through.
The bowlers continued to hold sway when India replied with Ryan
Sidebottom striking back for England, trapping Dinesh Karthik
lbw after troubling him with swing. He should have removed Wasim
Jaffer in his second over but Matt Prior went one-handed to an
outside edge and shelled the chance in front of first slip. Jaffer was
on one at the time and he carefully held India together with a watchfully
constructive half-century.
It was a distinctly old-fashioned innings and, after passing fifty from
100 balls, he made eight from his next 56. The pressure created by
Tremlett and some clever field settings resulted in his downfall - a
leading edge back to the bowler who moved well for someone so injury prone and held the catch low in his follow-through.
Dravid, on the ground where he made his debut in 1996, was removed by
a perfect outswinger from the impressive Anderson as England lifted
their spirits before tea. Anderson is in his first Test since January
at Sydney and produced his most consistent display in England colours for
a long time. He probed with his late swing, maintained decent pace
and deserved the scalp of Tendulkar, who was trapped by the inswinger
which Anderson has spent a lot of time perfecting with Lancashire.

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Sreesanth was impressive with his swing as England collapsed
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Tendulkar registered his best Test score at Lord's but was still a
long way short of putting his name on the honours board. He began
cautiously as Tremlett produced an encouraging first spell in Test
cricket but was beginning to increase his tempo when he was caught on
the crease by Anderson. The third of India's big three, Sourav
Ganguly, survived until the end although he came close to finding
gully with a cut shot that Ian Bell couldn't leap high enough to catch.
Whereas England chipped away the Indian bowling display was as
dramatic as the thunderstorm that crashed over Lord's earlier in the
day. Another amazing mopping-up operation by the Lord's ground staff
again showed the value of the drainage system as on most other grounds
there would have been no chance of play.
There was a noticeable bounce in India's step as RP Singh cleaned up
Sidebottom, the nightwatchman, in the first over with the new ball
before the extraordinary passage of play involving Pietersen. After
India's disappointment turned to ecstasy in the space of a few moments
there was no stopping them as Zaheer and Sreesanth were a combination
transformed from the poor opening-day effort.
With Prior at No.8 because of the nightwatchman, England's batting was
deep but India continued their resurgence through a double-wicket
maiden from Sreesanth. He trapped Prior playing across the line and,
three balls later, had Tremlett stone dead for a duck. Monty Panesar
fell in similar circumstances, caught on the crease as the ball swung
back late into the pads. Sreesanth produced the late swing that had
made him a threat in South Africa last year and all the Indian bowlers
had learnt from their failings on the first day.
During the collapse Bell watched from the other end, unable to do much
for England's cause. Everything had appeared much rosier when he
caressed his first delivery straight down the ground but he completed
the rapid demise by chopping Zaheer into his stumps. England
brushed themselves down, though, and an inexperienced attack performed above
expectations to set up a fascinating weekend.
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer on Cricinfo