'England must finish the job'
Four years ago, at Lord's, rain and MS Dhoni prevented England from taking a 1-0 lead in a series they went on to lose
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
Four years ago, at Lord's, rain and MS Dhoni prevented England from taking a 1-0 lead in a series they went on to lose. Having taken firm control of the first Test this time, England must not let the opportunity slip, says David Lloyd in the Independent.
More than half the members of this England team – Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Jimmy Anderson and Chris Tremlett, to name names – will, no doubt, recall the frustration they felt in 2007 (and, for sure, remember that the opposition's last batsman, Sree Sreesanth, somehow survived a leg-before appeal as the weather closed in).
How England were to rue those events. They went on to lose the Trent Bridge Test (which became more famous for the jelly beans that the hosts scattered, and which so fired up Zaheer that he bowled out of his skin, than the result). And then with a draw at The Oval, it was India's series.
A thrilling final day is in store and - added to what's happened already - the events will define the essence of Test cricket, says James Lawton in the same newspaper.
Matt Prior has improved considerably as batsman and wicketkeeper, writes Scyld Berry in the Daily Telegraph, and he's given England a good launching pad towards becoming No.1. In the Daily Mail, Nasser Hussain writes Prior's busy approach to his innings helped England gain the ascendancy. Vic Marks agrees in the Guardian.
Injuries to a bunch of players in the same game, as with India in the Lord's Test, might tempt people to argue in favour of subsitutes - like in football - but history has shown the concept is a disaster for both fans and players, writes Simon Briggs in the Daily Telegraph.
Not employing Ishant Sharma when England were reeling at 72 for 5 was probably the turning point on the fourth day, at the end of which England were in complete control, says Simon Hughes, also in the Daily Telegraph.
Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo