Indian Cricket Team Updates

Ian Bell (167) made his third score in excess of 150 against India. He now shares the English record of most 150+ scores against India with Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook. (Also Read:  Report: England vs India, 3rd Investec Test - Day 2 ) Ian Bell, on 99, completed his 7,000 Test runs. He became 11th Englishman to do so. Gary Ballance (156) made his highest Test score, beating 110 also against India at Lord’s. Jos Buttler’s strike-rate of 102.40 (85 off 83 balls) is the second highest for a debutant in an innings of 80 or more. Only Shikhar Dhawan managed a higher strike-rate: 107.47 (187 off 174 balls) vs Australia at Mohali in 2012-13. Buttler’s innings is the highest by a wicketkeeper on Test debut against India, beating West Indies’ Desmond Lewis’ 81* at Georgetown in 1970-71. England’s 569 for seven declared provided the 45th instance of a side scoring 500 against India in first innings of a Test. Only once have India managed to win a Test out of 44 previous instances....

England were firmly in control of the third Test at the end of Day 2 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Monday. Alastair Cook declared the England innings at 569 for 7 after Ian Bell scored 167 and debutant Jos Buttler slammed a quickfire 85, while Gary Ballance reached his highest Test score of 156. (Also Read:  Stats Highlights: England vs India, 3rd Investec Test - Day 2 ) Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the most successful bowler in trying conditions with three wickets as the others toiled in vain. In reply, India were 25 for 1 after Dhawan (6) fell early once again to his nemesis James Anderson. Murali Vijay (11) and Cheteshwar Pujara (4) were at the crease with India trailing England by 544 runs in the first innings. The second day too belonged to England as Ian Bell ensured that the hosts capitalised on the platform he had helped lay with the top-order batsmen. After the departure of Gary Ballance for 156, the stylish No 4 batsman took over reins to help England post a for...

This is the first Test to start on a Sunday in England. The break-up of starting days of Test matches: Friday-669, Thursday-660, Saturday-340, Wednesday-200, Monday-100, Tuesday-95 and Sunday-68.  Pankaj Singh became 282nd player to represent India in Test matches. He is the first Rajasthan player to play for India since Parthasarathy Sharma who played five Tests between 1974 and 1977. (Also Read:  I never gave up on my Test dream: Pankaj Singh ) Jos Butler became 665th player to represent England in Test matches. He is set to become 66th player to don wicketkeeping gloves for England. (Also Read:  Report: England vs India, 3rd Investec Test - Day 1 ) MS Dhoni was leading India for the seventh time in a Test in England- most by an India. He went ahead of Ajit Wadekar and Mohammad Azharuddin’s tally of six Tests. Alastair Cook was also leading England for the seventh time against India, equalling Nasser Hussain’s record. Only four players made their Test debu...

England were comfortably placed on 247/2 at stumps on Day 1 of the third Test against India in Southampton. Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance had put the hosts in a position of advantage with a 158-run stand for the second wicket at the end of day’s play. (Also Read:  Stats Highlights: England vs India, 3rd Investec Test - Day 1 ) While Ballance posted a watchful hundred, Cook capitalised on the reprieve he had received when he was batting on 15 and made 95 to end his poor run with the bat. When play ended on Sunday evening, Ballance was batting on 104 with Ian Bell on 16.  (Also Read:  I never gave up on my Test dream: Pankaj Singh ) Earlier, on a sunny morning at The Rose Bowl, Cook opted to bat and came out to kick off the day’s proceedings with Robson. India were without the services of Ishant Sharma owing to an injury and his replacement Pankaj Singh created the first opportunity for a breakthrough for the tourists. The debutant, coming in first change after a ...

Alastair Cook’s catch to dismiss Mohammed Shami was his 100th in Test cricket. He became seventh Englishman and 31st fielder overall to do so. (Also Read: Report: England vs India, 2nd Investec Test - Day 2 ) Incidentally only Graham Gooch (110) has taken more Tests than Cook (106) among all England fielders to reach 100-catch mark. India’s total of 295 is their highest while batting in first innings of a Lord’s Test. The previous highest was 235 in 1952. Alastair Cook has now played 26 innings without reaching the three-figure mark even once. This is one of the worst streaks by an English captain (top-order batsman). Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the leading wicket-keeper in India-England Tests when he caught Sam Robson off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He moved ahead of Alan Knott’s tally of 54 dismissals. By the end of day, Dhoni extended his dismissal-tally to 56. Incidentally Dhoni’s 56 dismissals against England are the second most by an Indian wicket-keeper aga...

Gary Ballance helped England to 219/6 with a carefully compiled 110 after Bhuvneshwar Kumar had left them reeling on 70/3. (Also Read: Stats Highlights: England vs India, 2nd Investec Test - Day 2 ) The lone spinner in Ravindra Jadeja claimed Joe Root in the later part of the post-Lunch session. While the England top-order crumbled, Ballance dropped anchor after a shaky start and fought to keep the team in fray. The left-hand batsman formed an alliance with Moeen Ali for 98 runs en route his timely century. (Also Read: Best bowling day as group: Bhuvneshwar Kumar ) At stumps on Day 2, England were trailing by 76 runs with Liam Plunkett (4*) and Matt Prior (2*) at the crease.   Earlier, after ending India’s last wicket stand on the tenth ball of the morning, Alastair Cook and Sam Robson took guard in England’s first essay. In a long and impactful spell, Bhuvneshwar claimed both the openers to finish with figures of 2/17 in the morning session. India’s new ball bowlers us...

England were trailing by 105 runs with a wicket in hand at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test at Trent Bridge. Although Sam Robson and Gary Ballance denied India a wicket in the first session, Ishant Sharma led England’s downfall in the second session. The pacer claimed three wickets in the second session to bring the visitors back in the game. Mohammed Shami then chipped in with a wicket while Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked two as the trio wrecked the hosts’ middle-order in the session. However in the final session of the day, Joe Root dropped anchor to keep England in the game and was ably supported by Stuart Broad (47) and James Anderson in the effort. (Also Read:  Stats Highlights: England vs India, 1st Investec Test - Day 3 ) When play ended on the third day, Root (78*) and James Anderson (23*) had taken England to 352 for nine to keep the match hanging in balance. The pair had denied India an opportunity to bat again with an unbeaten 54-run stand for the tenth wicket.  ...