Cook's record ton powers England

England 216 for 1 (Cook 136*, Compton 57) trail India 316 (Tendulkar 76, Gambhir 60, Dhoni 52, Panesar 4-90) by 100 runs

Last week, England trounced India on the sort of raging turner MS Dhoni has routinely demanded this season. This week, on the sort of flat track at Eden Gardens where India's batsmen have thrived in the past few years, England delivered a lesson in old-fashioned Test-match batting. The vast opening stand built on the advantage provided by the immaculate bowling on the first day, and by stumps England were at 216 for 1, just 100 behind, and India were looking as flat as the pitch.

The records continued to tumble for Alastair Cook. He now has the most Test centuries for an England batsman, became the youngest batsman to 7000 Test runs, and has five hundreds in five Tests as captain. He also has the most runs by an England captain on an India tour, breaking the 51-year record set by Ted Dexter, who was honoured by the Cricket Association of Bengal at the start of this Test.

Cook was helped by a surface that offered little to the bowlers, a lightning outfield, and by what could prove one of the costliest mistakes of the series - Cheteshwar Pujara, fielding at first slip instead of his usual short leg, had a low chance from Cook but perhaps hindered by the shin pads he had on, couldn't get down in time to clasp it. Cook was on 17 at that stage, and had survived a probing spell from India's quick bowlers.

After that, though, Cook was rarely under pressure. The effortless punches through cover made an appearance, the more powerful cuts were deployed against wide deliveries, and the spinners were attacked early on. In his 151th Test innings, Cook hit only his ninth six, launching R Ashwin, who was again unable to maintain a consistent line and length, over long-on. The sweep was used effectively against the spinners, quick singles were taken, and after a couple of hours of getting properly set, the scoring picked up in the last half hour before tea.

Despite the volume of runs he has made, Cook hasn't made a name as a quick run-getter in Tests, but he scored almost twice as much as his batting partner Nick Compton in their 165-run stand. The dawdling strike-rate didn't bother Compton, who watchfully played out everything thrown at him by the India attack. It was only after he was well set that he brought out some of his strokes, including a down-the-track swipe over Pragyan Ojha's head for six.

With Cook seamlessly taking over the captaincy, and Compton already putting on two 100-plus partnerships for the first wicket, Andrew Strauss has not been missed. Compton brought up his maiden Test half-century with a controlled hook off Ishant Sharma, and with England in command, the only energetic Indians were the ones in the stands entertaining themselves with a series of Mexican waves.

India had been tight with the new ball, hardly giving away anything loose. But as the ball lost its shine, the attack also began to fade. The spinners dropped it short or strayed on leg stump far too often, and the England batsmen regularly took a run after pushing the ball straight to a fielder who was supposed to cut off the single.

Cook cruised to his 23rd Test century, with a paddle-sweep, and Compton also showed his confidence with a field-bisecting on-drive for four to move to 57. The next ball, though, he was adjudged lbw though he seemed to have gloved Ojha while attempting a paddle-sweep. There was no respite for India yet, as Cook continued to find the boundary regularly, and Jonathan Trott coolly moved to an unbeaten 21 as he searched for his first big score of the series.

James Anderson had shown his reverse-swing mastery on the first day, and though India also got the old ball to swerve around a bit, the settled England batsmen weren't troubled by it much. Zaheer Khan's strike-rate for the year ballooned towards 100 (career strike-rate 59.2) and Ishant Sharma, playing his first Test since the Adelaide Test in January, was wicketless again, and his strike-rate this year is now an astonishing 208.

The pair didn't make too much of an impact with the bat either, in the morning. Zaheer, for a change, didn't get out attempting a slog, falling lbw while playing down the wrong line while trying to defend Panesar. It was Ishant, generally seen as a sensible tailender, who was dismissed after failing to get the bat down in time following an uncharacteristically high backlift.

It was left to No. 11 Prgayan Ojha to provide MS Dhoni company, as he added a half-century to his prolific run at Eden Gardens. India were bowled out for 316, at least 100 short of what was considered a good total on a flat track. With Cook still hungry for more, and England's more aggressive batsmen yet to get their chance here, India face another tough day in the field on Friday.

Mumbai memory offers England hope

India's victory in the opening Test in Ahmedabad went perfectly to plan. England capitulated against India's spinners, just as everybody suspected they might, and even Alastair Cook's wonderfully defiant hundred after England followed on had the air of a new Test captain merely delaying the inevitable.
It will all deepen the conviction that India are strong favourites in this four-Test series, poised to avenge their thrashing in England last summer. But Mumbai always has good bounce and urban legend has it that early morning moisture and a final-session sea breeze often keep the seamers interested. England won here in 2006 and, if it was four surprisingly cheap wickets for Shaun Udal's offspin that attracted the attention, India's collapse to 100 all out in their second innings had been sparked by the pace of Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson.

It would be doubly unfortunate for England if they compounded their error in not playing two spinners in Ahmedabad by opting this time for two seamers just when conditions most favoured pace bowling. But as green as the pitch looked on practice day, it is expected to be shaved bare by the start of play. MS Dhoni, unsurprisingly, wants it to spin.

Form guide
India: WWWLL (Completed matches, most recent first)
England: LLDLD
Players to watch
As Sidharth Monga has memorably observed elsewhere, Virender Sehwag would have liked nothing better than to move from 94 Tests to 100 with a six. Instead, he got there in scratchy fashion, with only one half-century in 10 knocks until his career-affirming hundred in Ahmedabad. No Test batsman performs more audaciously or with such an uncluttered method. Attention will be on him even more than usual.
For England, much attention will be focused on Monty Panesar, whose left-arm spin is now seen as their route back into the series. It is hard to imagine a surface in his career that demanded his selection more than Ahmedabad or a time in his career - with tours in the UAE, Sri Lanka and now India - when he should have been more in demand, yet the reality is only three Tests in more than three years and a career that has stalled since the emergence of Graeme Swann.

Pitch and conditions
Will the Test pitch last the course? Three weeks ago Mumbai played Railways on the same surface, encouragement for Sachin Tendulkar, who warmed up with a century, and even more so for India's spinners who can anticipate residual wear.
Team news
England will surely play Panesar alongside Graeme Swann, while there will be a new face in the middle-order, with Ian Bell returning home on paternity leave. Stuart Broad's illness could also open up a fast-bowling position. For the hosts, Umesh Yadav's bad back is likely to hand Ishant Sharma a recall. India's spinners, Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin, can anticipate no let-up in their workload.

India (probable) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Virat Kohli, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Pragyan Ojha, 11 Ishant Sharma

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Nick Compton, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Samit Patel, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Monty Panesar

Stats and trivia
England have never lost more than eight Tests in a calendar year. Already this year they have lost seven - and they have three Tests to play.
Panesar is expected to return to the scene of one of his greatest fielding escapades - in Mumbai six years ago, he badly missed MS Dhoni at long-off, the ball landing several yards away, before catching a similar opportunity in the same spot minutes later.
England won in Mumbai in 2006 to the tune of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire", the dressing room song championed by the captain at the time, Andrew Flintoff.
Harbhajan Singh's 22 wickets at the Wankhede have come at less than 20 runs each.
In the last Test at the Wankhede - India v West Indies last November - the match finished as a draw with scores level, only the second such occasion in Test history.
Quotes
"If it does not turn I can come and criticise once again."
MS Dhoni, India's captain, who criticised the Motera pitch for not turning from the outset, continues his campaign in Mumbai.
"I'm not concerned at the reaction of some players. I am concerned about the last game, and that we learn from that, and I'm concerned that we improve on the field." "
Alastair Cook, England's captain, makes the light of Broad's apparent siege mentality after another defeat on Asian pitches.

No. 10 Abul Hasan's debut ton revives Bangladesh

Bangladesh 365 for 8 (Abul 100*, Mahmudullah 72*, Nasir 52, Edwards 5-81) v West Indies

West Indies bulldozed through the first eight Bangladesh wickets on a flat, low and slow Khulna pitch. In came debutant Abul Hasan, all of 20, and proceeded to do something that had been done only once before in 2059 previous Tests dating back to 1877, by Reggie Duff over a century ago in 1902. Abul, who goes around as a fast bowler, became only the second Test debutant to make a hundred at No. 10. Abul's incredible innings, and his record unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 172 with Mahmudullah, himself on 72, rescued Bangladesh from 193 for 8, and left honours even on day one.

The cluelessness of being a debutant No. 10, if any, was restricted to the first four deliveries of Abul's knock, and a few scattered nervy moments against the second new ball as he approached his hundred. Barring those, the innings was a fresh breeze of audacious boundaries, and sensible defending, which blew the spotlight away from the continuing inadequacies of the specialist Bangladesh batsmen.

He was beaten four successive times at the start by Fidel Edwards, who had come in for the injured Ravi Rampaul to take five wickets before being upstaged by Abul. The fifth delivery was timed neatly down the ground for three runs, and Abul was a changed man thereafter.

Fast bowlers were pulled and driven with panache, a medium-pacer was charged and lofted, spinners were slog-swept and cut, and all of them were defended against solidly. He even ensured a part-timer was taken for runs when he hit Marlon Samuels for three fours in an over. Soon, he was dancing out and heaving Darren Sammy for six over long-off to go past fifty.
It would be an understatement to say the assault left West Indies stunned. Coming towards the end of a hard toil on an unresponsive pitch, it gave them no time to regroup. Every delivery and everyone went for runs. Sammy was caught between going for the remaining two wickets and setting fields to plug the torrent of runs. Abul eventually forced him to set defensive fields.

It was a largely chanceless innings; he was put down once, on 42, at forward short leg off Veerasammy Permaul, who made three attempts at the catch but could not hold on. The second new ball was taken when Abul was on 84. He responded by a couple of blind charges at Edwards' short deliveries, and was fortunate not to get hit.

Abul's recovery against Edwards showed the kind of touch he was in. He coolly made room to a short of a length delivery and punched it past point for four. Some more tense moments against Edwards followed, but Abul broke into a roar after a tuck to leg for two off Sunil Narine, whose returns for this series now stand at 3 for 295.

Mahmudullah's contribution was not far behind. He let the man of the day go about his business, and motored along without fuss. He didn't try to match Abul for spectacle, although he did come close in terms of strokeplay, the highlight being a charge-and-whip off Narine which raced through square leg, and a short-arm controlled pull through midwicket off Edwards.

The ninth-wicket partnership was already Bangladesh's highest, and also the fourth-highest ever in Tests. Not even the staunchest Bangladesh supporters who had filled the stands in Khulna could have hoped for a better opening day's play at Test cricket's latest, and 107th venue, especially after the struggles of the specialist batsmen.

In each of the first two sessions, Bangladesh were jolted early. In each session, they fought back. And in each session, with depressing familiarity, they also gave away whatever ground they had regained. The result was that despite Bangladesh's best batsman, Tamim Iqbal, batting nearly two hours, and Nasir Hossain counter-attacking with a fifty, it was West Indies who dominated.

In Tamim's defence, he had at least fallen trying to preserve his wicket close to lunch. Nasir's brain fade came moments before tea, when he charged at Permaul and lofted him straight to mid-on. Till then, Nasir had batted with the confidence he had shown in Mirpur against the West Indies spinners.

After Edwards had dismissed Shakib Al Hasan and Naeem Islam in successive overs after lunch, Nasir and Mushfiqur Rahim put on 87 for the sixth wicket in quick time. From 98 for 5 to 185 for 5 had been a swift mini-recovery, but even as the crowd's hopes rose and tea beckoned, Nasir blew it.

Proceedings had been similar in the morning. West Indies started with the tactic that had won them the Mirpur Test - a barrage of short balls - but soon realised the pitch had hardly any life for the gambit to sustain for long. Sammy focussed on the old-fashioned and unglamorous strategy of sticking to one line outside off stump, varied his angle, and reaped the rewards. He broke a growing second-wicket stand by removing Shahriar Nafees, and then took the big wicket of Tamim.

Sammy's strikes won West Indies a session that seemed to be slipping away from them. Tamim and Nafees had several close moments against the short ball, with a few fends carrying over the infield, but soon settled down to play the pull effectively.

Edwards, moving the old ball at pace, was in business early in all the three sessions but no one had reckoned for Abul.

Ojha, Pujara secure crushing India win

India 521 for 8 dec (Pujara 206*, Sehwag 117, Swann 5-144) and 80 for 1 (Pujara 41*) beat England 191 (Ojha 5-45) and 406 (Cook 176, Prior 91, Ojha 4-120) by nine wickets

India went 1-0 up in the Test series with three to play when they rolled over England on the final day at Motera, taking the last five wickets by lunch to leave themselves needing only 77 for victory and then gambolling to victory with almost indecent haste in less than 16 overs. India can congratulate themselves on engineering a perfect victory; England must embrace change.

India had to labour long and hard to bowl out England a second time, spending ten-and-a-quarter hours in the field, but when they batted again, it was a breeze as Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara unveiled a succession of unrestrained attacking shots that made a mockery of England's painstaking attempts to save the Test.

Sehwag, a batsman who knows no fear, and who clearly could not care less whether he added a bit of red ink to a formidable Test record, was caught on the boundary trying to hit Graeme Swann for six, but Pujara, whose sterling double hundred in the first innings had been the cornerstone of India's victory, sallied on. He looks to be a formidable young player.

One sublime piece of footwork by Pujara, as he advanced to drive Swann through extra cover, was better than anything produced by England in the Test, a reminder that as staunchly as Cook and Prior resisted, they will need a more enlightened approach in the field and in their selection to force their way back into the series in the final three Tests.

On another still, blue morning in Ahmedabad, Pragyan Ojha claimed the key wickets of Cook and Prior as he found more turn than India's spinners had managed on the previous day. Ojha took 4 for 120, to finish with 9 for 165 in the match.

Cook had organised epic resistance after England had followed on, 330 behind, but India's resolve was reborn after a night's rest and when he was seventh out, beaten by sharp turn and low bounce, the game immediately looked up.

Matt Prior and Cook had joined forces in a sixth-wicket stand which had given England a 10-run lead overnight and stirred tentative hopes among their supporters that they might save the game.

But they added only 16 runs to their overnight score before Prior was out in the 10th over of the morning, pushing too early at a nondescript delivery from Ojha that presumably held on to the surface and offering a simple return catch. They had put on 157 runs in 61 overs.

Cook's innings spanned more than nine hours, one of the greatest rearguard innings ever produced by an England captain, but while it had led England from a sense of despair after their first-innings collapse it looked unlikely to spare them from defeat as, four overs after Prior, he too fell.

Broad's batting has become a liability, the belief that he offers extra depth to England's lower order resting on a reputation no longer backed up by statistics. He provided a second return catch of the morning, a wooden push at Umesh Yadav off the leading edge.

India's anxiety to force victory in a game they had dominated from the outset was evident. As Broad shadow-practised the shot and patted down some damage to the pitch, Ojha, his passions overflowing, sensed that he was trying to damage the surface for England's bowlers and gave him a send-off intense enough for the umpires to intervene to calm things down.

Prior had taken guard outside his crease to nullify the roughest areas and Swann took that to further extremes, standing a good yard beyond the line. India, apparently, were not impressed by the tactic, suspecting foul play and an attempt to make the surface disintegrate.

At eight down, with more than two sessions remaining, England's cause required not just blocking, but something extraordinary. Swann's ambitions were clear when he slog-swept Ojha for six, but a switch hit against R Ashwin had a more calamitous outcome as the ball was too full and his middle stump was flattened. Ashwin, who had taken his first wicket in his 43rd over, on a slow turner that had brought him little sustenance, must have been grateful.

Tim Bresnan, who was lectured by Aleem Dar, the umpire, for running on the pitch, followed in the next over, pushing a driveable ball from Zaheer Khan to short extra. India were almost home.

Sehwag century and Pujara give India control

India 323 for 4 (Pujara 98*, Yuvraj 24*, Swann 4-82) v England

Welcome to India. The greeting came from Virender Sehwag and, this being Sehwag, rather than scatter rose petals on the bed he scattered England fielders in all directions with a buccaneering century which brought a rousing start to the opening Test in Ahmedabad. This being India, where Test cricket no longer draws the crowds, there were only a few thousand in the stadium to watch it.

That England recovered some ground by the close of the first day was almost entirely due to Graeme Swann, who, as their only specialist spinner on a chronically slow surface, bore an onerous responsibility and took all four Indian wickets to fall. In the process he passed Jim Laker as the most successful England offspinner in history. Roughly half of them have been left-handers, an advantage Laker never enjoyed in an era when lefties were in shorter supply.

Only Swann, late in his innings, was able to stem Sehwag's progress as he struck a run-a-ball 117, his first Test century for two years. It was a strange first session, dominated by Sehwag, who was adventuresome but far from explosive. His innings was typically more reliant upon eye than footwork as he manipulated the ball with disdain, drove at an excess of wide deliveries and defended only as an afterthought.

He is a character cricketer in the manner of Chris Gayle or Kevin Pietersen, an unconventional batsman with a commanding presence and a style all of his own and, at 34, especially on low, ponderous pitches such as these, he is not quite done yet.

Swann's wickets served to strengthen the conviction that England had erred in omitting a second specialist spinner in Monty Panesar. This is a virgin surface, of lower clay content and with no time to bed down, which threatens to drive the pace bowlers to distraction and turn sharply as the Test progresses. Doubts about Stuart Broad's fitness will have made England especially reluctant to field only two fast bowlers and they will wave all manner of statistics to support their selection but the evidence of the game was against them.

Swann's success was in strict contrast to the mood elsewhere. The only impression England's pace bowlers made was on the footholds. Anderson was wearing his worried expression, his new-ball spell limited to four overs. Broad stubbornly dug balls into an unsympathetic surface, saw them bounce no higher than the top of the stumps and looked at them quizzically as if he could stare it into behaving differently. Tim Bresnan went at nearly six an over. It was a huge toss for India to win.

By lunch, at slip, Alastair Cook pondered whether his elevation to the Test captaincy really was a good idea after all. By the close, Swann had reminded him that in a four-Test series Sehwag's assault was merely the beginning, but a trial by spin still awaits England.

Gautam Gambhir was Swann's first victim after an opening stand of 134 in 30 overs, bowled trying to fashion one of his high-risk carves through point and beaten by a hint of turn and weary bounce. Sehwag had briefly fallen into contemplative mood in mid-afternoon, as if recovering energy for his next assault, when he was bowled, sweeping.

Swann's third wicket the most remarkable of all, that of Sachin Tendulkar who lofted to deep midwicket in an extraordinarily misconceived manner only a few minutes before tea. Finally, Virat Kohli, who had played circumspectly, was deceived in the flight and bowled through the gate.

Smart stats Virender Sehwag's century is his 23rd in Tests and his 13th in home matches. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid have scored more centuries in India. The century opening stand is the first for India since the Centurion Test in 2010. In 20 innings in between, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir aggregated 605 runs at an average of 30.25. The century opening stand is only the third for India in the match first innings against England. It is also the second century stand between Sehwag and Gambhir in home Tests against England after the 117-run stand in Chennai in 2008. This is the sixth century that Sehwag has scored at a strike rate of 100 or more. In matches since 1990, only Adam Gilchrist has done so more often (7 times). Gambhir has now been dismissed six times by Graeme Swann in six matches. No other bowler has dismissed Gambhir as often as Swann. Swann is now behind only Derek Underwood on the list of most successful England spinners after going past Jim Laker's tally of 193 wickets.

A Gujarati hero emerged for the crowd to applaud. Cheteshwar Pujara, upright and accomplished, was two runs short of his second Test century by the close and looked a convincing replacement for Rahul Dravid in an understated innings, showing a collected manner and good timing. But he needed a let-off on 8 as his gentle leading edge against Bresnan was misjudged by James Anderson, who ran in too far at mid-on.

England spurned three other opportunities. Sehwag was dropped on 80, glancing Anderson, whereupon Matt Prior spilled a difficult chance and Prior also missed a stumping against Gambhir. The most embarrassing drop, though, belonged to Jonathan Trott, who fluffed a slip catch off Swann from Kohli and rolled the ball into the turf before shamelessly claiming the catch in a slightly perplexed manner. The umpires sought replays; for Trott they did not look good.

Gambhir and Sehwag had been an alliance in decline, and fleetingly there were hints of vulnerability, but these were not conditions to ask questions of defensive technique. Gambhir had proclaimed before the match that they were the best opening duo in the country and few would find much cause to question that as India sailed to 120 without loss by lunch. It was their first century opening partnership since India faced South Africa in Centurion in 2010.

Sehwag spoke of playing watchfully,and met by a deep point, he did glide regularly to third man, but his 50 still came in only 45 balls and by lunch he had 79 from 66 with 12 fours and a six. England's pace attack strayed wide too often and runs came at a tempo that Test cricket rarely sees: 50 by the 12th over; 100 by the 20th. Sehwag possessed a hunched, insouciant air that suggested the match was of little consequence and he was just having a bit of a bash.

England calculated that the ball might reverse for Bresnan, as it did as early as the ninth over in a warm-up match on the adjacent B ground, but Bresnan had a dispiriting day, never worse than when Sehwag took him for 4-4-6 in his sixth over, the second boundary, a drag through mid-on against a ball that crept past the fielder verging on the insulting; the six over wide long-on that followed, a full swing at a length ball.

India have never lost a Test at home after beginning with a century stand. That statistic tells England that their chances are already slim. It was all a long way from England's domination of India in English conditions last summer.

Spin the focus in series opener

Match facts
November 15-19, 2012
Start time 09:30 local (04:00 GMT)


Big Picture
To most, if not all, Indian players involved in the 4-0 drubbing that culminated at The Oval last August, the countdown to this Test series would have started long ago. The then No.1 Test team wasn't supposed to be whitewashed and yet it was, in a humiliating manner, prompting Geoff Boycott to comment bluntly that India were playing like Bangladesh in disguise.

The word "revenge" hasn't escaped many ever since. Players like Gautam Gambhir, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli may have stopped short of using the word, but in media interactions over the last year, all three have backed producing rank turners at home to give India a distinct advantage. There's nothing wrong in playing to your strengths, but in this case it can be seen as a defensive ploy, as a quick patch-up job to fix a deep crater in India's recent Test record. It's a similar scenario to the early 90s when, after two poor tours to Australia and South Africa, India ruthlessly unleashed three spinners at home and swept all three Tests against England in 1993. The short-terms gains were obvious, but it couldn't mask the fact that India were still abysmal tourists for more than a decade. India don't tour for a Test series till 2013, but if their overseas record doesn't improve, series wins at home in the interim will be forgotten.

India are unlikely to repeat the tactic in Ahmedabad, as Dhoni said on the eve of the game. Nevertheless, spin will be the focus - not just how the England batsman will fare, but also how India's misfiring line-up can get on top of their own conditions. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are still due for big scores, but won't find it easy against a quality attack which has a world-class spinner in Graeme Swann. Sachin Tendulkar's defence is not as watertight as it used to be. The No. 6 position is still a revolving door and Yuvraj Singh needs time to finally make the position his own. A one-sided turning pitch could make the fast bowlers redundant. Zaheer Khan is a shadow of his former self and it won't do him any good if he is reduced to a containing bowler supporting the spinners. The more India gains out of his experienced hands at the start of the series, the better.

For England, the rude shocks of the UAE Tests against Pakistan and the home series defeat to South Africa still linger. They arrived in India with ample time to fit in three warm-ups, a rarity in an era when most touring teams struggle to fit in even one practice game. That England asked for three, itself shows that they value Test success highly. The Ashes might be the pinnacle, but subcontinent success is a close second. Since 2000, they've had series victories in Sri Lanka and Pakistan but India has eluded them since 1984-85. Still, there was some discontent regarding the quality of opposition in two of those tour games. Spinners were apparently deliberately kept away, so the tourists don't have enough of a sighting once the Tests get underway.

Though they failed to push for a victory even against Haryana and a second-string Mumbai - not the strongest domestic sides - there were positives. Four of their top six scored centuries and some looked to be positive against the turning ball early in the innings by using their feet. Pitches aside, the time spent in India so far would have at least helped acclimatise to the weather.

Form guide
India: WWLLL (Completed matches, most recent first)
England: LDLDW

Players to watch
For all the fuss and drama over Kevin Pietersen's breakdown in relations with England in August, England didn't have his services for only one Test. And they did miss him. Following his Headingley heroics, they headed to Lord's and conceded the series to South Africa. Dhoni said he was "200%" sure Pietersen would return for the India tour. Water has flown under the bridge between him and his team-mates and players say he has been his jovial self all tour. His prowess against spin will be crucial. Rewind to England's Colombo Test in April this year - it was his counter-attacking century that helped England fight back and level the Test series. And he can use his pads with greater freedom, without the threat of DRS at the back of his mind.

England have yet to face India's frontline spinners, R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, with the red ball. They rolled New Zealand over with 18 and 13 wickets respectively in the two-Test series in August and though they may not evoke as much fear as Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in their prime, they can be formidable against the best Test sides in home conditions. Dhoni sees Ashwin as the attacking option, capable of tossing it up and bringing out his variations, and Ojha as the containing bowler capable of restrictive lines. That Ojha was given the new ball against New Zealand shows his captain's faith in him. For England, Ashwin and Ojha represent the unknown elements.

Pitch and conditions
The pitch at Motera was re-laid as recently as September, and contains a greater percentage of sand and a different type of clay (field clay rather than pond clay). It hasn't been tested over a period of time and nobody is quite sure how it will play. Dhoni said it looked dry and will break up as the match progresses, giving the spinners more assistance. From that description, it shouldn't be too different from the typical Indian pitch.

Team news
Ishant Sharma was down with a viral infection and was all but ruled out of contention. Either way, India are unlikely to field three seamers and Zaheer and Umesh Yadav remain the first choice. Yuvraj Singh is expected to bat at No. 6, with Suresh Raina not considered for the first two Tests.

India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Virat Kohli, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Pragyan Ojha

Steven Finn was ruled out after the England management decided not to risk a half-fit fast bowler in testing conditions. However, Stuart Broad is set to play after recovering from a bruised heel, though he has bowled just 10 warm-up overs on tour. Tim Bresnan is likely to replace Finn, but that spot could also go to Monty Panesar, if England choose to go with two spinners. Nick Compton is certain to debut, as Cook's opening partner.

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Nick Compton, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Samit Patel, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Tim Bresnan / Monty Panesar, 10 Graeme Swann 11 James Anderson

Stats and trivia

England are among only two visiting teams to beat India in a Test match at home since 2006, the other being South Africa.

England have played only one Test in Ahmedabad, drawing the game in 2001.

Since 2006, seamers have taken 45 wickets while spinners have accounted for 33 in Ahmedabad.

Quotes
"When we go on the field there will be a red ball and there will be two teams, so you can name it whatever you want."
MS Dhoni when asked if India are looking at this as a 'revenge' series

"What I don't want to change is his confidence, or his swagger when he bats, because that's what has made him such a great player."
Alastair Cook on Kevin Pietersen

Clarke, Cowan and Hussey dominate SA

Australia 4 for 487 (Clarke 218*, Cowan 136, Hussey 86*, Morkel 2-109) lead South Africa 450 by 37 runs

On the same afternoon Australia rejoiced the confirmation of Ed Cowan as a genuine Test opening batsman, their prolific captain Michael Clarke squeezed South Africa with a merciless unbeaten 218* to give his side the psychological and tactical high ground after four days of the first Test.

Graeme Smith's side began the day in search of quick wickets to press for victory in Brisbane, but a first Test century of high accomplishment by Cowan smoothed the path for Clarke and Michael Hussey to run the tourists ragged in the final session. Australia piled up 181 runs after tea to close on 4 for 487, a lead of 37 with another extended day's play to follow.

Clarke's innings grew in command with every hour, and maintained his outstanding record of performance since assuming the national captaincy. His third Test score beyond 200 in 2012 made Clarke one of only three batsman to achieve the feat, joining Sir Donald Bradman and Ricky Ponting. Rare company indeed.

Cowan was considered by some to be under some pressure for his place entering this match, though the national selector John Inverarity had been highly supportive. That faith proved well founded, for Cowan produced exactly the sort of innings the team required. Scoring within his favoured zones and showing sound judgement of when to defend, this was a major step in Cowan's career, and also a poignant achievement a year to the day since the death of his mentor, Peter Roebuck.

Hussey's innings demonstrated how destructive his batting can be when runs are behind him, and in his busy running and pure driving he pushed tiring opponents to their limits. Before the series Inverarity had hoped Hussey was "due" for a strong series against South Africa after several poor ones, and he has made the ideal start.

The defusing of the touring bowlers was a tonic for the rest of Australia's batsmen, and the contempt with which they were treated at the finish by Clarke and Hussey will be sobering for Smith. Rory Kleinveldt and Vernon Philander gave up 19 no-balls between them, the latter's bowling notably nobbled on perhaps the flattest Test surface he has seen on so far. Steyn threatened intermittently, and Morkel's bounce did not diminish, but the employment of Smith and Hashim Amla as modest spinners conveyed a lack of variety in South Africa's attack.

In responding aggressively to a perilous position the night before, Cowan and Clarke had tilted momentum their way even before they emerged on the fourth morning. But they had to fight to build on that advantage early on. After a brief early flurry, runs came steadily rather than swiftly, Cowan pushing singles while Clarke punched a pair of delectable straight drives back past Steyn in between leaving plenty of deliveries wide of off stump.

Cowan had an uncomfortable moment when he cuffed past the stumps and down to the fine leg boundary while trying to leave Steyn, and Clarke was twice the beneficiary of good fortune when his unconvincing attempts at a sort of half-pull shot lobbed into the air but out of the reach of fielders.

Clarke looked ungainly against the short ball on more than one occasion, once taking his eye off a Steyn bouncer and gloving into the space between the stumps and the slips cordon. But he prospered in other areas, playing with a restraint that showed self-awareness of how important his wicket has become for Australia.

As the adjournment ticked closer Cowan reached the outskirts of a century, gaining four runs when the umpire Asad Rauf failed to detect Morkel's bouncer had skimmed straight off the batsman's helmet. He would go to the interval two runs short of a hundred, but happy to wait.

On resumption Cowan did not take long to gather those runs, pulling Philander powerfully to midwicket to pass three figures. His celebration was ebullient, but he also collected himself pointedly at the end of the over, regathering his focus to resume the task. At the other end Clarke had further troubles with the short ball, but unfurled a pair of crisp drives to close on his own century.

He reached the mark with a hurried single to backward point, and raised his bat for the sixth time since becoming Test captain and the second time in as many Gabba Tests. Clarke and Cowan's stand had by this time become the highest for the fourth wicket in all Tests between Australia and South Africa, blunting a visiting attack that had looked so daunting at the start of the innings.

Having seen off the second new ball, Cowan was dropped at fine leg when Steyn's path to the catch was distracted somewhat by Alviro Petersen's convergence. Ultimately Cowan would would not perish at the hand of any bowler. Instead was run-out at the non-striker's end when Steyn deflected a Clarke drive onto the stumps - Cowan's penchant for backing up a long way reducing his chances of getting back in time. That dismissal brought Hussey to the crease, and he had a couple of nervy moments against Morkel before tea arrived.

There would be a few more plays and misses in the final session, but they were rare moments of consolation for South Africa as Hussey and Clarke streaked away. Hussey's cover driving was a particular highlight, while Clarke reached his double century with another pristine straight drive. By the close a draw was the most likely result, but Clarke, Cowan and Hussey had ensured that it will be the South Africans more likely to be sweating.

Advantage South Africa after hosts' top order stumbles

Australia 3 for 111 (Cowan 49*, Morkel 2-25) trail South Africa 450 (Kallis 147, Amla 104, Pattinson 3-93) by 339 runs

Jacques Kallis proved hard to dislodge once again, going on to make 147

A day that meandered through its first two sessions after the fashion of South Africa's batsmen became positively lively as Australia's batsmen first stumbled then counter-attacked against Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

The vulnerability of the Australian top three had been widely noted, and they were guaranteed a torrid introduction to this series from the moment Ben Hilfenhaus deigned to pitch repeatedly short when bowling to his opposite numbers.

Replying to 450, a tally reached with less aggressive intent than might have been expected after the second day was lost completely to rain, Australia were in all kinds of bother at 3 for 40 as Steyn and Morkel took advantage of flawed judgement from David Warner, the debutant Rob Quiney and Ricky Ponting. But the opener Ed Cowan and the captain Michael Clarke then responded to their adverse circumstances with plenty of verve, ensuring an unhappy entry to Test bowling for Rory Kleinveldt and leaving the hosts in better shape at 3 for 111 when stumps arrived.

They had one major reprieve in the day's penultimate over when Cowan's glove tickled a Morkel delivery angled down the leg side from around the wicket. The umpire Asad Rauf was not convinced by South Africa's appeal, and their referral of the decision failed to pass the first hurdle when the third umpire Richard Kettleborough deduced a no-ball. It was a desperately close call, and may yet prove a critical one for Cowan and Australia.

South Africa had earlier had a chance to shut out Australia from the match, but from an imposing 3 for 374, the visitors had lost 6 for 76 in the face of improved bowling. Jacques Kallis' innings was astute and efficient until its final ball, but his departure stripped South Africa of the batsman who struck the best balance between attack and defence. AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph and Vernon Philander all soaked up a lot of balls for few runs, allowing Australia to feel more confident of their bowling even as the tally crept towards 450.

Facing up to a second new ball that had been due since Friday, Hashim Amla and Kallis began carefully, as Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson found a far better length than they had on the first morning. Amla was particularly reserved, but on 99 lashed out at Pattinson and the boundary sliced through gully had him saluting a third hundred against Australia in as many Tests.

Amla's celebration was muted, his intent to go well beyond the century mark, but on 104 Siddle pinned him on the crease with a delivery seaming back. Australia's appeal was beseeching, Rauf's finger was raised, and Amla exited without calling for a review. Had he done so, the decision would have been reversed, as ball tracking showed a path going over the stumps after Amla was struck on the knee roll.

Kallis reached his century by pushing Hilfenhaus through midwicket, and continued to bat with unhurried insouciance. At one point he shaped to avoid a Pattinson bouncer before waving his bat at it as he crouched, but it was a rare lapse. Nathan Lyon delivered a teasing spell in the 45 minutes up to lunch, finding turn as well as bounce, and encouraged Clarke to keep him on for an extended residency through the afternoon.

Kallis' progress to 150 seemed straightforward when the day resumed, until Pattinson extracted some extra bounce to force an airborne forcing stroke that skewed to an alert Rob Quiney at gully. In his next over Pattinson struck again, de Villiers playing another over-eager forcing stroke that was pouched at point by David Warner.

Rudolph and Philander then engaged in a diffident partnership that reaped only 26 runs in a little more than 12 overs, leaving many to wonder what South Africa's innings goal had become. Philander ultimately fenced at Peter Siddle and snicked the first slips catch of the match, before Rudolph was done in the air by Lyon and collected at cover.

Steyn might have joined them in falling lbw, but unlike Amla his decision to refer Rauf's verdict from Hilfenhaus' bowling found the ball passing well over the top of the stumps. His and Morkel's exits after tea followed a lively 15 minutes in which Kleinveldt struck a pair of sixes and Hilfenhaus did his best to discomfort South Africa's spearheads.

He peppered Steyn with short balls, including one that struck him a painful blow on his bowling shoulder. Morkel received similar treatment, and it was soon apparent that this passage had largely served to add fire - if any more was needed - to the South African bowlers.

Presented with a little less than a session to bat, Australia's initial response was poor. Warner never convinced, as he could make very little of his first few deliveries from Philander before pushing at a swift Steyn offering angled across him and edging into the slips cordon. Quiney's first ball brought an unflustered pull shot, but his second brought an edge at catchable height through a vacant fourth slip, and his reluctance to let the ball go was clear.

Morkel was brought on for Philander, and in his first over Quiney hooked unwisely, arrowing a catch to Steyn on the fine leg rope. Steyn tossed the ball in the air while he ensured he would not step over the boundary, and completed the catch before pumping his fist as though the wicket was his own.

Ponting's stay was briefest of all. Pushing out firmly at a Morkel delivery that could have been left alone, he offered a chance happily accepted by Kallis to drop Australia to 3 for 40. It was the sort of scoreline that had threatened to come to pass given the fragility of the hosts' batting, and had Clarke in to face a still-new ball despite his reluctance to expose himself to it at No. 3.

Through this period Australia's major source of sustenance came from Cowan. A target of much speculation before the match, he showed a simple but effective method, leaving the ball well, eschewing front-foot drives and leaning heavily on the pull and cut strokes. He showed a better balance between attack and defence than he managed at times in his first seven Tests, taking a particular liking to Kleinveldt's shortish length, and showed himself capable of matching wits with the bowlers who had so inconvenienced the rest of the top four.

Zaheer, Tendulkar tune up at preparatory camp

At training on Saturday, Sachin Tendulkar seemed in control; the straight pushes were firm

Zaheer Khan exuded purpose and found his rhythm, Sachin Tendulkar's back-foot punch made regular appearances and the India squad seemingly had a fairly satisfactory five hours of practice on day two of their three-day preparatory camp in Mumbai ahead of the England Test series. While the players had practised for a little more than an hour on Friday, today was their first proper workout as a Test side in the nine weeks since the New Zealand series.

Again, like on day one of the camp, all eyes were on Zaheer. Whatever he does on the field is closely scrutinised, such has been his tendency to break down, combined with his importance to India's Test side. Over the years, Zaheer has missed or pulled out during several big series due to injury. He had pulled up sore during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener against Railways last week. On Friday, Zaheer had spent the majority of his time on the massage table. He eventually did bowl for a while but was clearly not extending himself.

These days, it takes him an eternity to warm up. There is a pronounced cautiousness to his stretches and squats as if he is worried when something might snap somewhere in his body. Today, though, with the ball in hand he looked a different man. He started with a few gentle ones before increasing the speed of both his run-up and his deliveries. His focus seemed to be on targeting the angle across the right-hand batsmen. Though he was not unplayable, he tested the batsmen. What was good to see was that he remained intense throughout his spell - and it wasn't a short one. Zaheer bowled for about forty minutes in the first session, and again for a similar period of time after the lunch interval.

Another key player who had been tentative on Friday, Tendulkar, also looked a different man today. He faced the three India fast bowlers - Zaheer, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav - with control, and without too many problems. The leaves were confident, the straight pushes were firm and, soon, the trademark back-foot punches appeared. He stood on his toes to send a rising Ishant delivery through extra cover. He pressed far forward to drive him down the ground. When Ishant moved one in close to off stump, Tendulkar left it safely and nodded towards the bowler in appreciation.

Unlike yesterday when they had batted in the nets, the batsmen played today against proper fields. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir started off, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara and Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh, and Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni. M Vijay, the reserve opener, batted along with the bowlers, who were out in full strength today with Harbhajan Singh joining the squad. Harbhajan came out in the second session, and after a lengthy fielding drill that included slip catching, and bowled to his fellow bowlers.

Pietersen ton completes comeback

England XI 408 for 3 (Pietersen 110, Cook 97, Compton 74, Bell 57*) v Haryana

Kevin Pietersen was in familiar, imperious form against a weak Haryana attack

Kevin Pietersen may have complained that "it isn't easy being me" in the England dressing room, but sometimes it looks preposterously easy to be him on the pitch. Pietersen took another step in his "rehabilitation" by plundering a century of dominance and disdain on the first day of England's warm-up match against Haryana.

In truth, there were never many doubts about Pietersen's on-field contributions to the England cause. He was dropped, after all, having just scored one of the best centuries of his Test career. The problems were more off the pitch. But this innings, as facile as it was, at least showed that Pietersen is in the form and, perhaps more importantly, the frame of mind, to flourish in the Test series ahead. Only time will tell if the cracks in the dressing room are to reappear.

Yet, like preparing to wrestle a tiger by feeding a kitten, the first day of this warm-up match may prove of little value to England ahead of the Test series against India. On a green pitch and against an unusually modest attack, England's top-order - Pietersen in particular - plundered runs with ease. Suffice it to say, the most uncomfortable moment any England batsman experienced was when Ian Bell's chair broke as he was waiting to bat.

But these runs will have brought hollow pleasure to England. While the team management thought they had ensured adequate preparation in agreeing three warm-up games ahead of the first Test, India had other ideas. By providing England with surfaces quite different to those anticipated in the Test series and with opposition some way below international standard, they are, arguably, denying their opposition any meaningful practice. It is a tactic that bears the hallmark of Duncan Fletcher.

While some may bridle at such an approach, it will remain legitimate until the precise details of these warm-up games - the nature of pitches and the quality of opposition - is contractually agreed in advance. At present, while the hospitality and facilities extended to England have been faultless, there is a faint echo of Cambridge United under John Beck, master of gamesmanship, in the Indian approach. It is not meant as a criticism.

The Sardar Patel B Ground in Motera is not a classically beautiful venue. Faintly reminiscent of Garon Park in Southend, but with red kites instead of seagulls, it is a venue most unlikely to be painted by Jocelyn Galsworthy. For much of the day, it seemed the circling kites looked as if they wanted to feast on the bowling, too.

Still, the day was not completely wasted. Pietersen proved his form and frame of mind, Alastair Cook fell three short of what would have been the softest century of his first-class career and Nick Compton compiled a sound half-century that has cemented his position in the team for the first Test. Bell and Jonathan Trott also enjoyed decent time at the crease. All will, at least, go into the Test series having enjoyed match practise in the heat. It is, after all, surely better to score runs against modest opposition than fail to score them.

There was, perhaps, just one warning sign for England. Amit Mishra, the one quality spinner England have faced on the tour to date, only introduced himself into the attack in the 51st over of the innings and struck almost immediately. He beat Nick Compton, prodding forward, with his seventh delivery and, in his sixth over trapped the previously untroubled Trott leg before as he missed a sweep. All rather familiar.

Mishra apart, there was little here to worry England. One of the opening bowlers, Sanjay Budhwar, is a left arm seamer who has not played a first-class game for two years, while the other, Amit Karamvir, was playing just his fourth first-class match. Neither are likely to follow in the footsteps of Haryana's most famous son, Kapil Dev, and go on to represent India. England will not face many bowlers like Chanderpal Saini, a seamer with the physical presence of Janette Krankie, in international cricket, either.

Cook, in particular, stood out. Usually content to pick up his runs from nudges and nurdles, here he struck 18 fours, most of them from glorious drives between extra cover and mid-off. It perhaps says more about the bowling than Cook's form that there were times in this innings when he bore passing resemblance to David Gower. Only a waft off a wide delivery denied him the 40th first-class century of his career.

Compton was less eye-catching but admirably sound. Quick to skip down the pitch to the spinners, he defended positively but showed a willingness to attack when appropriate and brought up his half-century from 88 balls with a pleasing lofted drive for six off Jayant Yadav's off spin. He survived one edge, on 33, but generally looked to have the technique and temperament to prosper in Test cricket. But much sterner tests await.

Bell was, perhaps, the one established batsman in the line-up under just a little bit of pressure. While his first scoring shot, an attempted loft over mid-on, was not completely convincing, he soon found form. Twice he danced down the wicket and drove Mishra for straight sixes and, though he struggled to find his most fluent timing, he became the third man of the day to bring up his half-century with a six over mid-off.

And then there was Pietersen. Asking him to bat against this attack was like asking Noam Chomsky to recite his two-times table. While he was, in theory, dropped on 42 to a sharp caught and bowled chance, Yadav may consider himself fortunate to still have his hand. Pietersen drove, swept, ramped and cut with ease and power that suggests his form and motivation are strong. He looked bored some time before reaching his century, from 86 balls with 14 fours and three sixes, with his second 50 occupying just 32 balls. He was badly missed on 85 by Sachin Rana on the mid-wicket boundary and retired, rehabilitated and ready for the struggle ahead.

Three first-choice bowlers to miss final warm up

Graeme Swann is expected to return in time for the first Test.

Graeme Swann, England's premier spinner, has flown home ahead of the final tour match against Haryana to spend time with his daughter who is unwell. He is expected to return before the first Test on November 15 in Ahmedabad.

"This is a personal matter and we would ask for everyone to give Graeme and his family privacy. We will not be making any further comment at this time," the ECB said in a statement.

The development means England will be without three of their first choice four-man attack in the final warm-up match ahead of the first Test against India with Stuart Broad and Steven Finn both suffering from injury.

Neither Broad or Finn are expected to play in the match against Haryana that starts on Thursday, meaning that, even if they recover in time for the Test that starts on November 15, they will have had very little preparation. Finn, who has a thigh strain, managed just four overs in the first warm-up match before he was forced from the pitch, while Broad, who has a bruised heel, missed the first game and bowled only 10 overs in the second. Finn's injury is thought to be the more serious and he must be considered most unlikely to play in the first Test.

England may also decide to rest James Anderson for the final warm-up match. Anderson, Broad and Finn were expected to play as part of a three-man seam attack in the Test series. With Anderson, who has played in both of the first two matches, the last man standing, his importance to the team has grown even further. England have called-up Surrey fast bowler Stuart Meaker as back-up and it is likely that he will come into the team to play Haryana. Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan are the other seamers with the squad.

"It's unlikely that Broad or Finn will be considered for this game," Graham Gooch, England's batting coach said. "They've both got injuries, and I don't think they're going to be ready for this game.

"With a bruised heel, it is something that can be very annoying and can take time to clear up. You've got to see how it goes each day, whether it gets better with the rest - keep checking it and see how it comes on. There's no other way of going about it really."

There was better news for England in the form of Kevin Pietersen. England were given a day-off on Wednesday, but Pietersen was among three players - Meaker and Samit Patel were the others - to take advantage of some extra batting practise. Certainly Gooch has been impressed by Pietersen's determination to prove his worth upon his return to the team.

With fences mended and differences made up, Pietersen's determination is renewed and his motivation high. "I know Kevin is focused," Gooch said. "I've seen the way he's been practising. A fit and strong Kevin Pietersen is a player to be reckoned with.

"He's looking forward. What's in the past is in the past. The only thing that counts is what's in the future - what he's going to do, how he's going to interact with the team, what sort of performances he's looking to give.

"I don't think it's an issue with Kevin. All the things have been done and dusted. From my conversations with him and from the way he is working, he's looking forward to this tour."

While it is anticipated that England's batsmen will face a trial by spin in India, Gooch is taking nothing for granted against India's seam attack. But as well as preparing batsmen for the cricketing challenges, the England management also prepared them for the noise and hostility they anticipate by playing crowd noise from loudspeakers and the team psychologist, Mark Bawden, occupying the net next to the batsmen and testing their ability to ignore distractions by clapping, appealing and shouting.

"We're not majoring on spin," Gooch said. "That's not the only type of bowling we're going to face. They've got two very good opening bowlers, two out of three from Umesh Yadav, Zaheer Khan or Ishant Sharma, and two spinners.

"Our build-up has gone to plan. People have got runs; there's been some wickets. Some of our players have learned a little bit in the couple of weeks we've been here.

"Nowadays, when you are trying to stimulate players with training, you come up with different ideas. There's a bit of noise there, a little idea to make it slightly different. You're looking to motivate, to push the players to get the very best out of them. You come up with different ideas. It's not a major thing, just something that's a little bit different.

"I think coming to India is one of the greatest challenges. It's a wonderful place to play cricket. The enthusiasm for the game - with the advent of the IPL - has created even more excitement. We know India are a top side in their own country. Not long ago they were rated number one, and you don't do that without putting on consistent performances. But we've come here to win the series; we've not come here to make up the numbers."

While only one new face - probably Nick Compton - is anticipated in the team for the first Test, there is likely to be an opportunity for another specialist batsmen in the second Test with Ian Bell expected to return to England to be present at the birth of his first child.

"It's going to be quite a difficult selection," Gooch said. "Our guys are pretty much all experienced Test players: Alastair Cook; Jonathan Trott; Kevin Pietersen; Ian Bell and Matt Prior. There will be maybe one new face.

"Nick Compton and Joe Root are two very good players, obviously at different levels of their career. One has been in the first-class game for quite a while. Compton has gained experience and found his mark. He has found the way he can score runs and been very successful over the last couple of years for Somerset.

"The other lad is obviously a young, exciting player. He has a good technique from what I've seen - this is the first time I've seen him close up - and he bowls a bit. So it's going to be quite a difficult selection.

"Then you've got Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Samit Patel all bidding for places. But I like competition for places. You want that. You want people to be putting their hand up and saying 'I want that place in the side'."

Sehwag keen to build on Ranji ton

Virender Sehwag, who scored a fighting century for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh on Monday, refused to be drawn into the debate about his form. His innings of 107 - his first century in any form of cricket in 11 months and his first in Ranji Trophy in six years - couldn't prevent Delhi's defeat, but it allayed the doubts over his indifferent form. Sehwag said he was happy to have scored the century and hoped to bat well in the upcoming Test series against England.

"I am happy that I scored 100 against UP. Whether I am back in form or not, is not for me to decide but I thought I played well enough and hope to do well (against England)," he told PTI.

Sehwag, who scored 25 in the first innings, suffered a cut on his ring finger when a chance off Mohammad Kaif flew past him at first slip on the second day. He didn't take the field for the first two sessions on the third day and only came out to bat at No. 6 as Delhi's bid to save the match started faltering. He batted for almost four hours and faced 165 balls during his innings.

Vijay happy to be back M Vijay has been rewarded for his big runs early in the domestic season with a place in the Test squad against England, as the third opener. Vijay hit 266 in the Irani Cup and scored 93 and 155 in the Challenger Trophy, and is now hoping to get a game in the Tests. "I worked really very hard over the last six months. I am happy that it has paid off. Now it is my job to do well for the country whenever I am given the opportunity," he said. "I feel like going out with the bat and start playing."

"My injury forced me to bat in the middle order," he said. "The doctor did not give me local anaesthesia on time. The team management decides [the move to] the middle order and not the player himself.

"My finger is getting better. It's fine at the moment."

There have been concerns over the form of Sehwag and his opening partner, Gautam Gambhir. But Sehwag, like Gambhir, believes they are still the best openers in India, and refused to comment on the selectors' decision to pick two more openers in the squad for England, Ajinkya Rahane and M Vijay.

"Yes, we are [the best opening pair in the country]. The decision [to include two more openers] is taken by the national selectors. They know it well."

Sehwag is also close to a personal milestone. He is just two matches short of becoming only the ninth Indian player to play 100 Tests. "It was my dream to play for my country. Since the time I achieved that, my next dream has been to perform well and play 100 Tests for India. I am very happy that moment is coming soon," he said.

Yuvraj and Harbhajan named in Test squad

As expected, Yuvraj Singh has been named in the squad for the first two Tests against England, starting November 15. Harbhajan Singh was also recalled while Suresh Raina was dropped. M Vijay was included as the third specialist opener in the squad of 15, with Ajinkya Rahane as a middle-order batsman.

The first national selection meeting of the newly-appointed panel, headed by Sandeep Patil at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai, also attended by the captain MS Dhoni, didn't last long. While it was announced earlier that only the first Test squad would be selected, the selectors picked the squad for the first two Tests.

While Yuvraj has proven his fitness for the rigours of Test cricket over the last month after recovering from a germ cell cancer, Harbhajan was selected for his experience and lack of options once Piyush Chawla failed to recover from a thumb injury.

Yuvraj last featured in a Test in November 2011, (against the West Indies in Mumbai). The fact that Raina, who scored a half-century in the second Test against New Zealand in Bangalore, has been replaced by Vijay as the reserve opener clearly indicates that the selectors are looking at Ajinkya Rahane more as a middle-order batsman than as an opening option.

"We have selected three openers, not four," Patil told the BCCI website. "Ajinkya Rahane has been picked as a middle-order batsman. We have tried to provide the captain and the team management with a backup option for all departments. We have an extra spinner, top-order batsman, middle-order batsman and pacer."

India squad for first two Tests MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, M Vijay, Zaheer Khan

Harbhajan, who last played a Test during the 2011 England tour, was included despite an ordinary start to the Ranji Tropy season. He went wicketless in 21 overs in the first innings for Punjab against Hyderabad, but picked up three wickets in the second. Harbhajan was recalled for the World Twenty20, where he turned in a match-winning 4 for 12 against England. He was not considered for Test selection by the previous selection panel following the England tour.

Asked whether the selectors had any specific long-term goal for the team, Patil said "No, we're going match by match and series by series. Every match is going to be important and we want the Indian team to do well in each of those matches. Let's not talk about the season ahead of us but this series against England that is coming up."

The only bone of contention for the selectors was to check Zaheer Khan's fitness status. The left-arm seamer had left the field with discomfort on Monday during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy game against Railways and underwent a fitness test. Minutes after the National Cricket Academy physiotherapist Ashish Kaushik submitted his report to the selection panel, the selectors finalised the squad.

Bairstow digs in for England

England XI 338 for 5 (Bairstow 118, Morgan 76, Patel 59*) v Mumbai A

Jonny Bairstow made optimum use of his first outing on England's tour of India as his century coupled with a 156-run stand for the fifth wicket resurrected the England innings and helped the visitors end the opening day at 338 for 6 against a mediocre Mumbai A bowling attack at the Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Though Bairstow, Morgan and Samit Patel managed to get valuable game practice, a revamped England XI - with five changes from the team that took on India A earlier this week - was deprived of facing quality spin yet again as the second-string Mumbai team management seemed to have taken a cue from the national selectors' policy of not including a specialist spinner in the team. While the national selectors hadn't included one for the game at the Brabourne Stadium, the only specialist spinner in the Mumbai A squad, Sagar Gorivale, served drinks all through the day instead of bowling on a wicket that had a tinge of grass.

So it didn't come as surprise that bulk of the bowling load was shared by pace bowlers. On a day that saw the Mumbai A failing short by three overs, only 23 were bowled by part-time offspin of newly married Shikhar Dhawan, Suryakumar Yadav and Nikhil Patil (Jr).

The wicket did assist seam bowlers early on and the Mumbai A bowling attack, led by Kshemal Waingankar who had 11 first-class caps before coming into the game, troubled both the England openers vying for the slot vacated by Andrew Strauss. While Joe Root, replacing captain Alastair Cook, survived the first session, Nick Compton failed to make a mark for the second successive time.

Compton, who failed to open his account against India A, saw his off stump being uprooted by Waingankar, who had dismissed five England batsmen in a one-day warm-up game four years ago, off the first ball of the fifth over.

While Root preferred to guard his wicket, Jonathan Trott timed the ball sweetly ever since he took guard. Having driven Shardul Thakur and Javed Khan, both right-arm medium pacers, through covers, Trott seemed to be set to better his 59 against India A at the Brabourne.

However, Trott's attempt to drive one from Khan that was slightly short of a length after spending a little over an hour at the wicket failed and he could only managed to nick it straight into wicketkeeper Sufiyan Shaikh's hands. And that set the loudest cheer from the scant crowd at the stadium that was hosting its maiden first-class game. Not because the handful of spectators, dominated by students as the stadium is situated in the premises of a university, were happy to see the back of Trott but in anticipation of Kevin Pietersen's arrival at the crease.

Not many were aware that Pietersen was rested along with Cook, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann and the injured Steven Finn for the game. In walked Ian Bell but even before getting his eye in, edged one from Waingankar during the bowler's second spell into Sufiyan's waiting gloves.

As if it wasn't enough to have been reduced to 64 for 3 in the opening session, Root, who appeared to be compact against pacers, glided par-timer Yadav straight into Nikhil Patil's hands at forward short leg at the stroke of lunch.

With 66 for 4, England were in danger of being bundled out cheaply. As a result, it didn't come as a surprise that Morgan and Bairstow curbed their instincts in the second session and focused more on saving their wickets rather than trying to score freely. But once they grew in confidence and the pace troika started feeling the heat, the scoring rate was on the rise in the second half of the day's play.

"It was pretty good to spend so much time at the crease and score the runs," Bairstow said. "There is a massive amount of competition in the England middle order and at the end of the only eleven people can go out there. Hopefully scoring these runs in the warm-up games will push me for a place in that side.

"I think I am targeting the first Test as well. Without doubt anyone would like to be among the eleven guys representing England. I will keep working hard and hopefully score some runs in the next warm-up game as well and if not selected I will still work hard in the nets."

The drives and the cuts and the flicks started coming at will after tea but Morgan was trapped by a Thakur yorker against the run of the play to end the 156-run association for the fifth wicket. But Samit Patel carried on from where he had left against India A and with Bairstow coming into his elements, boundaries were on the rise.

Bairstow, who will be keeping wickets in Prior's absence, completed his eighth first-class century with a square cut off Waingankar that fetched him his 12th boundary. Although England would have liked both the aggressive batsmen to take guard on the second morning, with 15 minutes remaining for the close of play, Bairstow edged Khan to Dhawan in the slip cordon.

Cook resists after wicket-burst

India A 369 v England XI 203/4

Abhinav, Tiwary make it India A's day

India A 369 for 9 (Tiwary 93, Abhinav 73, Bresnan 3-59, Swann 3-90) v England XI

Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann took three wickets apiece to help England XI cut through India A's top order on day one of the tour match in Mumbai, but it was still the hosts' day. Firstly, fast bowler Steven Finn experienced a niggle in his right thigh, for which he required a scan, and then India A forged a comeback led by a determined Manoj Tiwary. They ended the day on 369 for 9, with the last pairing of Vinay Kumar and Parvinder Awana knocking off quick runs.

Finn felt a pain in his thigh while chasing a ball within the first hour of play at the Brabourne Stadium, after bowling just four overs. Being a bowler down, however, didn't prevent England's bowlers from leaving India in some trouble at 190 for 6. India scored rather quickly all through, with opener Abhinav Mukund and Yuvraj Singh, getting to half-centuries, but none of the batsmen could kick on. It needed a 110-run seventh-wicket partnership between Tiwary and Irfan Pathan to lift them to a competitive score.

After choosing to bat on a greenish pitch, India lost opener M Vijay early through a run-out; Bresnan effected the run-out and followed it up with the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane for 4. But the other opener, Abhinav, did not back down, scoring 73 off 83 deliveries with 16 boundaries.

At 57 for 2, he was joined by Yuvraj. After being dropped first ball by the square-leg fielder, Yuvraj stuck around, sharing a 56-run stand with Abhinav. Once Abhinav fell - rather unluckily caught by Ian Bell at short leg while flicking - Suresh Raina could not make his chance count. When wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha departed in the 47th over, India had slipped to 190 for 6.

Then Tiwary and No. 8 Irfan began the repair work. They batted for 28 overs, carrying their team to 300 before Irfan fell four short of his half-century. Offspinner Swann had by then taken three wickets.

Tiwary batted differently to Abhinav; while he did play some fluent strokes, he was disciplined and patient, willing to bide his time. Four overs before close of play, Bresnan removed Tiwary, as he played over a yorker. Bresnan got No.10 Ashok Dinda off the very next delivery, but the last pair went on to add 22 and make sure England XI would have to come out again on day two.

England will play two more warm-up games after this one, against Mumbai A and - it was confirmed on Tuesday - Haryana, before the first Test begins in Ahmedabad on November 15.

Sydney maul Lions to take title

Sydney Sixers 124 for 0 (Lumb 82*, Haddin 37*) beat Lions 121 (Symes 51, Hazlewood 3-22, McCullum 3-24) by 10 wickets


The groundsman, the commentators, the general manager who played at the Wanderers on March 12, 2006, all spoke about the resemblance of the pitch to the 438 game, but the way the Lions started it took major rebuilding to go past 38. Seemingly surprised by Sydney Sixers' spin with new ball from both ends, the Lions batsmen played some average shots to be reduced to 9 for 4, and the little chance that Jean Symes' maiden T20 fifty provided them slipped through their palms with the drops of both the Sydney openers.

This was the second Champions League T20 title for a team from New South Wales; current champions Brad Haddin, Steve O'Keefe, Moises Henriques, Steve Smith and Ben Rohrer were part of the winning NSW squad in 2009 too. Like the previous final, Haddin almost missed this one with an injured thumb, but not only was he spot on with the call at the toss, he spun a rabbit out of his hat after putting Lions in.

Sixers' three fast bowlers could one day form the Australia Test attack, they have been the talk of the tournament, but they opened with two spinners on a pitch that reminded Stuart Clark of his six-over-54-run nightmare at the same venue six years ago. Nathan McCullum, who wasn't called upon to bowl and scored a golden duck in the semi-final, was to perform the opening act of the big night. And it seemed the tournament would get worse for him when Gulam Bodi lofted the third ball of the match over long-on.

Then the leading run-getter of the tournament, Bodi, didn't pause for a breath, and top-edged the next ball straight to deep square leg. A little more meat behind the mis-hit, and it might have travelled all the way in the rarefied Highveld air, and McCullum would have been 13 runs down. As it turned out, it was to be the night of the man from southern New Zealand playing for a southern Australian state.

The rest of the Lions top order then, seemingly over-reaching on the flat track, played some ordinary shots. Quinton de Kock and Neil McKenzie swiped across the line for top edges, and continuing with the momentum O'Keefe snared captain Alviro Petersen with one that turned across him. Symes then put up a lesson for his mates. His hitting through the line and along the ground showed the pitch was flat as expected, and that the shot selection hadn't been spot on.

After the promotion of Sohail Tanvir flopped to make it 32 for 5, Symes added 41 with the hit-and-miss Thami Tsolekile and 38 with the big-hitting Dwaine Pretorius. During the second of those partnerships, Sixers began to make a few mistakes in the field, but Rohrer roared back with a direct hit from point to run Pretorius out. That was Lions' final slide as they lost their last four wickets for 10.

The injured Haddin came out to open with Michael Lumb, and they were cautious against Sohail Tanvir and Dirk Nannes, reaching only 23 after five overs. At the first sight of spin, Lumb tried to break free, but Bodi dropped him at long-off. In the next over, it was Haddin's turn to be dropped, by Pretorius at deep square leg. There wasn't to be a third chance. Just to rub it in, though, Lumb overtook the man who dropped him, Bodi, as the leading run-scorer of the tournament. Mitchell Starc led the wickets tally to make it a clean sweep for Sixers.

Scorchers out, Delhi take low-scorer

Delhi Daredevils 123 for 7 (Sehwag 52) beat Perth Scorchers 121 for 5 (S Marsh 39, Morkel 3-19) by three wickets

The clouds hung heavy over Newlands but the rain that has blighted much of this Champions League Twenty20 stayed away, allowing a tight and intense encounter that ended with Delhi Daredevils moving top of the group. The headliner for Daredevils was the much-maligned Ajit Agarkar, who took two big wickets before coolly finishing off the game with the bat.

Though Perth Scorchers were eliminated after this defeat, they showed typical Australian tenaciousness to take the match to the final over. On a track where it was tough for the batsmen to time the ball, Scorchers could run up only 121, a score which is rarely defended in Twenty20 cricket and which looked even smaller given the heavyweights in the Daredevils batting. The heads didn't drop, however, and they steadily chipped away at the Daredevils.

Their appetite for a scrap was highlighted by Nathan Rimmington. In the 15th over, Virender Sehwag, nearing a half-century and the last big-name batsman remaining, slashed a chance to third man, where Rimmington fluffed the catch, and for a six too. In a low-scoring match, that seemed the slip that would seal Scorchers' fate. Instead, Rimmington hit back by removing Irfan Pathan off the very next delivery, and then getting the critical wicket of Sehwag three balls later.

That set up a tense finale. Naman Ojha, the last recognised batsman, put away a short delivery from Brad Hogg for four, but was otherwise ill at ease. He nicked a jaffa from Nathan Coulter-Nile to the keeper in the 18th over but wasn't given out, though two balls later he edged it once more, and this time there was no need for the umpire to even raise his finger as the deviation was so clear.

Three wickets in hand, and 17 to get off the final two overs on a difficult track. Not a problem for Agarkar, who carved an inside-out lofted off drive for four in the penultimate over, before crashing a low full toss for four on the first ball of the final over to ease Daredevils towards victory.

The trickiness of the pitch was shown by Sehwag's scoring pattern. Usually a batsman who loves the boundaries, and isn't the keenest between the wickets, Sehwag had to run 30 of his 52 and was regularly looking for the quick single, instead of the massive hit out of the park. He was the only one of the Daredevils batting stars to get to double-digits: Mahela Jayawardene guided a half-volley to short fine leg, Ross Taylor missed a straighter one from Michael Beer and Kevin Pietersen miscued to backward point.

Daredevils' other overseas player, Morne Morkel, was at his best, though, as were the rest of their four-pronged pace attack. After Morkel bowled Herschelle Gibbs in the first over, Shaun Marsh and Simon Katich re-built the innings with a 73-run stand. They could step up the pace, though, and just as they looked to open out, Agarkar removed both to suck the momentum midway through the innings.

Morkel, Daredevils' bowler of the tournament in the IPL, then returned to inflict more damage. The highlight was the 19th over, when with Scorchers looking to swing at everything, he conceded just a single and dismissed the dangerous Mitchell Marsh.

Despite the batting letdown, Scorchers gave it their all but couldn't dent the chances of the only IPL team still alive in the tournament.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP Last 5 overs NB/Wides Perth Scorchers 53 10 1 34/1 32/2 0/4 Delhi Daredevils 45 9 1 38/2 29/1 0/9

ICC World T20 Rankings on 6/10/2012

All-round Windies crush Australia

Starved of the strike at first then hampered by a muscle strain, Chris Gayle led West Indies to a lofty 205 for 4 against an increasingly bedraggled Australia in the second semi-final of the World Twenty20 at Premadasa Stadium. Taking their time early, West Indies gathered greater momentum with each over, and ended the innings on a murderous note as Xavier Doherty's final over went for 25.

Kieron Pollard did most of the damage in that final over, but the importance of Gayle's innings could not be underestimated. He was careful in his stroke choices, aggressive but not indiscriminate, and formed a trio of key partnerships with Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo and Pollard.

Mitchell Starc again bowled intelligently and Pat Cummins delivered one of his better spells of the tournament. But Shane Watson delivered his first wicket-less stint of the event, and the spinners Brad Hogg and Xavier Doherty were unable to capitalise on a powdery surface. Doherty was a curious choice by the captain George Bailey for the final over after his first two overs went for 23.

Batting first on a surface that promised to be at least somewhat more amenable to batsmen than that for the first semi-final, West Indies made a sedate start. Gayle began carefully, wary of the new-ball swing on offer for Starc, and watched from the other end as Johnson Charles heaved without foot movement and edged behind.

The non-striker's end was the vantage point from which Gayle watched an inordinate amount of deliveries, as Australia's bowlers and fielders did their best to keep him away from the batting crease. His brief encounters with Doherty were satisfying enough, but Hogg was a little more successful in keeping the runs down with his indecipherable googlies.

By the time 10 overs had elapsed, Gayle had faced only 18 balls, while Samuels and Bravo, chosen ahead of his brother Darren, took a greater share. Samuels managed a quartet of clean blows before being outsmarted by Cummins and bowled by a slower ball. Bravo soaked up plenty of dot balls but summoned a six whenever he was becalmed.

Australia's sloppiness also helped West Indies keep the momentum. Matthew Wade missed a full toss to allow four byes, Starc swung one delivery down the leg side for five wides, and the recalled David Hussey allowed a bouncing shot to burst through his hands on the boundary.

The innings still required a supercharge, and it arrived in the 15th over, delivered by David Hussey. Gayle sent one delivery into the stratosphere, and pinched two more boundaries for the over which fetched 19. In the next, Bravo crunched a steepling six but perished to a flatter hit next ball, the partnership ending at 83 from 51 balls.

Pollard offered sound support in the closing overs, as Gayle finally enjoyed a greater share of the strike, though he was by this time clearly hampered by an apparent abdominal strain. It mattered little in the final over, however, as Gayle slammed a full toss for six first ball then left Pollard to collar three more. Pollard's dismissal from the final ball of the innings was scant consolation for Doherty.