India's batting capitulation continued in the Southampton Test as chasing a stiff 445 to win, the visitors were reeling at 112/4 at stumps on Day 4 - leaving England within striking distance of a series-levelling victory on the final day.Riding on James Anderson's 5 for 53, England didn't take time to wrap up the Indian first innings at 330 on the fourth morning, which gave them a gigantic 239-run first-innings lead.Alastair Cook then decided not to enforce the follow-on and led England's brisk second innings with a knock of 70*, well supported by Joe Root's 56, to take England to 205 for 4 declared for a lead of 444 runs.
The image is of a much-improved England, and Cook's first words uttered in public after victory were the most comfortable he's been in weeks. Asked if he was relieved that England had bucked their woeful trend, Cook said he was more "happy" than anything else. "It was a great performance. We didn't lose a session and that's credit to the guys. People stood out, every single member of the XI contributed to a great win," he said. "Fantastic crowd. The support received here, especially walking out on Sunday ... that was a reception I will never, ever forget. Thank you, Southampton."
Southampton can thank England, too. They have outplayed India in every session of this Test. They have done it without the support of their freshest pair of fast bowlers, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, and with a debutant wicketkeeper-batsman who earlier this summer said he was not ready to play Test cricket. They did it against the backdrop of ten matches without a defeat, harsh criticism of their out-of-form captain, the self-imposed exit from Matt Prior, Ian Bell's poor form, a niggle to Liam Plunkett and the frustration of youngsters like Ben Stokes failing miserably to match expectations and potential. At Ageas Bowl, refreshingly, there was a more collective push. Two big innings, some crucial fireworks to bat India out, and some fine catching. Twelve wickets taken behind the wicket or in the slips cordon, including the run out of Murali Vijay on Wednesday, are a testament to the pressure that England exerted. They bossed this match from toss to finish. Of the batsmen, it is Gary Ballance - he is a player transformed from the rabbit on show in Australia in January - and Ian Bell who caught the eye with pleasing centuries, while Jos Buttler made an immediate impact against a sagging attack (on a side not, he kept bloody well too). Cook's return to form with twin fifties will have been a huge relief, though it is not a solution to England's leadership worries. With eight wickets in this match, including six in India's second, Moeen Ali has not only afforded Cook control but taken vital, match-turning scalps when it most mattered; surely it has elevated him from part-timer status.
But the overpowering performance came from England's spearhead, James Anderson. The most remarkable aspect of his bowling was that it was precisely what was expected of him after an off-key second half display at Lord's. Watching him run in and hustle the batsmen and have them second-guessing, its tough to determine which aspect of his bowling was most impressive. Was it his accuracy? He started the game with a teasing, testing spell and the remaining 34.1 overs he sent down weren't much different. Anderson quickly settled into the nagging off-stump line which has marked his distinguished career - he is just 12 shy of Ian Botham's record - and made life difficult for India. Virat Kohli was dismissed in a well-planned over, forced to nibble at one that moved away; Ravindra Jadeja was plumb to a lovely indipper; MS Dhoni was lured into a false hook and rash drive. Unfortunately for England, Woakes and Jordan found that line of attack difficult to replicate; fortunately for England, Anderson was at the top of his game. His bowling, for want of a better word, spiked England. India may bemoan an injury to Ishant Sharma, poor umpiring and dropped catches but they cannot deny the reality that they have been comprehensively outclassed. This win has set up Old Trafford wonderfully. Much is at stake for both teams, and both captains. While England's focus may be on Friday's ICC hearing into charges leveled against Anderson for an altercation with Jadeja in Nottingham, India will be gunning for a fightback.
India's batting capitulation continued in the Southampton Test as chasing a stiff 445 to win, the visitors were reeling at 112/4 at stumps on Day 4 - leaving England within striking distance of a series-levelling victory on the final day.One win cannot undo a run of ten successive Tests without success, or erase the fact that England cricket has much soul-searching to do, but the nature of this team's success at Southampton over India would have lifted a weight off Alastair Cook's shoulders. After five successive losses in Australia, a 1-0 loss to Sri Lanka, the draw at Trent Bridge and the defeatat Lord's, the England cricket team has put some of their recent woes behind them. Their is a spring in their step, after months of shuffling and dragging their feet from one ground to another.
The image is of a much-improved England, and Cook's first words uttered in public after victory were the most comfortable he's been in weeks. Asked if he was relieved that England had bucked their woeful trend, Cook said he was more "happy" than anything else. "It was a great performance. We didn't lose a session and that's credit to the guys. People stood out, every single member of the XI contributed to a great win," he said. "Fantastic crowd. The support received here, especially walking out on Sunday ... that was a reception I will never, ever forget. Thank you, Southampton."
Southampton can thank England, too. They have outplayed India in every session of this Test. They have done it without the support of their freshest pair of fast bowlers, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, and with a debutant wicketkeeper-batsman who earlier this summer said he was not ready to play Test cricket. They did it against the backdrop of ten matches without a defeat, harsh criticism of their out-of-form captain, the self-imposed exit from Matt Prior, Ian Bell's poor form, a niggle to Liam Plunkett and the frustration of youngsters like Ben Stokes failing miserably to match expectations and potential. At Ageas Bowl, refreshingly, there was a more collective push. Two big innings, some crucial fireworks to bat India out, and some fine catching. Twelve wickets taken behind the wicket or in the slips cordon, including the run out of Murali Vijay on Wednesday, are a testament to the pressure that England exerted. They bossed this match from toss to finish. Of the batsmen, it is Gary Ballance - he is a player transformed from the rabbit on show in Australia in January - and Ian Bell who caught the eye with pleasing centuries, while Jos Buttler made an immediate impact against a sagging attack (on a side not, he kept bloody well too). Cook's return to form with twin fifties will have been a huge relief, though it is not a solution to England's leadership worries. With eight wickets in this match, including six in India's second, Moeen Ali has not only afforded Cook control but taken vital, match-turning scalps when it most mattered; surely it has elevated him from part-timer status.
But the overpowering performance came from England's spearhead, James Anderson. The most remarkable aspect of his bowling was that it was precisely what was expected of him after an off-key second half display at Lord's. Watching him run in and hustle the batsmen and have them second-guessing, its tough to determine which aspect of his bowling was most impressive. Was it his accuracy? He started the game with a teasing, testing spell and the remaining 34.1 overs he sent down weren't much different. Anderson quickly settled into the nagging off-stump line which has marked his distinguished career - he is just 12 shy of Ian Botham's record - and made life difficult for India. Virat Kohli was dismissed in a well-planned over, forced to nibble at one that moved away; Ravindra Jadeja was plumb to a lovely indipper; MS Dhoni was lured into a false hook and rash drive. Unfortunately for England, Woakes and Jordan found that line of attack difficult to replicate; fortunately for England, Anderson was at the top of his game. His bowling, for want of a better word, spiked England. India may bemoan an injury to Ishant Sharma, poor umpiring and dropped catches but they cannot deny the reality that they have been comprehensively outclassed. This win has set up Old Trafford wonderfully. Much is at stake for both teams, and both captains. While England's focus may be on Friday's ICC hearing into charges leveled against Anderson for an altercation with Jadeja in Nottingham, India will be gunning for a fightback.
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