Chennai test : Ind vs Eng 1st Test Day 2 Live Streaming

England 229 for 5 (Flintoff 18*, Anderson 2*) ( India vs ENgland)


This Test looked like it might never go ahead, and some still argue it's too soon to be playing cricket, but in the end the opening day produced a fascinating start to the short series. Despite a fine century from Andrew Strauss, a brace of wickets apiece for Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan reduced England to 229 for 5 at the close although the surface is threatening to break up later in the game.

Against the odds England controlled the first two sessions and were 164 for 1 at tea after an opening stand of 118. However, India hit back strongly, led by another outstanding display of reverse swing from Zaheer. He removed Ian Bell with the second ball after tea and bounced-out a scratchy and skittish Kevin Pietersen. Andrew Flintoff did well to survive his early trial by spin and swing, and faces a huge role on the second day with nightwatchman James Anderson for company.

Strauss's effort was a remarkable show of concentration. Barring three short innings during the Stanford week, this was his first knock since the end of the English season. He brought up his 13th Test century off 191 balls, but his dismissal late in the day, offering a low return catch to Amit Mishra, put India firmly ahead on points. The four sessions splits confirm how India fought back: 63 without loss, 101 for 1 and 65 for 4.

Zaheer's first ball after tea slanted across Bell, then the second arched back in and was heading for middle when he was trapped in front. Dhoni hadn't used Zaheer between lunch and tea, but when called upon played a vital part. Pietersen has had more to deal with in recent days than most, so it was unsurprising that he struggled at the crease. He was tested by Zaheer's swing but also Yuvraj Singh's left-arm sliders. Yuvraj caused as many moments of discomfort as Harbhajan, who was introduced in the ninth over, or Mishra and had a very close lbw shout turned down against Pietersen. Zaheer, though, claimed a deserved second wicket as Pietersen top-edged a pull which the bowler claimed in his follow-through.

Paul Collingwood retained his place in the side ahead of the in-form Owais Shah, and when your spot is being debated it doesn't help to get a rough decision. Billy Bowden thought he'd got a glove to short-leg off Harbhajan, but he missed it by at least six inches. A lot of the players have spoken about how events in Mumbai have given them a greater perspective, but once the contest is resumed in the middle, instincts take over and the disappointment was easy to detect.


Strauss feasts on spin

Andrew Strauss' 123 was his second century in consecutive Tests in India, where he averages 51.42.
The 118-run opening partnership between Strauss and Alastair Cook was their sixth century-partnership - the pair now average 40.39 in 53 innings - and their fifth in 2008. They've added 883 runs together this year at an average of 55.18 - among opening pairs in 2008 they're second only to Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith who've added 1395 in 19 innings at 77.50.
Strauss scored 79 of his 123 runs on the leg side. The sweep shot, which he used on 26 occasions, and the flick, each yielded 34 runs.
95 of his runs were scored off spinners - a pretty high percentage of 77.23 - at a run-rate of 3.75. It's the most he's scored against spinners in a single innings, the previous highest being 94 against New Zealand in Napier earlier this year. He was far more restrained against Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, scoring 28 off 81 balls at a rate of 2.07.
England have never lost a Test in which Strauss has scored a century. They've won eight and drawn four.

To put England's position in further context, the last Test on this ground, when South Africa played India, produced first-innings totals of 540 and 627, plus an individual contribution of 319 by Virender Sehwag. The visitors, though, have the advantage of bowling last on a surface that is likely to break up after hurried preparation.