Friday, December 12, 2008

INDIA VS ENGLAND 1st TEST DEC 2008:-GRAEME SWANN'S DREAM DEBUT


Graeme Swann's stunning debut - becoming only the second bowler in Test history to take two wickets in his first over - helped England seize control of the first Test against India on Friday's second day.

The rookie offspinner trapped opener Gautam Gambhir (19) and Rahul Dravid (3) lbw with his third and sixth deliveries and India tottered to 155-6 at stumps on the second day in response to England's first innings total of 316.

Swann's first-over double strike has only been matched by English paceman Richard Johnson, who in 2003 claimed two wickets in his first over on debut against Zimbabwe.

Pace bowler James Anderson (1-26) got an earlier breakthrough when opener Virender Sehwag (9) played onto his stumps.

Carrying on the good work of Swann (2-35), England's bowlers ripped through India's top order.

Seeking to resurrect India from a precarious 37-3, Sachin Tendulkar pulled Swann for a six over midwicket in his second over.

Tendulkar (37) added 61 runs for the fourth wicket with V.V.S. Laxman, who contributed 24 before getting out in a soft dismissal as he gave a return catch to left-arm spinner Monty Panesar (1-30).

Andrew Flintoff (1-26) caught Tendulkar off his own bowling and Stephen Harmison (1-29) then induced an edge from left-hander Yuvraj Singh (14) as India's middle order crumbled.

India's jittery performance followed a defiant half-century from wicketkeeper Matt Prior that boosted England's total.

Prior's unbeaten 53 frustrated the Indian bowlers in a 102-ball, 145-minute innings, adding 42 valuable runs for the seventh wicket with overnight batsmen James Anderson, who made 19 in a 114-minute stand.

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