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Birmingham (UK), Aug.13 : Opening batsman Alastair Cook, who notched a career best 294 and enabled England to amass their third-highest total of 710 for seven declared against a weary-looking India on the third day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday, has said that the home side is definitely in the driver''s seat and probably on course to make the series score line three nil.
India''s second innings has got off to a disastrous start with the loss of opener Virender Sehwag to the second ball. Sehwag has made a "King Pair" in this Test.
The Indians reached 35 for one by close and trail England by 451 runs. Gautam Gambhir is on 14 and Rahul Dravid on 18 runs.
“We have put ourselves in a very good position in this game and it is great to see … scored second hundred as well, we have got a lot of hard work to do tomorrow,” said an elated Alastair Cook on Friday.
Cook batted for more than 12 hours and bettered his previous test-best of 235 not out against Australia in Brisbane last year.
He also said that as a side, England have got six double-hundreds since 2010, which is a tribute to the way they bat.
“The wicket is still playing well. You could see that from how people got in so it can''t be that bad and it is not encouraging to say but it turned towards the end and we decided if we keep doing our basics well and have some patience and I think we will create nine opportunities in couple of days,” Cook said.
Sehwag, playing his first Test in eight months after recovering from shoulder surgery, was out off his first ball for the second time in the match when he played a loose shot at a James Anderson delivery and edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip.
The wicket on the second ball of India''s reply summed up another dreadful day for them, as they seek to bat for most of the last two days in order to save the match.
However, Amit Mishra, the Indian spinner who bagged three wickets for 150 exuded confidence of India faring well in the second innings and saving the match.
“I am very positive we can do it and we have done it before as well. And, I am not thinking of saving the game, but I am thinking of the game to get a draw because we have good strength and batsmen and it''s a good pitch to bat on. I don''t think we would lose this Test. The team spirit is very good and positive,” said Mishra
Batting conditions were not all that favourable with high humidity and dark clouds overhead. India bowled their spinners for most of the afternoon rather than tire their three pace bowlers needlessly in a seemingly hopeless situation as the day drifted slowly.
The teams, who lost time to rain in the morning session, were also interrupted for 16 minutes in the afternoon by bad light.
The new permanent floodlights at Edgbaston failed to work after the umpires had requested their usage.
The 25,000 capacity spectators booed as the players left the field while the lights flickered but failed to switch on following an earlier power cut.
“The atmosphere of the dressing room is positive and we are confident of the match that we will draw it and there is no problems in between us and we are helping each others in batting, bowling, fielding and many other areas where required. Coach and management are helping us and we are positive,” added Mishra.
--ANI
India''s second innings has got off to a disastrous start with the loss of opener Virender Sehwag to the second ball. Sehwag has made a "King Pair" in this Test.
The Indians reached 35 for one by close and trail England by 451 runs. Gautam Gambhir is on 14 and Rahul Dravid on 18 runs.
“We have put ourselves in a very good position in this game and it is great to see … scored second hundred as well, we have got a lot of hard work to do tomorrow,” said an elated Alastair Cook on Friday.
Cook batted for more than 12 hours and bettered his previous test-best of 235 not out against Australia in Brisbane last year.
He also said that as a side, England have got six double-hundreds since 2010, which is a tribute to the way they bat.
“The wicket is still playing well. You could see that from how people got in so it can''t be that bad and it is not encouraging to say but it turned towards the end and we decided if we keep doing our basics well and have some patience and I think we will create nine opportunities in couple of days,” Cook said.
Sehwag, playing his first Test in eight months after recovering from shoulder surgery, was out off his first ball for the second time in the match when he played a loose shot at a James Anderson delivery and edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip.
The wicket on the second ball of India''s reply summed up another dreadful day for them, as they seek to bat for most of the last two days in order to save the match.
However, Amit Mishra, the Indian spinner who bagged three wickets for 150 exuded confidence of India faring well in the second innings and saving the match.
“I am very positive we can do it and we have done it before as well. And, I am not thinking of saving the game, but I am thinking of the game to get a draw because we have good strength and batsmen and it''s a good pitch to bat on. I don''t think we would lose this Test. The team spirit is very good and positive,” said Mishra
Batting conditions were not all that favourable with high humidity and dark clouds overhead. India bowled their spinners for most of the afternoon rather than tire their three pace bowlers needlessly in a seemingly hopeless situation as the day drifted slowly.
The teams, who lost time to rain in the morning session, were also interrupted for 16 minutes in the afternoon by bad light.
The new permanent floodlights at Edgbaston failed to work after the umpires had requested their usage.
The 25,000 capacity spectators booed as the players left the field while the lights flickered but failed to switch on following an earlier power cut.
“The atmosphere of the dressing room is positive and we are confident of the match that we will draw it and there is no problems in between us and we are helping each others in batting, bowling, fielding and many other areas where required. Coach and management are helping us and we are positive,” added Mishra.
--ANI
