Kohli, Rahane take the fight to English camp
India breathing easy at tea on first day of third Test after losing three wickets
India captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane frustrated England with an excellent unbeaten century partnership as the tourists fought back on the first day of the third Test at Trent Bridge yesterday.
India were 189 for three at tea, having been 82 for three after Cheteshwar Pujara holed out off Chris Woakes, the only England bowler to take any wickets yesterday, from what became the last ball before lunch. Kohli was 51 not out and Rahane 53 not out in a fourth-wicket stand so far worth 107 runs.
It was a heartening sight for India, who badly needed a significant partnership after twice being bowled out cheaply in an innings and 159run defeat in the second Test that left them 2-0 down in a five-match series.
England captain Joe Root may have been left wondering about the wisdom of bowling first on a day where conditions had become progressively better for batting. And there could be fresh questions surrounding England’s decision to drop Sam Curran and recall Ben Stokes just days after his acquittal on a charge of affray. Woakes had tea figures of three for 45 from 15 overs whereas Stokes had none for 47 in 11.
Infamous clash
Woakes, his replacement at Lord’s, made the most of that opportunity to score a maiden Test century and take key wickets as well.
India made an encouraging start after losing the toss at a Trent Bridge ground renowned for aiding swing bowlers.
There had been concerns over the reception Stokes might receive from the crowd.
But when he came on to bowl, as first change, there was neither excessive cheering nor notable jeering, with the modest applause usually reserved for a bowler starting his spell greeting his introduction into the attack.
In his second over, Stokes accidentally collided with non-striker Shikhar Dhawan attempting to field the ball. It revived memories of an infamous clash in similar circumstances between England fast bowler John Snow and diminutive India batting great Sunil Gavaskar during the first Test at Lord’s in 1971 — an incident that saw Snow dropped for the second Test at Old Trafford. But yesterday the two players involved saw the funny side, with a smiling Dhawan putting his arm around Stokes’s shoulders.
Preparations to stage the 2018 Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has officially commenced with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the official hosts of the event, signing an agreement with Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to stage the event on behalf of them, from September 15.
Participating teams will start arriving in the UAE from September 10 onwards and preparations to receive them have already begun.
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister for Tolerance and the Chairman of the ECB, said after signing the agreement on behalf of ECB: “It is a matter of great pride for the UAE to host a prestigious event like the Asia Cup.”
On behalf of the BCCI, the Acting Honorary Secretary Amitabh Choudhary signed the agreement. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri was also present.
Shaikh Nahyan, who was instrumental in the successfully staging a part of the Indian Premier League in the UAE in 2014, feels that the event will be a great opportunity for the cricket fans in the UAE.
“Our country is home to a large section of people from the participating nations and we feel privileged and excited by the opportunity to bring their favourite sport right here to their doorstep. This is the biggest cricketing event to be held in the UAE and we will ensure every support to make the 2018 Asia Cup a huge success.”
Ultimate glory
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and one qualifier from the Asia Cup qualifiers will contest in the 14th edition of the Asia Cup. No non-Test playing country has hosted this tournament so many times as UAE have done over the years.
This tournament’s first edition was held in UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in 1984 and again in 1995.
Commenting on the agreement with ECB, Choudhary said: “We are thankful to the Emirates Cricket Board for hosting the 2018 Asia Cup on behalf of the BCCI. We will see some of the sport’s powerhouse nations go head-tohead for ultimate glory and I am confident that cricket fans around the world will enjoy every moment of this prestigious event.”
The India-Pakistan contest, scheduled to be held on September 19 at the Dubai International Stadium, is expected to be a top-seller.
These arch rivals will clash in UAE after a gap of 12 years. Fans are awaiting the announcement of the ticket sales, which is expected to commence within two days.
The final of the tournament will be held on Friday, September 28, at the Dubai International Stadium.
This tournament’s (Asia Cup) first edition was held in the UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in 1984. It was again held in 1995.