Gambhir century puts India in control

Opener Gautam Gambhir hit his third century in four Tests to lead India to 179 for 1 on a truncated first day in the second and final Test against England on Friday.

The in-form Gambhir struck 106 not out and added 173 runs for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid to lift the hosts out of early trouble after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat in overcast conditions.

Dravid shook off his poor form by scoring an unbeaten 65 after opener Virender Sehwag fell to Stuart Broad for a third-ball duck in the morning's second over.

The diminutive Gambhir struck 12 fours and a straight six against off spinner Graeme Swann, reaching his hundred after tea.

Play was called off with 18 overs remaining because of poor light, which had also delayed the start by 20 minutes.

Gambhir had scored a match-winning 104 in the second Test against Australia at Mohali in October and 206 in the drawn third Test in New Delhi.

He then made 66 in Chennai, after sitting out the last Test against Australia due to a disciplinary ban. India won that series 2-0.

England, demoralised by their six-wicket defeat in the first Test in Chennai after India achieved the fourth-highest run chasing a target of 387, failed to build on a promising start, often bowling too short.

EARLY ESCAPE

Gambhir survived a leg before appeal off James Anderson's first ball of the day but drove the next past cover for four before quickly settling down.

Broad, 22, replaced the off-colour Steve Harmison after recovering from a hamstring injury, and bowled a superb first spell of pace, swing and control.

He beat Sehwag, who hit a blazing 83 to trigger India's run chase in Chennai, with movement before inducing him to edge a swinging delivery to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Gambhir and Dravid, who made three and four in the first Test to prolong a poor run of form, saw off the testing morning spells by Anderson, Broad and Andrew Flintoff to guide the team to 51 for one at lunch.

Gambhir, 27, audaciously flicked over the slip cordon for fours against Anderson and Broad after lunch as England lost their momentum.

Only Swann, who took two wickets in his first over on Test debut in Chennai, created chances as left-arm Monty Panesar, under fire for his poor first test showing, failed to impress.

However, Swann was unlucky not to dismiss Gambhir.

Slip fielder Paul Collingwood could only get his finger tips to a thick edge when he was on 70 and two runs later the umpire turned down a confident leg before appeal.

Dravid swung Anderson to square leg for four in the morning, his first boundary in five innings, and has hit seven fours in his 205-ball effort.
Source: rediff.com

Viv is my hero, says Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar regards West Indies batting legend Vivian Richards as his hero, though he has never played against the legendary batsman at the international level.

"I had played against him only at the county level. He was then playing for Glamorgan and me for Yorkshire. He is my hero and playing against him is a special moment in my life. I cherish that", Tendulkar said at a photo exhibition, pointing to a snap showing him playing chess with Richards.

The exhibition of photos clicked by noted lensman Sumon Chattopadhyay on Indian cricket, had one that captured a young Tendulkar playing on the lane before his house in Mumbai.

The photo seemed to have turned the Mumbai batsman nostalgic and he exclaimed that even today he enjoyed playing cricket before his Bandra residence.

"It's great to play on the road. It's a time to relax and meet a lot of old friends. Even yesterday, I played on the road before my house," said Tendulkar as fellow international cricketers Sourav Ganguly , Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik heard him in rapt attention.

About another photo taken just after his marriage and showing him walk with his bride Anjali, Tendulkar said "it's an extremely special moment of my life with my life partner walking with me."

Then he turned to Yuvraj, and said with a smile "I want to wish Yuvraj all the best when he gets married."

The entire gathering broke into spontaneous applause and there were peals of laughter all around.
Source: www.rediff.com