India manage just 224, England 84-0 on Day One

India manage just 224 despite skipper Dhoni's blazing fifty on day 1; Eng 84-0

India manage just 224, England 84-0 on Day One

India manage just 224 despite skipper Dhoni's blazing fifty on day 1; Eng 84-0

India experienced yet another day of despondency on Day One of the third Test against England at Edgbaston yesterday. Put into bat by Andrew Strauss, India were bowled out for 224 with none of the top six batsmen scoring fifties.

It required a plucky 84-run stand between skipper Dhoni and Praveen Kumar for the tattered scorecard to be held together.

England's Stuart Broad successfully appeals for Virender Sehwag's wicket
on Day One of the third Test at Edgbaston yesterday. pic/getty images

In response, England ended the day with 84 for no loss. Alastair Cook, whose highest score in the last two Tests was 12, finished the day with an unbeaten 27 while Strauss reached his first half century of the series.

India's batting machinery refused to roll again. It has its share of old parts, but they were fine before this series.

Here is their tale of woes:
A trusted component came back from repairs, but the threading came off as soon as the switch was turned on.
Virender Sehwag goes for a golden duck - a Stuart Broad scorcher brushing his glove.

Another part which had more than a week's break worked fine for a while, but just when it appeared to be thriving on its fluency, it broke off.

Gautam Gambhir departs, bowled by Tim Bresnan off an inside edge.

The oldest part in the machinery is now put to use. All the factory workers are confident he will pull through considering his enduring efficiency. But the part slips and the works manager is now on tenterhooks.

Yet again, James Anderson has a hand in Sachin Tendulkar's departure. This time the Lancastrian is the catcher at slip off Broad, who enjoys his third Tendulkar scalp of the series.

Meanwhile, a tried and trusted bolt works smoothly. But the power of the switchboard proves too much for him. Even the best of components would have been burned off.

Dravid is bowled by a Bresnan leg-cutter. Even God would shudder to think what he could have done to escape doom with that kind of a ball.

A relatively new wheel collapses as expected. Its quality was always doubted. It was a huge blunder not to try out another new tool.

Suresh Raina has no answer to Anderson's pace and guile. He is bowled for four.

In the midst of ruins, the worker boasts to his mates: "Look how my classy tool is faring. He will ensure wholesome production today." He was wrong. Even classy screws get destroyed by pressure.

VVS Laxman pulls to long leg and Bresnan is in heaven far away from his favourite Leeds patch.

The factory is like a morgue, but cheerfulness comes through the steel doors. A big cog in the wheel functions well, but cannot go the full distance although the production has some layer of respectability now.

Skipper Dhoni (77 off 96 balls) snicks one to his opposite number Andrew Strauss and slips. It's not an easy catch, but Dhoni will leave for a warmer dressing room alright. He put on 84 vital runs with swing bowler Praveen Kumar.

Brief Scores
England 84-0 (AJ Strauss 52 not out, AN Cook 27 not out) trail by 140 runs; India 224 (MS Dhoni 77, G Gambhir 38, P Kumar 26, SCJ Broad 4-53, TT Bresnan 4-62)