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England beat India in first Test
LONDON: England beat India by 170 runs on the final day of the first Test of four here at Lord's on Monday.
India, set a mammoth 568 to win, were bowled out for 397 after starting the fifth and final day on 232 for six.
Ajit Agarkar was a Test best 109 not out. England now lead the series 1-0.
July 29, 2002 -
England one wicket away from victory
LONDON: England were one wicket away from victory over India at lunch on the final day of the first test at Lord's on Monday.
At the interval India, set 568 to win, were 353 for nine after starting the day in an impossible position at 232 for six.
All-rounder Ajit Agarkar was unbeaten on 80, his highest test score, with 12 boundaries.
Vangipurappu Laxman and Agarkar frustrated England's hopes for a pre-lunch finish by extending their seventh-wicket partnership of 62 to 126 before Laxman was caught at cover off fast bowler Simon Jones for 74.
Laxman, who had run out of support in India's first innings 221 while scoring an unbeaten 43, had struck nine boundaries off 183 balls.
Agarkar, a disappointment with the ball, compensated to some extent with the bat, exceeding his previous best test score of 41 and bringing up his maiden test half-century from 108 deliveries with nine fours.
Jones made the breakthrough after India had safely negotiated the first hour in his first over of the innings from the Nursery End.
Laxman smashed the first ball for four through mid-off but hit the next delivery straight to Michael Vaughan. Anil Kumble scored a somewhat streaky 15 before he was caught and bowled by Matthew Hoggard off a leading edge.
It was the England striker bowler's fourth wicket of the innings and his seventh of the match.
Zaheer Khan was then caught behind off Craig White for seven but Ashish Nehra somehow managed to survive until the interval.
DAY FOUR
July 28, 2002 - 1745 GMT
Hoggard double strike rocks India
LONDON: Matthew Hoggard dismissed Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly with successive balls on Sunday as England moved remorselessly closer to winning the first Test against India.
The Yorkshire pace bowler, returning for a new spell from the Pavilion End, spreadeagled Tendulkar's stumps and was then awarded an lbw decision against the India captain from a delivery that seemed to pitch outside leg stump.
Hoggard's twin strike reduced India, set an improbable 568 for victory, to 140 for four in the final session of the fourth day. Tendulkar, who made only 16 in the first innings, fell this time for 12 and his dismissal raised a real possibility that the game might not go into a fifth day.
The Indians were thrust into even deeper trouble midway through the session when Rahul Dravid chopped a delivery from left-armer Ashley Giles on to his stumps after scoring a patient 63 with the score on 165.
India, who started their second innings half an hour before lunch after Nasser Hussain had declared England's second innings at 301 for six, began brightly.
Hoggard was unlucky not to capture the wicket of Wasim Jaffer before the interval when Ashley Giles at gully was slow to react to a ball which lobbed off the shoulder of the bat.
Then Virender Sehwag, who had not added to his lunch score of three, was dropped by Hussain at third slip off Hoggard, getting both hands to the ball but then seeing it fall to the ground.
In company with Wasim Jaffer, the India openers took the total to 61, scoring at five runs an over, before Simon Jones beat Sehwag for pace and ripped his off stump out of the ground.
Sehwag had scored 27 including five boundaries.
Jaffer completed a competent half-century, his third in six Tests, before Michael Vaughan followed his third Test century with his first Test wicket.
Jaffer, whose 53 contained seven boundaries, edged the part-time off-spinner to Hussain at slip. Earlier, Vaughan took his overnight score of 81 to exactly a hundred before slicing left-arm pace bowler to Jaffer in the gully.
His second Test century at Lord's this summer had taken 141 balls and contained 11 sweetly-struck boundaries. John Crawley consolidated his position in the side by following his first innings 64 with 100 not out, after which Hussain declared. Crawley, who received little of the strike on Sunday, hit eight boundaries from 132 balls.
Number three Dravid played the sheet-anchor role again in the second innings, reaching his half-century from 92 balls from 51 balls before he fell to Giles, moving first forward then back and hitting the ball on to his stumps. Any hopes India might have had of saving the game appeared to vanish when Tendulkar fell to Hoggard.
The little Indian had an unwelcome companion on his slow walk back to the pavilion when a spectator ran on to the field.
A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board said the man, a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club, had emerged from the Pavilion, jumped the fence and run on to the field.
"He is now in police custody," the spokesman said.
July 28, 2002 -
Vaughan follows century with first Test wicket
LONDON: Michael Vaughan followed his third Test century with his first wicket on the fourth day of the opening Test on Sunday as England moved closer to victory over India.
At tea India, set 568 for victory, were 121 for two with Rahul Dravid on 34 and Sachin Tendulkar on five.
Both Vaughan and John Crawley completed hundreds after England resumed at 184 for three in their second innings on Sunday, allowing Nasser Hussain to declare at 301 for six half an hour before lunch.
India sped to 61 without loss, scoring at five an over, when Test debutant Simon Jones bowled the dangerous Virender Sehwag for 27 with sheer pace.
Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer had scored freely on both sides of the pitch against Matthew Hoggard and Andy Flintoff, forcing Nasser Hussain to make a double change, Craig White coming on at the Nursery End in tandem with Jones.
With his second ball, Jones sent Sehwag's off stump cart-wheeling as the India opener stabbed down too late. He had scored 27, including five boundaries, from 42 balls.
The wicket was a relief for Hussain, who had dropped Sehwag at third slip off Flintoff straight after lunch when he had scored only three.
Flintoff had an appeal for a catch down the leg-side rejected, beat Sehwag with a delivery that leapt from the pitch then saw Hussain get both hands to an attempted drive without retaining the ball.
Jaffer completed his third half-century in six Tests from 79 balls with seven fours when Hussain, who had constantly switched his bowlers around, turned to Vaughan's occasional off-spin at the Pavilion End.
Vaughan persuaded Jaffer to reach forward without getting properly over the shot and the ball flew to Hussain at first slip. Earlier, opener Vaughan, who failed to score in the first innings, brought up his century from 140 balls with 11 fours.
He was out to the next ball, slicing left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra to Jaffer at point. It was his second Test century of the summer at Lord's and he became the second England player after Chris Lewis to score a duck and century in the same Test against India.
Crawley brought up his fourth Test century from 132 balls with eight fours and, as he acknowledged the crowd's applause, Hussain called the batsmen in.
Jaffer and Sehwag took the total to 12 at lunch, although Jaffer was lucky to survive when Ashley Giles at gully was too slow to react when the ball lobbed off the India opener's bat from a Hoggard delivery.
They both cut loose after lunch, Sehwag, in particular, playing some delightful shots with left elbow held high.
July 28, 2002 -
Jones beats Sehwag for pace
LONDON: Simon Jones bowled the dangerous Virender Sehwag with sheer pace on Sunday as England pressed for victory on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord's.
Set an improbable 568 to win, India galloped along merrily at five runs an over to reach 61 without loss in the afternoon session. Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer scored freely on both sides of the pitch against Matthew Hoggard and Andy Flintoff, forcing Nasser Hussain to make a double change with Craig White introduced as well as Jones.
With his second ball, Test debutant Jones sent Sehwag's off-stump cart-wheeling as the India opener stabbed down too late. He had scored 27, including five boundaries, from 42 balls.
The wicket was a relief for Hussain, who had dropped Sehwag at third slip off Flintoff straight after lunch when he had scored only three.
Flintoff had an appeal for a catch down the leg-side rejected, beat Sehwag with a delivery that leapt from the pitch then saw Hussain get both hands to an attempted drive without retaining the ball.
Midway through the afternoon session, India had taken their total to 81 for one, with Wasim Jaffer on 43 and Rahul Dravid on nine. Michael Vaughan and John Crawley completed centuries after England began the fourth day on 184 for three before Hussain declared the innings closed at 301 for six.
Vaughan took his overnight score of 81 to exactly 100 before he was caught off left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra while Crawley, 56 at the start of play, was unbeaten on the same score.
It was Vaughan's third Test century, his second at Lord's this season, and Crawley's fourth.
Opener Vaughan, who was out without scoring in the first innings, brought up his century from 140 balls with 11 fours. He was out to the next ball, though, slicing left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra to Jaffer at point.
Crawley finally brought up his century from 132 balls with eight fours and, as he acknowledged the crowd's applause, Hussain called the batsmen in.
Jaffer and Sehwag took the total to 12 at lunch, although Jaffer was lucky to survive when Ashley Giles at gully was too slow to react when the ball lobbed off the Indian opener's bat from a Hoggard delivery.
They both cut loose after lunch, Sehwag, in particular, playing some delightful shots with his left elbow held high before he fell to Jones.
July 28, 2002 -
England set India massive challenge
LONDON: Centuries from England batsmen Michael Vaughan and John Crawley left India with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid defeat in the first Test here at Lord's on Sunday.
At lunch on the fourth day India were 12 without loss, needing a further 556 to reach their huge victory target of 568 after England had earlier declared their second innings on 301 for six. No team batting last has made more to win a Test than the 406 for four India posted against West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 1975-76. Wasim Jaffer was nine not out and Virender Sehwag three not out. But Wasim, then four, was lucky to survive the fourth ball of the innings when he edged Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles, moving in from fifth slip position just failed to cling on as he dived forward.
Both Crawley and Vaughan made exactly 100. Recalled Hampshire batsman Crawley was unbeaten, England captain Nasser Hussain declaring when he reached three figures. Craig White was six not out.
It was Crawley's first Test hundred in four years, although this was only his fourth Test since he made 156 not out against Sri Lanka at The Oval in 1998.
He faced 132 balls including eight fours. Vaughan, 81 not out overnight, produced a superb cover-driven four off Ashish Nehra in the second over of the day to go to 86. But next ball India appealed for a catch behind low to wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra with England 190 for three.
Vaughan stood his ground, unsure of whether the ball had carried. Zimbabwe umpire Russell Tiffin, at the bowler's end, consulted with South African colleague Rudi Koertzen.
While there was no doubt that Vaughan had edged the ball, television pictures were inconclusive as to whether the catch had been taken cleanly.
Vaughan brought up his third Test hundred with a hard run three off leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He faced 140 balls including 11 fours.
But next delivery, facing Nehra, Vaughan saw his flashing square drive was caught by Wasim at point. England were now 213 for four, Vaughan and Crawley sharing a stand of 137 that left the home team in full control after India had them wobbling a touch at 78 for three on Saturday.
Big hitting Andrew Flintoff was promoted up the order as England went in search of quick declaration runs but could manage only 11 before pulling left-arm quick Nehra straight to Sachin Tendulkar on the square leg boundary.
Alec Stewart, in an England record 119th Test, then made a brisk 33 before he was stumped by Ratra off Kumble, the pick of the attack with three for 84.
England began Sunday on 184 for three with Crawley 56 not out, an already commanding lead of 450. Before play started a minute's silence was observed in memory of India vice-president Krishan Kant who died on Saturday.
In another mark of respect, the national flags above the teams' dressing rooms in the pavilion were at half-mast.
DAY THREE
July 27, 2002 - 1745 GMT
England 184-3 at stumps
LONDON: England were 184 for the loss of three wickets at stump on the third day of the first Test against India here at Lord's on Saturday.
England lead of 450 runs, Michael Vaughan was batting on 81 and John Crawley was playing on 56.
July 27, 2002 - 1445 GMT
India subside against England
LONDON: India were bowled out for 221 in reply to England's first innings 487 at tea on the third day of the first Test at Lord's on Saturday.
Venkatsai Laxman tried to fight back with 43 not out off 68 balls including five fours but could do nothing as wickets tumbled around him. India's total was 67 runs short of the follow-on target of 288 but England captain Nasser Hussain chose not to insert the tourists.
Yorkshire quick Matthew Hoggard led a fine England bowling performance with three for 33. India, 176 for five at lunch, lost captain Sourav Ganguly (five) four balls afterwards when he steered former Lancashire team-mate Andrew Flintoff to Michael Vaughan in the gully. New batsman Ajay Ratra took 21 balls to get off the mark.
But three deliveries later he was out for one. Ratra gave England debutant fast bowler Simon Jones his first Test wicket when he edged a cut off a short-pitched delivery through to opposing wicket-keeper Alec Stewart.
India were now 191 for seven. And five runs later Jones struck again, Ajit Agarkar (two) well-taken low down at second slip by all-rounder
Flintoff. It was just reward for Jones, 23, the son of former England quick Jeff, who twice almost took the prize wicket of master batsman Sachin
Tendulkar.
India's plight worsened when Anil Kumble played on to recalled all-rounder Craig White for an 11 ball duck as the tourists slumped to 209 for nine. The innings ended when last man Zaheer Khan (three) was caught in the slips by Thorpe off
Hoggard.
Earlier Tendulkar went cheaply, fifth out for 16, when he edged an intended cut off an inswinging delivery from White and saw Stewart, in an England record 119th Test, take the simple catch. Tendulkar faced 61 balls with just two boundaries.
He rode his luck early on. In the first full over of the day, facing his third ball and still on
nought, he deliberately left delivery from Jones. It struck Tendulkar on the body and then narrowly bounced over the stumps.
And Tendulkar had more good fortune on 10 when Jones, bowling from around the wicket this time, induced an outside edge which Graham Thorpe dropped at first slip as the ball died on him.
Tendulkar, who did not bat on Friday after night watchman Ashish Nehra fell, began cautiously, taking 20 balls to score his first boundary.
England's disciplined bowling performance on a lifeless pitch was all the more impressive as they were without injured first-choice quicks Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick and Alex Tudor.
But White, Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard all had experience of bowling in similar conditions in India during the winter and each bowled well after India resumed on 130 for three.
And with Madras-born skipper Hussain deploying some imaginative field settings India's batsmen were well-shackled only eight fours conceded Saturday. In the morning Rahul
Dravid, 33 not out overnight, went for 46 after an innings a minute short of four hours, when he was caught in the gully by Vaughan off
Hoggard.
July 27, 2002 - 1205 GMT
India on back foot against England
LONDON: England's bowlers claimed the crucial scalp of Indian star Sachin Tendulkar to leave the home side in control at lunch on the third day of the first Test at Lord's here Saturday.
At the interval India were 176 for five in reply to England's 487, a deficit of 311 and still 112 runs short of the follow-on total of 288. India captain Sourav Ganguly was five not out and Venkatsai Laxman eight not out.
Tendulkar was fifth out for 16 when he edged an intended cut off an inswinging delivery from recalled all-rounder Craig White and saw wicket-keeper Alec Stewart, in an England record 119th Test, claim the simple catch. He faced 61 balls with just two boundaries.
England's disciplined performance on a lifeless pitch was all the more impressive as they were without injured first-choice quicks Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick and Alex Tudor. Tendulkar rode his luck early on.
In the first full over of the day, facing his third ball and still on
nought, he chose not to play at a delivery from England debutant fast bowler Simon Jones. The ball struck Tendulkar on the body and then narrowly bounced over the stumps. And Tendulkar had more good fortune on 10 when Jones, bowling from around the wicket this time, induced an outside edge which Graham Thorpe dropped at first slip as the ball died on him.
Fortunately for Thorpe it was not a costly mistake and the 23-year-old Jones, in his first match at Lord's, had to content himself with a lively opening spell of five overs for 14 runs.
All the England pace bowlers varied their angle of attack by coming around the wicket. And with Madras-born England captain Nasser Hussain deploying some imaginative field settings India's batsmen could not break free.
Tendulkar made a cautious start, taking 20 balls to score his first boundary when he turned Jones off his legs for four.
Dravid then struck the first ball from Jones' replacement, Matthew
Hoggard, to the cover rope. It was the patient batsman's first boundary in 111 balls. But four short of a half-century Dravid was surprised by a sharply lifting delivery from Yorkshire quick Hoggard that he could only fend to the bowler's county colleague Michael Vaughan in the gully.
Dravid's 46 had come off 162 balls including six fours in an innings lasting one minute short of four hours, India now 162 for four in the 54th over. India resumed on 130 for three off 36.4 overs with Dravid 33 not out. Tendulkar had yet to start batting after night watchman Ashish Nehra
(nought) was dismissed off the last ball of Friday's play.
DAY TWO
July 26, 2002 - 1730 GMT
India 130-3 at stumps
LONDON: India had scored 130 when the stumps were drawn for stumps on the second day of the first Test, for the loss of three wickets, while making a reply to England first innings total of 487.
India needs 157 runs to avoid the Follow-On and 7 wickets in hand, Rahul Dravid was batting on 33.
July 26, 2002 -
Hoggard in breakthrough but India move
LONDON: England pace bowler Matthew Hoggard bowled Wasim Jaffer for a duck with the fifth ball of his opening over on Friday at the start of the final session on the second day of the first Test at Lord's against India.
After England had scored a daunting 487, anchored by a marathon 155 from captain Nasser Hussain, Hoggard struck from the Nursery End as Jaffer played around a full-length straight delivery. Normal service was quickly resumed on a pitch offering little to the bowlers and plenty to the batsmen.
Hussain introduced Ashley Giles after only six overs with close fielders on both sides of the pitch but the left-arm spinner's direction was wayward and he went for 28 runs in four overs, including a huge swept six by opener Virender Sehwag.
Hoggard switched to the Pavilion End in place of Andy Flintoff, who had conceded only six runs from four accurate overs, and Sehwag immediately drove him to the extra cover boundary with a wristy flourish.
Rahul Dravid joined in the fun with a controlled cover drive for four from Giles as India raced to 50 in even time. Midway through the evening session the tourists had reached 64 for one with Sehwag on 36 and Dravid on 24.
Earlier Hussain, who came to the crease in the second over of the match on Thursday, added 35 to his overnight score before. Then after more than seven hours at the crease, he was dismissed 15 minutes before lunch aiming a weary drive at medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar.
He remonstrated with himself as he left the field to a standing ovation but the 11th and second-highest century of his Test career had put England in a position to dictate the course of the opening game of the four-match series.
On another hot, sunny morning Flintoff supplied his own particular brand of aggression, helping Hussain add 93 runs from 113 balls for the sixth wicket after Alec Stewart had been dismissed without adding to his overnight score of 19.
Flintoff turned left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra firmly to the square-leg boundary for four and struck the next delivery majestically square off the back foot for another.
In Zaheer's next over he drove a further brace of fours through extra-cover and mid-off and India captain Sourav Ganguly, anxious to restrict the scoring, turned to Anil Kumble.
Ganguly dropped his field back, placing Sachin Tendulkar as a sweeper on the cover boundary, but to no avail as Flintoff brought up his 50 with a six over long-on off Kumble.
A further boundary off Agarkar followed before Flintoff followed a wide delivery without much discernible foot movement and edged a simple catch for wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra.
His 59 from only 62 balls had contained 10 fours and a six.
Hussain followed off the first ball of Agarkar's next over to a similar shot after batting for 458 minutes and hitting 25 fours from 331 deliveries and the India all-rounder was suddenly on a hat-trick, averted comfortably enough by Giles.
The tail-end of the innings was enlivened by an highly-entertaining knock from debutant Simon Jones, picked for his fast bowling but making his initial impact with an aggressive 44 from only 43 balls.
Jones hit left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan into the members' stand for a six, drove and pulled Kumble for successive boundaries then repeated the treatment with consecutive fours from Agarkar.
He survived a dropped catch at long-on by Agarkar before popping a simple catch to Dravid at slip off Kumble after adding 62 runs for the ninth wicket with Craig White.
White, chosen ahead of Dominic Cork because of his superior batting, justified his selection with a responsible innings of 53, including four boundaries and a six over mid-wicket off
Kumble.
July 26, 2002 - 1430 GMT
England flourish in the sun
LONDON: Nasser Hussain compiled his highest score as England captain on the second day of the first Test against India at Lord's on Friday as the home side again flourished in the sun. After compiling a marathon 155 in more than seven hours at the crease, Hussain was finally dismissed 15 minutes before lunch, caught behind aiming a somewhat tired drive at medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar.
At the interval, England had taken their overnight total of 257 for four to 372 for seven, with Hussain's innings putting his side in a position to dictate the course of the opening game of the four-match series.
Craig White was unbeaten on five at lunch, with Ashley Giles on 10. Hussain found an able lieutenant in Andy Flintoff after Alec Stewart had been dismissed without adding to his overnight score of 19.
With the stage ideally set for Flintoff's particular brand of muscular aggression, the burly Lancashire all-rounder did not disappoint.
He struck nine fours on both sides of the pitch with a blend of strength and timing, bringing up his 50 with a towering six over long-on off leg-spinner Anil Kumble.
A further boundary off Agarkar followed before Flintoff chased a wide delivery without much discernible foot movement and edged a simple catch for wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra.
His 59 from only 62 balls had contained 10 fours and a six and he had helped add 93 for the sixth wicket with Hussain from 113 deliveries.
Hussain followed off the first ball of Agarkar's next over to a similar shot after batting for 458 minutes and hitting 25 fours from 331 deliveries.
After play began on a hot, sunny morning, left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan again struck early by removing Stewart with the first ball of his second over of the day.
Zaheer, who dismissed Michael Vaughan lbw for a duck in his opening over on Thursday, captured Stewart's wicket with an identical delivery which moved in late and struck the England wicketkeeper on the pads straight in front of his stumps.
Flintoff announced his intentions from the start.
He turned Zaheer's opening bowling partner Ashish Nehra firmly to the square-leg boundary for four and struck the next delivery majestically square off the back foot for another.
In Zaheer's next over he drove a further brace of fours through extra-cover and mid-off and India captain Sourav Ganguly, anxious to restrict the scoring, turned to Kumble.
The move almost brought immediate success when Hussain was beaten by a delivery that turned appreciably.
Unfortunately for Kumble the ball took the outside edge of the England skipper's bat, evading Ratra's outstretched gloves on the way to the boundary.
Hussain added to Kumble's misery with a fierce pull for four and in the next over Flintoff struck his fifth boundary, guiding the ball backward of point.
Not to be outdone, Hussain danced down the pitch to bring up the 300 with an on-driven four off Kumble and Flintoff crashed his sixth boundary through the covers off the same bowler.
July 26, 2002 - 1205 GMT
Agarkar leads India revival
LONDON: Ajit Agarkar took two wickets in two balls as India's bowlers wrested the initiative from England in the first Test of four here at Lord's on Friday.
At lunch on the second day, England were 372 for seven after winning the toss with recalled all-rounder Craig White five not out and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles 10 not out.
And with just tailenders Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard to come, India still had a chance of dismissing England for under 400. England resumed on 257 for four with captain Nasser Hussain 120 not out and Alec Stewart, in a national record 119th Test, 19 not out.
Play began in near identical fashion to Thursday morning with left-armers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra making the new ball swing as they bowled some probing deliveries.
Each beat the outside edge of the bat but, as on the opening day, it was Zaheer who made the early breakthrough with a leg-before dismissal.
Stewart had faced five balls, failing to add to his overnight score, when he played outside the line of a full-length Zaheer delivery and was lbw to leave England 263 for four in the fourth over of the day.
Hussain then had a fortunate escape when on 123 an edge off leg-spinner Anil Kumble went through the gap between wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra and slip Rahul Dravid.
But Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff then got off the mark with successive boundaries off Nehra. Zaheer was treated in similar fashion, the powerful Flintoff driving him through extra-cover for four before the next ball, a textbook straight drive, rattled into the pavilion fence.
Despite those shots Zaheer once more got through an impressive opening spell, returning figures of 6-4-11-1.
Typically there was also plenty of playing and missing from Flintoff who frequently failed to move his feet into line when going for an aggressive shot.
But when Flintoff did make contact it was with the full face of the bat, an on-driven six off Kumble bringing up a flamboyant fifty from just 57 balls including nine fours.
However, he eventually played one static shot too many when on 59 he edged medium-pacer Agarkar through to Ratra, having put on 93 in 113 balls with Hussain.
Then, as often happens, one wicket quickly following another. Agarkar had dismissed Flintoff with the last ball of his 17th over.
Then, with the first ball of his 18th, he had Hussain caught behind for 155 in similar fashion, Ratra clinging on well as dived to his right.
Hussain had faced 331 balls in a fine captain's innings of over seven hours which included 25 fours and rescued England from the depths of 78 for three.
But at 357 for seven England were still short of the 400 minimum Hussain had said Thursday was required to give his bowlers enough to defend against a powerful India batting line-up.
July 26, 2002 -
Zaheer again strikes early but England dominate again
LONDON: India left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan again struck early after play resumed on the second day of the first Test against England at Lord's on Friday when he removed Alec Stewart with the first ball of his second over of the morning.
Zaheer, who dismissed Michael Vaughan lbw for a duck in his opening over on Thursday, captured Stewart's wicket with an identical delivery which moved in late and struck the England wicketkeeper on the pads in front of his stumps.
Stewart, playing a record 119th Test for his country, had not added to his overnight score of 19.
Otherwise the England batsmen again dominated and after an hour's play on another warm, sunny morning, the home side had taken their overnight score of 257 for four to 312 for four.
England captain Nasser Hussain, who scored a chanceless 120 on Thursday was on 144 and Andy Flintoff had scored 26, including six boundaries.
Flintoff announced his intentions from the start. He turned Zaheer's opening bowling partner Ashish Nehra firmly to the square-leg boundary for four and struck the next delivery majestically square off the back foot for another boundary.
In Zaheer's next over he drove another brace of fours through extra-cover and mid-off and India captain Sourav Ganguly, anxious to restrict the scoring, turned to leg-spinner Anil Kumble.
The move almost brought immediate success when Hussain was beaten by a delivery which turned appreciably. Unfortunately for Kumble the ball took the outside edge of the England skipper's bat, evaded the outstretched gloves of wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra and ran down to the boundary for four.
Hussain rubbed salt in Kumble's wounds with a fierce pull for four and in the next over Flintoff struck his fifth boundary, guiding the ball backward of point.
Not to be outdone, Hussain danced down the pitch to bring up the 300 with an on-driven four off Kumble and Flintoff crashed his sixth boundary through the covers off the same bowler.
DAY ONE
July 25, 2002 - 1705 GMT
England 257-4 v India
LONDON: England were 257 for the loss of four wickets at close of paly on the first day of the first Test against India here at Lord's on Thursday.
Nasser Hussain was batting on 120 and Alec Stewart was playing on 19.
July 25, 2002 - 1455 GMT
Hussain leads England recovery
LONDON: England captain Nasser Hussain led England's fightback against India here at Lord's on Thursday.
At tea on the first day of the first Test of four, England were 177 for three with Madras-born Hussain 82 not out off 171 balls including 14 fours.
John Crawley was 48 not out off 83 balls with nine fours.
Together the pair shared an unbroken stand of 99 after England slumped to 78 for three shortly after lunch.
Left-arm quick Zaheer Khan, who had earlier taken England's first wicket with the score on
nought, struck again 11 balls into the second session.
Graham Thorpe had failed to add his interval score of four when he played inside the line of an accurate full-length delivery that clipped off-stump.
However, from there on in Hussain and Crawley dug in. Both batsmen had some nervy moments but each also played some fine shots as they battled hard to wrest back the initiative from the India attack.
Hussain cover drove Zaheer for four and later brought up his 50 with a quick single off leg-spinner Anil
Kumble. He reached his half century off 128 balls including nine fours.
At the other end Crawley confirmed his reputation as one of England's better players of spin, only looking fallible against Kumble on one occasion when he tried to turn a leg-break onto the onside and edged just short of Rahul Dravid at first slip.
But the Hampshire batsman, recalled to the side because of Marcus Trescothick's broken thumb, recovered to stroke Kumble off the backfoot through the offside for four.
That shot brought up a 50 partnership with Hussain off 104 balls. Meanwhile first change Ajit
Agarkar, chosen ahead of dangerous off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, continued to look the weak link in the attack, his 10 overs costing 45 runs.
And Hussain then started to open up against the medium pace of opposing captain Sourav
Ganguly, straight driving and then on-driving him for crisp boundaries.
Earlier opening batsman Mark Butcher (29) was well taken at short leg by Wasim Jaffer off Kumble to leave England 71 for two, shortly before lunch.
Butcher, like Thorpe a Surrey left-hander, faced 86 balls including four fours. It was an important breakthrough for India who had seen Butcher and Hussain put on 71 after Zaheer's inswinging fifth ball had Michael Vaughan plumb lbw for a duck. Zaheer bowled four successive maidens before eventually conceding a single to Hussain off his 27th delivery.
It was just what India wanted to see as they pursued their first Test series victory outside of the sub-continent since 1986 when Kapil Dev captained them to a 2-0 victory in England.
July 25, 2002 - 1205 GMT
Hussain leads from the front
LONDON: Captain Nasser Hussain led from the front on Thursday as England first struggled and then flourished on the opening morning of the first Test against India at Lord's.
Hussain took 14 balls to get off the mark after England had lost Michael Vaughan for a duck in the second over of the day, but then played with calculated aggression as his team reached 76 for two at lunch.
At the interval Hussain was on 37, including seven boundaries, after Mark Butcher, who helped add 71 for the second wicket, was dismissed five minutes earlier for 29, caught at short-leg off leg-spinner Anil
Kumble.
After Hussain had won a rare toss, Zaheer Khan made the early breakthrough for India with the fifth ball of his opening over from the Pavilion End.
Vaughan, who scored a century here against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the English summer, was hit on the pads prodding half-forward to a ball which veered in sharply with the arm.
India's other left-arm opening bowler Ashish Nehra was also lively and sometimes menacing from the Nursery End as the England batsmen managed only 25 from 14 overs in the first hour.
As the sun drew the early life from the pitch, the batsmen began to dominate. Zaheer was rested after bowling six overs for five runs and Nehra switched to the Pavilion End, with Ajit Agarkar taking up the attack.
Agarkar's gentle medium-pace and comparative lack of movement was immediately exposed when Butcher drove successive balls for four through the off-side.
The India all-rounder then tried his luck at the Pavilion End but was no more successful and was withdrawn after conceding 32 runs from seven overs.
Kumble, the key bowler in an inexperienced attack after off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was omitted from the final 11, came on after 80 minutes but he also held no immediate terrors for the batsmen.
Hussain square-cut an imperious four in Kumble's second over before the leg-spinner took the wicket India were beginning to need badly when Butcher was caught by Wasim Jaffer off bat and pad.
Before the start of play, Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones was awarded his first cap, following in his father Jeff's footsteps into the England side, while wicketkeeper Alec Stewart was presented with a commemorative bat to mark a record 119th appearance for his country.
July 25, 2002 -
Zaheer makes early breakthrough
LONDON: Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan struck an early blow for India on the first morning of the first Test against England at Lord's on Thursday, dismissing opener Michael Vaughan for a duck in his opening over.
Bowling the second over of the innings from the Pavilion End after England captain Nasser Hussain had won the toss, Zaheer immediately made the ball veer sharply in the air towards the batsmen.
Vaughan missed an attempted leg-glance off the fourth ball, then was trapped straight in front of his stumps prodding half-forward to the next. Mark Butcher, promoted to opener in place of the injured Marcus Trescothick, had his problems outside the off-stump against India's other left-arm opening bowler Ashish Nehra before he opened England's account with an on-drive for four from the fifth ball of the third over.
England captain Nasser Hussain also looked uncertain against the lively India opening bowlers on a fine, sunny morning, taking 14 balls before he scored his first run with a nudge to leg.
Hussain hit the second boundary of the morning with an emphatic square-drive off Zaheer, then Butcher gathered a fortuitous five runs, including four overthrows, when India captain Saurav Ganguly missed the stumps at the bowler's end with the England opener a metre short of the crease. After an hour's play England were for 25 one from 14 overs, with Butcher on 13 and Hussain on seven.
Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones was awarded his first England cap, following in the footsteps of his father Jeff, while wicketkeeper Alec Stewart was presented with a commemorative bat before play began to mark his record 119th appearance for his country. India omitted off-spinner Harbhajan Singh from their final 11.
July 25, 2002 - 1010 GMT
England elect to bat against India
LONDON: England won the toss and elected to bat against India in the first Test of four here at Lord's on Thursday.
India chose to omit off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and include medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar instead, leg-spinner Anil Kumble the only specialist slow bowler in the side.
For England, Craig White won the battle for the final place over fellow all-rounder Dominic Cork.
Meanwhile wicket-keeper Alec Stewart became his country's most capped Test player in his 119th match, surprassing fellow former England captain Graham Gooch's record.
At the other end of the spectrum Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones, son of former England quick Jeff, made his Test debut with fellow pace bowlers Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick and Alex Tudor all injured.
Also missing through injury was England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick. Mark Butcher was promoted back to the top of the order with John Crawley recalled to the batting line-up.
England beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in a three-match Test series here earlier this season while India's last Test campaign saw them go down 2-1 away to the West Indies.
India have not won a Test series outside of the sub-continent since 1986 when Kapil Dev captained them to a 2-0 victory in England.
England: Mark Butcher, Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain (captain), Graham Thorpe, John Crawley, Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper), Andrew
Flintoff, Craig White, Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard
India: Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul
Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly (captain), Venkatsai
Laxman, Ajay Ratra (wkt), Ajit Agarkar, Anil
Kumble, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa) and Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe) TV umpire: Peter Willey (England)
Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa)
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