Second test result: advantage India

Today India won only their fifth test match in England to go one up with one to play in this three match series. The result was as expected after the tourists dismissed England for 355 yesterday, leaving them a relatively easy target of 73 for victory. However, England will be more than delighted with the application of their bowlers, especially Chris Tremlett, who in only his second test match, seems to have reserved himself a permanent place in the line-up. India lost three wickets in their chase, all to Tremlett, and if only the England bowlers could have whittled three quick wickets from the Indian top order on Friday evening and Saturday morning, this test match would probably have had a very different result.

England lost this match by 7 wickets, but there was plenty of their cricket that deserved more than that, not least the second innings batting display, and the effort from the bowlers throughout the entire match. Luck plays a big part in sport, and on such fine margins, games are won and lost. Ryan Sidebottom in particular will feel aggrieved that he did not pick up more wickets on his home ground, following a fantastic display of consistent swing bowling. He will bowl a lot worse and pick up more wickets. Sod's law. I thought James Anderson was effective, but inconsistent, and if one bowling place was up for grabs for the third test, it would be his. However, I feel the selectors will go with the same attack, considering how close they got this time round, and hope the Oval brings more luck than misery. Tremlett, as already said, bowled superbly, and looks to have cemented a place in the England side for the forseeable future. Steve Harmison is going to have to work hard in county cricket before he gets another look in I feel. The consistency of Tremlett's bowling creates pressure, and he bowls a great line and length, gets swing and bounce, takes wickets and bowls at 80-85mph. A great bowler in the making!

It was England's first innings batting display that cost them this match, although again it was by fine margins. Another 50 runs in the first innings, and another 50 in the second, could have given the Indians a tricky target on a wearing final day pitch. Application was a word used earlier on, and the TV pundits have touched on it many times over the past five days. The English batter's application was probably not as good as it could have been. We have batsmen who love to cash in when it's all going good, but what we need is for these batsmen to show a harder streak. We need batsmen who can go out there and front up when the going is tough. Michael Vaughan played a captains innings, and I thought Strauss batted well second time around, and if those two had stayed together longer, we could have set a useful target for India. Vaughan showed what needed to be done, and was very unfortunate to get out in the manner that he did. Collingwood grafted well, but needed more support from the lower order. Plenty to work on for England's batting for the Oval, although the only change I would consider making is for Ian Bell. Bell is a quality player, but is short of runs and struggling with the swinging ball, and is not very experienced when batting with the tail. The only question is who to bring in? Owais Shah maybe?

The much fancied Indian batting line up fired in this game, all of them getting decent scores. They will be tough to bowl out twice, but the application (there's that word again) of the English bowlers today and throughout this test has definately given cause for optimism.

Zaheer Khan was man of the match, with 9 wickets in the match, and showing great consistency. I also thought RP Singh bowled really well. The wicket of Matt Prior in the second innings was fantastically executed, and at 21 years of age, he looks very promising. Sree Sreesanth is a talented bowler, but has become distracted in this match. His mind seems to wonder, and the Indian management need to sit him down and read him the riot act and get him back on the rails. If the ball swings at the Oval, both bowling attacks should do well, and it will be down to the application (!) of the batting line ups as to who proves the winner.

Michael Vaughan has never lost a test series on home soil, but his side are going to have to chase this one, so be ready for a very positive England performance looking to draw this series. What do I think? Well, biased opinion here, but I think England will bounce back and get the win, if the weather holds. The last few days have not gone as England would have planned, but a change of luck, and if the batters hold their own, and anything is possible, but don't be suprised to have another 5 day marathon. This series has been really good value so far, and I don't think the final test will disappoint!