England resilience delights Strauss
NOTTINGHAM: England captain Andrew Strauss praised his team's resolve after they fought back from a couple of tight spots to thrash India by 319 runs in the second Test at Trent Bridge here Monday.
Victory, achieved with more than a day to spare, gave England a 2-0 lead in this four-match series and left them on the brink of replacing India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.
But the win, a record in terms of runs by either side in the 101-match history of England-India Tests, was not without its difficulties.
England, having lost the toss, were 124 for eight in their first innings before man-of-the-match Stuart Broad made 64 to boost the total to 221.
And with India threatening a big first innings lead fast-medium bowler Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, took a hat-trick on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46.
Ian Bell, given a run-out reprieve, produced a sublime 159 in England's second innings 544 with seamer Tim Bresnan, in for the injured Chris Tremlett, contributing 90 down the order before taking a Test-best five for 48 as India, chasing a record 478 to win, were skittled out for 158 on Monday.
"To be 120-odd for eight you're behind the eight-ball, but Broad and (Graeme) Swann have done that sort of stuff for us a few times before and it's hard for captains to set fields for," Strauss told Sky Sports.
"Then also Stuart Broad with the second new ball to get us back in the game. I'm proud of what we did this week, we've played some great cricket and come back at important times.
"Bresnan was unlucky not to play in the first Test and he was utstanding with bat and ball in this Test.
"He keeps putting his credentials in place and makes the (selection) decisions harder and harder. It's a good position to be in."
As for Bell's century, he added: "It was an outstanding innings, to score so freely in tough conditions. He's in the form of his life."
Bell admitted he'd been "naive" in not making sure of his ground before he was run out off the last ball before tea on Sunday but Strauss hailed India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's move to reinstate the Warwickshire batsman as a great sporting gesture.
"He set a great example to myself and other captains if we find ourselves in similar circumstances."
Victory, achieved with more than a day to spare, gave England a 2-0 lead in this four-match series and left them on the brink of replacing India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.
But the win, a record in terms of runs by either side in the 101-match history of England-India Tests, was not without its difficulties.
England, having lost the toss, were 124 for eight in their first innings before man-of-the-match Stuart Broad made 64 to boost the total to 221.
And with India threatening a big first innings lead fast-medium bowler Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, took a hat-trick on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46.
Ian Bell, given a run-out reprieve, produced a sublime 159 in England's second innings 544 with seamer Tim Bresnan, in for the injured Chris Tremlett, contributing 90 down the order before taking a Test-best five for 48 as India, chasing a record 478 to win, were skittled out for 158 on Monday.
"To be 120-odd for eight you're behind the eight-ball, but Broad and (Graeme) Swann have done that sort of stuff for us a few times before and it's hard for captains to set fields for," Strauss told Sky Sports.
"Then also Stuart Broad with the second new ball to get us back in the game. I'm proud of what we did this week, we've played some great cricket and come back at important times.
"Bresnan was unlucky not to play in the first Test and he was utstanding with bat and ball in this Test.
"He keeps putting his credentials in place and makes the (selection) decisions harder and harder. It's a good position to be in."
As for Bell's century, he added: "It was an outstanding innings, to score so freely in tough conditions. He's in the form of his life."
Bell admitted he'd been "naive" in not making sure of his ground before he was run out off the last ball before tea on Sunday but Strauss hailed India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's move to reinstate the Warwickshire batsman as a great sporting gesture.
"He set a great example to myself and other captains if we find ourselves in similar circumstances."
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