England vs India 2014: 1st Test, Day 2 - The Quick Flicks

The last hurdle

Why should batsmen have all the fun? Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami added 111 runs for the last wicket

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami's 111-run partnership for 10th wicket is the latest addition in England's embarrassing record of letting the last-wicket pair make complete mockery of their bowling attack.

In 2012, Dinesh Ramdin, in company of No. 11 Tino Best scored 143 at Edgbaston. Best's 95 was his top score and also the all-time highest by a No. 11 batsman in Tests at that time, bettering Zaheer Khan's 75 in 2004. The record lasted only a year, when Ashton Agar made 98 at Trent Bridge, saving Australia from humiliation with a 163-run stand with Phil Hughes.

A year later, almost to the date, England were again witnessing shock and horror at the same venue where Agar had left them stunned.

The crucial drop

Stuart Broad reacts after Matt Prior put down Dhoni’s catch earlier in the day

Early in the morning, Dhoni was struggling in his usual fashion outside off-stump. The slow-motion replay of Dhoni's awkward technique was enough to get the purists pulling out their hair, but despite initial struggles, Dhoni survived.

In the 3rd over of the morning session, Stuart Broad - who has troubled Dhoni more than Anderson in the past - got the outside edge of Indian skipper which carried to Prior's right behind the wicket. Prior put in the dive but the ball ricocheted off his gloves.

Dhoni was on 50 then, and went on to add another 32 runs to his total, but more importantly, played out the morning session and denied Broad and Anderson the chance to bowl at the tail early in the morning. Had that catch been taken, a collapse was on the cards.

The dismissal

Caption

It's cruel sometimes how things can go horribly wrong for someone who is out of form. Looking at the last wicket pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, under pressure Alastair Cook wouldn't have cursed the dead pitch too much. After all, it gave him a chance to get some much needed runs under his belt.

But a needless dismissal ended his hopes. From the very first over, he was walking across the wicket and working the full deliveries on the leg side. In Shami's 2nd over, he walked towards the off-stump again, but Shami aimed for the stumps. The ball moved just a bit to beat Cook's attempted flick and thudded into the thigh, clipping the leg stump to remove the bails and the England captain.

Cook's hopes had lasted just 10 deliveries and earned him 5 runs. The horror run continued.

The stare

It was a frustrating day for bowlers, and more so for James Anderson. While England's leader with the ball was bowling more effort deliveries than the rest, and continuously swinging the ball into the batsmen, the pitch remained unresponsive, completely dead to his charms.

Yesterday, he was too eager to give an earful to Murali Vijay. Today, it was Ravindra Jadeja, followed by Indian skipper MS Dhoni whom he targeted with his glares and words. In the last over before lunch, Anderson beat Jadeja's edge and everyone went up in appeal. There was deviation but no sound and Bruce Oxenford wasn't convinced.

Anderson's appeal lasted longest and he had reached the striker when he turned around and stared at Jadeja, who returned his glare with equal intensity. Anderson slipped a few words and walked back to his mark, muttering under his breath and letting Dhoni know his thoughts.

Replays revealed the ball had passed the edge safely and swung further after crossing the batsman. But Anderson would have none of it. He exchanged a few more words with Dhoni before walking all the way to the stands with the Indian captain, talking intently.

The edge everyone missed

In complete contrast to the Broad-Jadeja incident, England fielders were caught napping just before the tea break. Shami and Bhuvneshwar had added 85 runs for the last wicket so far and Plunkett was going about his usual mode of pitching it short from around the stumps.

On the penultimate delivery of 152nd over, Shami tried to work the shortish ball to the third man, only for the ball to kiss the edge and land in Prior's gloves. Quite surprisingly, neither Prior nor Plunkett reacted. Cook, standing at short mid-off was the only one interested. He had even turned back and started to walk off, thinking it was a clear edge! But umpire Bruce Oxenford refused to raised the finger.

Hot Spot and Snicko confirmed the edge, leaving everyone to wonder how the keeper, bowler and umpire missed that.

The six of the day

Shami hit Anderson for a six to bring up his half-century

Watching tailenders bat is one of the most entertaining things in cricket. Usually, they appear clueless and are troubled by the opposition pacers. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami painted a largely different picture on the crease.

Bhuvi has a first-class hundred to his name and obviously was more sure of his batting than No. 11 Shami, and while many wondered whether it was wise of him to refuse singles to Shami in order to farm the strike, he hardly looked in any trouble.

But Shami was no mug with the bat. A a No.11, he has played a few big hits in limited overs cricket so far. But Shami's first six in Test cricket was simply outrageous. Kumar had just completed his half-century on the previous delivery, and batting on 44, Shami smacked a full delivery by James Anderson powerfully and cleanly over long-on to reach the milestone. It was an emphatic hit, summarising the day and the match so far for England.