The 1st Test between England and India at Lord's (indeed the 2000th Test) lived up to it's hype and despite my opening statement, managed to engage interest in those with little interest in the game. India were dealt a major blow with the absence of their best bowler Zaheer Khan early on the first day, and despite great effort from the remaining seamers Sharma and Kumar, especially on day 4, India struggled to take 20 wickets. Despite this misfortune, it was probably India's batting, or perhaps more fairly, a superb bowling performance from England that resulted in a convincing 196 win for the hosts. It was a great match which had intriguing passages of play, twists and some superb performances. Much credit has to go to the groundsman who prepared a pitch which allowed for a fair contest between bat and bowl. Anyho here are my much critically acclaimed match ratings for each player (out of 10):
England
Andrew Strauss - Made starts with the bat but played a loose shot under the pressure of Zaheer Khan and didn't do a whole lot better in the second innings. Although his form is of slight concern, he was a great leader of men in the field, but he did drop two sitters at first slip - 5
Alastair Cook - Every player has an off day, failed in both innings, he will hope his form won't fade and that India's bowlers don't find him out Great job as the team 'ball shiner' - 4
Jonathan Trott - Kept a cool head as always and battled hard in the first innings, giving much needed support to KP, but was unhappy with the lbw decision, but more disappointed by the loose shot he played in the second innings as England wobbled - 8
Kevin Pietersen - Played the innings everyone wanted him to do to set up the match for England in the first innings. Very scratchy and lucky on the first day and the following morning, but kept in and gritted away until he let his natural game take over for the remaing 100 odd runs, just at the right point in the match. A double ton played for the team - 10
Ian Bell - Aided Pietersen well and got a great start in the first innings but didn't go on and failed with England on the rocks later on in the match, but played his part. Took a great catch to dismiss Laxman - 6
Eoin Morgan - Duck in the first innings combined with giving his wicket away as England's last recognised batsman as collapsed on day 4. Fielding wasn't as great as normal either. Needs to get runs under pressure, especially as his place is the only real place under issue - 4
Matt Prior - Played selflessly to support KP and later to save and set up the game, seizing the initiative from a rampant India with his counter-attacking hundred when England most needed it. Tidy behind the stumps and a vocal support on the field too, some say he is the world's best wicketkeeper-batsman, and against his Indian counterpart especially, on his evidence you would be hard pressed to disagree - 10
Stuart Broad - Raised one or two eyebrows (including both of mine) when he was selected ahead of Bresnan after poor early season form, but confounded his critics in this match. Bowling full of a length and for probably the only time since 'that spell' against the Aussies in 2009, being consistentantly dangerous and threatening and deserved than the seven wickets he got in the match. Also played a crucial supporting knock to Prior in the second innings. - 9
Graeme Swann - Didn't take many wickets but was threatening and probably created wickets for others with his pressure, it wasn't a 'vintage' Swann performance, occaisionally bowling too short, but a typically good one nonetheless. Stuck a few blows with the bat too and probably winning the battle of the world's best spinner so far against Harbhajan Singh - 8
Chris Tremlett - Bowled and threatened well in both innings, took wickets and not much more to add apart from that. However, he showed a lot of heart in both innings to bowl that well when he was clearly carrying an injury - 8
James Anderson - Bowled well in the first innings but was superb in the second, using the slope and swing well, as did all the England bowlers. Bowled a lot of balls which were simply too good for the batsman; that is saying a lot considering the quality of India's batting lineup - 9
Overall - From a perfectionist perspective, minor concerns in areas of the batting order and the fielding wasn't quite up to their high standards, but bowling wise it was probably the most complete display since the MCG last December, and will have plenty of confidence ahead of Trent Bridge.
Hopefully will get round to doing India's rating, but I'm having a rest now!
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