Broad and Dravid Shine at Trentbridge (Second Test Day 2 Review)

Day 2 of the second Test match between India and England started with much better batting conditions than the previous day. The sun was shining and the green tinge the wicket had on day one seemed to have faded. The experienced pair of Dravid and Laxman came to the crease with India on a score of 24-1, chasing the England first innings total of 221. The early exchanges were very much dominated by the Indian partnership, taking advantage of some loose bowling from both Anderson and Broad. As the morning progressed, the score line seemed to be moving along effortlessly until Laxman fell, just before lunch, to the bowling of Bresnan not long after making his fifty.
After the lunch break, Sachin Tendulkar continued with his scratchy run of form making just 16 before being snared at the slip by Strauss from a fully pitched delivery by Stuart Broad. In the mean while Dravid, at the other end, was looking every bit his nickname 'the wall' as he continued to frustrate the England bowlers. After Raina fell for just 12 to Anderson, Dravid and Yuvraj Singh put on a valuable partnership during the afternoon as the England bowling attack toiled in the sapping heat. Pietersen dropped Singh for zero and it was starting to look costly as the Indians sat on a total of 267-5.
The test match once again took a huge twist after tea due to a stunning spell of bowling from Stuart Broad. Broad first removed Singh for 62 and soon after took his first ever test match hat-trick in dismissing Dhoni, Harbhajan and Kumar to the delight of the capacity crowd at his home ground. Suddenly what looked like a huge first innings lead for India was looking less likely and the pressure was back on the visitors. But the coolest man in the ground, Dravid was not to be denied yet another century and rightly took the plaudits he deserved from the gracious home crowd.
Dravid fell to Bresnan eventually for 117 and the Indians were all out for a total of 288, which England will have been more than happy with given the way things looked at tea. With the Indians having a lead of 67 runs, the England opening pair would face a very testing 11 overs against the new ball before the close of play. The task for England was made more difficult due to their No3 batsmen, Jonathan Trott, badly injuring his collar bone whilst fielding. He is unlikely to bat in the second innings.
The visitors made the perfect start with the ball as Sharma removed the badly out of nick Alistair Cook with just 6 runs on the board. The pressure was immediately on Ian Bell as he came in up the order to replace the injured Trott. Along with Strauss however, he managed to guide England to a total of 24-1 by the close of play, still trailing the Indians by 43 runs going into day three of this fascinating match.

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