Australia's Ricky Ponting, left, rubs his chin as England's captain Andrew Strauss applauds teammate Alistair Cook. AP Photo/Rick Rycroft
“The King is dead! Long live the King!” That’s the message coming from the English media in the wake of England’s 196-run victory over India in the first Test at Lord’s.
However, there is a lot more work to be done before England can truly lay claim to being the world’s number one Test side.
Three Test matches worth of hard work, in fact.
It is true that England thoroughly outgunned India and there was a lot to like about the way they played.
Kevin Pieterson’s innings of 202 not out was full of grit and determination.
These are words that are normally as likely to be associated with Pieterson as ‘humility’ and ‘top bloke’.
Matt Prior also chipped in with a terrific hundred in the second innings when England were in a bit of trouble. He would be hoping that the knock silences a few doubters that feel he is just a front-running bully. One more innings like that and I’ll be a believer myself.
England’s bowling, on what was a relatively flat deck, was also impressive.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad in particular were a handful for the Indian batsmen with a lethal combination of swing and accuracy.
It’s funny to note how the basics of bowling also trouble some of the best batsmen the world has ever seen. I’m sure even Bradman was troubled by the odd late swinging delivery pitching just outside off-stump.
India, on the other hand, were a rabble right from the get go.
On the first morning they won the toss and chose to bowl in favourable conditions. But rather than defiantly strolling onto the field with the solidarity and confidence of being the number one Test nation, they sauntered onto field like a herd of stray cats.
It’s true that they did have some bad luck during the match, with injuries to Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir, as well Sachin Tendulkar falling ill. But even taking this into consideration, this was not the India we have come to know and love (ok, I probably should scrap the last bit).
Besides a short period on day four when Ishant Sharma threatened to save the day, India’s bowling attack seemed limp. Additionally, their batting lacked any substance (apart from Rahul Dravid’s ton in the first innings) and their ground fielding was simply atrocious.
Worst of all is that India appeared totally uninterested.
I lost count of the amount of times the television coverage cut to a member of the Indian side picking his nose in the field. You’re playing Test cricket in front of millions of people fellas.
All of your focus should be on the task at hand. It can at least wait until the lunch break! (More troubling: Why is the coverage showing this? Doubly disturbing: Why am I noticing it?).
In saying all of this, the gulf between any two sides in a sporting contest can appear greater in hindsight. The reality is that England didn’t win the Test Match until the last session on the last day.
In fact, there was so much interest and tension in the last day at Lord’s that the ground sold out. Some fans attending in the hope of an England win and equally as many Indian fans attending in the hope of witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s first Test hundred at the home of cricket.
But Sachin’s hundred never came. In fact, it never looked like coming. Tendulkar was probably as scratchy as he’s ever been while he painfully squeezed out a horrid 12 runs in 68 balls.
He was then put out of his misery by Billy Bowden’s crooked finger as if he were an injured thoroughbred. The Little Master uncharacteristically looked overawed by the moment and situation; though it’s possible his illness had worn him down.
Had one or two of the Indian batsmen showed a touch more resolve, or had a bit more luck, then we could be sitting here talking about the missed opportunity for England. In the end England stuck to their task and pulled off the win. Now all the pressure is on India to respond.
Today the eyes of the cricketing world turn to the serene Trent Bridge cricket ground for the second test
What can we expect?
Well, at Trent Bridge the ball normally swings more than a couple in an open relationship. This means that negotiating England’s potent swing-bowling attack could prove even more difficult for India.
Zaheer Khan’s fitness is also crucial in that it will have a fair bearing on how well India can capitalise on the conditions.
Hamstring injuries are normally quite bothersome for fast bowlers so it would be surprising if he has the whites on.
Sreesanth is probably next in line if Zaheer doesn’t get up for the match but, although he breathes a lot of fire and intensity on the field, simply isn’t of the same quality.
Also, one would expect Tendulkar to bounce back with a big score as class doesn’t disappear overnight.
The same goes for Gambhir, VVS Laxman and captain MS Dhoni. India should be stinging from the loss at Lord’s and be hungry to bounce back. However, let’s not ‘should’ them to victory just yet.
What’s in store from England? Well, more of the same really. There will be reactive and tentative captaincy from Andrew Strauss, Broad whinging, Prior over-appealing, KP moping and Chris Tremlett being hat-less.
Oh, and some of the best Test cricket going around right now.
It seems to be a winning recipe.
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