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Broad revives England as India hit back

Stuart Broad again proved a thorn in India’s side with the bat as he rescued England from total collapse on the first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge here on Friday.

England slumped to 88 for six after losing the toss in overcast, swing-friendly, conditions.

But Broad, batting at number nine on his Nottinghamshire home ground, top-scored with 64 in a total of 221.

India at stumps were 24 for one in reply, a deficit of 197 runs, as they looked to level this four-match series at 1-1 after losing the first Test at Lord’s by 196 runs.

Rahul Dravid, who made an unbeaten century at Lord’s, was seven not out and Venkatsai Laxman 13 not out after India lost opener Abhinav Mukund to the first ball of their innings when he pushed at James Anderson and was caught in the gully by Kevin Pietersen.

“India certainly won three quarters of the day but we managed to grab a bit of momentum back towards the end and probably ended up a bit disappointed not to pick up more wickets,” Broad told Sky Sports.

“Unfortunately we lost six pretty quick wickets but we are still in with a shout of winning the Test match. It is swinging consistently as it always does at Trent Bridge.”

Earlier, India’s pace trio of Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, recalled in place of the injured Zaheer Khan, all took three wickets apiece.

England captain Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell were the only other batsmen apart from Broad to make more than 30.

But Broad, who together with Nottinghamshire colleague Graeme Swann added 73 for the ninth wicket at better than a run-a-ball, said life had been tough for England’s top-order.

“You can’t look and blame anyone for throwing their wickets away, I thought India bowled pretty well. The ball has done a little bit today (Friday) and it was a good toss to win.”

England came into this match knowing they would replace India at the top of the ICC’s Test rankings if they won this 2-0 or better.

But during the last decade India have either won or squared several series after losing the first Test.

And although they were without left-arm quick Zaheer due to the hamstring injury that had forced him off the field early on at Lord’s, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to field after winning the toss.

Sharma made the breakthrough when he had Alastair Cook lbw for two before Sreesanth had Jonathan Trott, on four, caught by second slip Laxman.

England, 69 for two at lunch, lost six wickets for 55 runs in the second session with Kumar striking twice in four balls.

Five balls after lunch, Pietersen, on 29, was squared up by Sreesanth and nicked to third slip Suresh Raina.

Swing bowler Kumar rocked England with a Test-best five for 106 at Lord’s and, on Friday, the medium-pacer dismissed Strauss when a full-blooded drive was well-held by Raina.

That same over saw 85 for four become 85 for five when Kumar’s outswinger to Eoin Morgan had the left-hander lbw for nought.

Matt Prior had frustrated India with an unbeaten century after England had collapsed to 62 for five in their second innings at Lord’s.

But on Friday he made just one before edging Sreesanth to first slip Dravid.

Bell, dropped on 22, got himself out when he flat-footedly cut at Sharma and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dhoni.

Broad and Swann hit out before their stand ended when Swann gloved a rising delivery from Kumar to Mukund on 28.

Off-spinner Swann was sent for an X-ray on his left hand but scans, according to an England statement, showed “no siginificant damage” and he is expected to be fit to bowl.

Left-handed batsman Broad, who made an unbeaten 74 in the second innings at Lord’s, on-drove Kumar for his seventh four to complete a 56-ball fifty before he was last man out when he holed out to off-spinner Harbhajan.