England strike as rain hits play again

It was another frustrating day at Lord’s as rain had its say for the second day running but England found enough time to cause some early damage against India in the second Test here on Friday.

After the opening day was abandoned following rain, nice warm sunshine greeted the players as the packed Lord’s waited in anticipation for an exciting battle. But only 6.3 overs of action was possible when rain lashed the ground with India in a spot of bother 11 for 2.

England skipper Joe Root won the toss for a second straight time and he had no hesitation in asking India to bat first with dark clouds hovering around the stadium. By the time India openers Murali Vijay and K L Rahul took guard, the clouds moved over Lord’s, leaving them with the enviable task of negotiating James Anderson in conditions tailor-made for the swing master.

The 36-year-old right-arm pacer feasted on the conditions, hurtling down every ball with plenty of venom. Vijay’s stay lasted only five balls, the Tamil Nadu batsman undone by a peach. Anderson’s delivery initially started to shape in and Vijay, trying to flick it, was left totally flummoxed as it swung away right at the end to knock his stumps off.

At the other end, Stuart Broad also kept a tight line as Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, brought in place of Shikhar Dhawan, struggled to put bat to ball. India took 3.4 overs to score their first run, Rahul driving a Broad delivery for a boundary.

Rahul then perished to another beauty from Anderson. The ball shaped in initially and Rahul trudged forward to play a defensive shot. The ball, however, swung away late, taking the edge into the safe hands of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. Indian skipper Virat Kohli trudged in for his third round duel with Anderson. But rain halted it.

Meanwhile, India also dropped Umesh Yadav and picked chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav in his place.