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England struggle in overcast, damp conditions

England batsman Alastair Cook, second left, hits out against India during the first day of the second Test match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England, on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

England struggled to 169 for seven while India paceman Zaheer Khan took 50 for three on the opening day of the second Test at Nottingham on Friday.

India won the toss but England were prevented from batting for four hours because of a wet outfield and only two sessions were completed. The damp conditions suited the bowlers.

"Winning the toss is one thing but the way all the bowlers performed was commendable," India batsman V.V.S. Laxman said.

Khan took the wickets of Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan in an opening spell that left England on 24-2. He also trapped Ian Bell for 31 with five overs remaining in the day.

The left-arm paceman has 151 dismissals in 49 tests.

Sourav Ganguly, Rudra Pratap Singh, Sree Santh and Anil Kumble also took a wicket each.

"It was tough conditions to bat in," said England batsman Alastair Cook, who topscored with 43. "The ball swung around and the Indians bowled well and didn't give us too many scoring options. But, if we can sneak up to 200 tomorrow and then bowl like we did at Lord's, I think it could be quite a competitive total."

England batsman Kevin Pietersen walks off the field after being bowled by India bowler Yuvraj Singh at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England, on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

At stumps, Chris Tremlett was not out 16, with Ryan Sidebottom yet to score.

Cook put on the most productive partnership of the day for England, adding 54 with Paul Collingwood for the fourth wicket.

Collingwood was bowled by Santh for 28 when he hit an inside edge on to his own stumps. Cook departed soon after when he was trapped leg before wicket off Ganguly.

Matt Prior made only 11 before he drove at a wide delivery from Kumble and Rahul Dravid took the catch at first slip.

"It was tough conditions to bat in. The ball swung around and the Indians bowled well and didn't give us too many scoring options."

Alastair Cook, England batsman

In the first session, Kahn had Strauss caught for four by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip in the third over.

Twenty runs later, Vaughan departed in a similar manner for nine after getting a thick outside edge, and was also caught by Tendulkar.

Kevin Pietersen, who scored 134 against India in the rain-affected first Test draw at Lord's, was on 13 before he was out leg before wicket while trying to pull an inswinging delivery from Singh.

Both England and India named unchanged lineups from the Lord's Test.

"I would back the England attack to make the same sort of impression as the Indian attack," Cook said. "Ryan has bowled here for a long time with Nottinghamshire, a genuine seam bowler, and been very successful. We have to believe that we can bowl them out twice."
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