Daijiworld Media Network
Nottingham, Jul 12 : Nice and sunny today at Trent Bridge. Unlike yesterday when it was dull, dark and dank. India would be looking to dismiss this last wicket, which has so far put on an unbeaten 54 runs. Root is on 78 and he will be hoping for help from Anderson, to get to what would be a fine hundred. Lots to play for as we are just minutes away from the first ball.
K.C Vijaya Kumar, reporting for the Hindu deconstructs Ishant. He writes, 'Hailed for his talent, derided for his no-balls, remembered for his spell to Ricky Ponting at Perth in 2008 and quizzically looked upon by hair-dressers, Ishant Sharma has seen it all. His up-and-down career graph was on view during the third day of the first Test here at Trent Bridge but India wouldn't complain.'
Dwivedi writes, 'On most days of his seven year-long international career, the brute of a man has looked like a little boy lost. However, during a seven over spell in the second session on Day 3, Sharma looked fearsome and terrorised the England middle-order.'
Sandeep Dwivedi's report for the Indian Express has the headline: 'Ishant Sharma leaves hosts spell-bound'
The former England skipper adds, 'If you start with the Trent Bridge Test against Australia last July, this was the 10th bad batting collapse this England team have suffered in the space of a year. And we are talking about some pretty good batting tracks in Australia and here. It smacks of a lack of substance - and it is a big worry. We have seen this summer that England's batsmen can put together some decent individual efforts. But as a unit, and that's what counts if you are going to win Test matches, it is back to the bad old days. Lose one wicket, and you lose three or four. England have got to be tougher than that.'
Nasser Hussain, writing for the Daily Mail, places the microscope on England's middle-order implosion as well. His piece has the headline: 'England have reverted back to the bad old days when batsmen don't dig in'
Marks carries on, 'Kumar took most of the wickets; Ishant Sharma bowled the best spell. He delivered seven fine overs in that deadly hour after lunch when for some reason wickets have always fallen in this match. Unlike Kumar, Sharma undertakes to bowl quite quickly. He hustled into the crease followed by his familiar mane of black hair and extracted more life from this pitch than any bowler so far.'
Vic Marks, writing for the Guardian heaps praise on the Indian bowlers. His special carries the headline: 'Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma surprise England batsmen'
He adds, 'Whatever they say about being positive, for all their public utterances about moving forward and putting the Ashes behind them, it will not change overnight. This is a very vulnerable group of players suffering from a crushing lack of confidence.'
Agnew writes, 'The confidence of the England players remains so fragile that when a couple of wickets fall, they are riddled with tension, and all too often the wheels come off. How else do you explain England's latest batting collapse, from 131-1 at lunch to 205-7 at tea on the third day of the first Test against India at Trent Bridge? Or the second innings implosion at Headingley against Sri Lanka?'
Jonathan Agnew's piece for BBC Sport wears the headline: 'England batting collapse proves Ashes nightmare remains'
Greetings and welcome to what is tipped to be a moving Day 4 at Nottingham. Before the action unfurls let us have a peek at what the newspapers have in store for us.
Just when the visitors were warming up to bat again, Joe Root combined well with an iron-willed Jimmy Anderson to stitch a spirited 54-run last wicket stand to defy India. The duo will strive to keep chipping away at the 105-run deficit while India will aim to mop up the England innings quickly and produce another good batting performance. It is important for India to sustain the intensity. Remember, the Trent Bridge Test some three years ago when India squandered the advantage?
The Indian pacers clicked in unison yesterday to slice open the English middle order and with it tighten their grip on the game. Bhuvneshwar reckoned that India needed to be patient and just land the ball in the right areas. The pacers, led by a rejuvenated Ishant Sharma, stuck to the task, limiting England to 298-9.