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Strauss out cheaply as rain stops play between England and India

| 21.07.2011

Rain delayed the start and cut short the first day of the first Test between England and India as the draw shortens dramatically to 4/11.

Having been put in to bat by India, England didn’t get off to the greatest of starts with Alastair Cook out lbw to Zaheer Khan for 19 before Strauss sent one down the throat of Ishant Sharma for Khan’s second wicket.

While it’s his biggest score of the Test match summer so far, Strauss’s form remains a worry after his 22 from 83 balls and all eyes will be on the England to see how he copes in the second innings.

That second innings is a long way off yet with the forecast suggesting more delays over the coming days, but England can feel content in the changing room tonight thanks to some solid, but slow-scoring batting from both Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen.

Trott was the most impressive of the England batsman and he will be hoping to add to his 58 when play resumes tomorrow, and England’s number three is 5/6 to score more than 94.5 runs and 10/11 to make a century.

Surprisingly Pietersen followed in his captain’s footsteps and while he remains at the crease following the end of the day’s play, the fans that pack Lord’s tomorrow will be hoping to see Pietersen improve on his strike rate of 30.13

Both countries will be hoping for a full day’s play tomorrow and England will be hoping to put India under pressure with a big total – although if today’s run rate is anything to go by it doesn’t look as if England are ready to push on.

Strauss talked beforehand of England being the best Test team in the world but to prove it they will have to go out and beat India, and with odds of 5/2 to win the first Test, it looks unlikely that Strauss and company are willing to take the game to India.

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Author

Robbie Morris

Robbie studied sports journalism at the University of Gloucestershire, an establishment chosen for its proximity to Cheltenham racecourse, where he was a season ticket holder. Upon graduation, Robbie was a contributor to GolfPunk, a national magazine aimed at ridding golf of its traditionalist image, before joining the news.ladbrokes team.