England v India: The Trent Bridge Heroes

The much awaited India vEngland 2014 series is underway.In 2011, the teams last Test series in England,India could only score 300+once in 8 innings, whereas,In 2014,they have scores of 457 and 391 already. You could blame it on the pitch at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, which was very flat and had nothing to offer to the bowlers. England played with 4 pacers and a part-time spinner in Moeen Ali, whileIndia had 3 pacers and RavindraJadeja.Despite all the action India dominatingthe first 3 days and Englands basically Joe Root and Anderson rearguard efforts, both the teams couldnt force a result.By the end, the match became so mundanethat home captainAlastair Cook decided to bowl himself, ending up getting hismaiden Test wicket withIshant Sharma being the scalp.James Anderson was chosen as the Man-of-the-Match for his heroic 81 in the first innings and 4wickets.We, here, analyse the 5 big heroes of the just concluded Trent Bridge Test.

#5 James Anderson

James Anderson, the leader of English bowling attack,is one of worlds best and arguablyEnglands finest ever. The 31-year-old accounted for wickets of Indias top 3 MuraliVijay, Shikhar Dhawan and CheteshwarPujara in the first innings and took his team out of deep waters when they were batting scoring apersonal best of81,which is the third highest score ever for a No.11 batsman. He along with Joe Root ate up Indias lead, even givingEngland a real chance at winning.

Together they put up a record-breaking 10th-wicket stand of 198 runs. 81 runs and4 wickets, all these aftera histrionic effort with the bat against Sri Lanka last month where he almost took his side to victory definitely makes him worthy of a MoM award.

Bowling figures: 38-10-123-3 and21-8-47-1

#4 Joe Root

At just 23 years of age, England middle order batsmanJoe Roothas a best score of 200*. The diminutive right-handeris being dubbed the next captain of England cricket team.

In this match,he top scored with 154* off 400 balls. England succumbed to Indian bowling attack and were 298-9 whenAnderson decided to give him some company. Dhonis menhad a lead of 159 runs and were in a position to force awin in the match, but Roots determination cost India the match and even gave his team a lead of 39 runs after the end of the first innings.

#3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

He became the 1st No.9 to score 50s in both innings and take 5 wickets in a Test match. In the first innings,India were under pressure after having lost 4 wickets that of RavindraJadeja, Dhoni, Stuart Binny andIshant Sharma for 4 runs in total: going down from 344-6 to 346-9.

But his partnership of 111 runs with the No. 11 Mohammed Shami proved to be thegame changer. Initially,heshielded Shami from the wrath of English bowlers but later went on to trust him with the strike. While bowling, the 24-year-old took wickets of MattPrior and Ben Stokes within 3 balls, sent StuartBroad back tothe pavilion and was the one who broke the record-breaking 10th wicket stand between JoeRoot and JamesAnderson to take his first 5-wickethaul in Test cricket.

Bowling figures: 30.5-8-82-5

#2 MS Dhoni

While DhonisTest captaincy is under the radar,the fact that,after 83 Test matches,he doesnt have a century outside the subcontinent doesnt help his spot as a batsman,either. Usually a No. 7,the 33-year-old came out to bat at No.6, showing signs of intent,and took the responsibility very well.

At the end of day 1, hewas at 50 off 64 balls and was looking set for a century the next day. Unfortunately, though, he ran himself out on 82 trying to steal a quick single,just like it happened in Nagpur when he was on 99 against the same opposition in 2012. So much for the comparisons of Nottingham to Nagpur!

He couldnt reach three-figures, but his 82 off 267 balls was as crucial as they come.

#1 Murali Vijay

It has never beeneasy being Murali Vijay in India. After having failed in both the practice matches ahead of the tour in addition to the poor performances in the New Zealand series earlier this year, a good part of the cricketing worldwanted the reserve opener for the tour,Gautam Gambhir,to take his placein the team. The Indian captain MS Dhoni isnt the one to chop and change at that rate, though, and he chose to give the Tamil Nadu opener an extended run.

The 30-year-old hasanswered back in style. After Dhawans early wicket in the first innings,he made a 73-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara. FollowingPujara and Kohlis wickets inquick succession,onus was on him to bat sensibly along with AjinkyaRahane.Vijay did proper justice to his nickname Monk,when he batted like one while the more favoured onesaround him were falling like nine pins.

India werereeling at 178-4 whenDhoni joined him. At the end of day 1, the visitorswere 259-4,out of which Vijay had scored 122. The next day he added 24 more runs before being given out lbw to aJames Anderson, a highly debatable decision at that:the replays showed the ball was missing the stumps,but this is the price you pay for not using Decision Review System (DRS). He was really unlucky to miss out on a well deserved double century, but his 146(468) makes him one ofthe heroes of the match.

Not to forget his half-century in thesecond innings to get India off a strong start.