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Ice packs and X-rays for Cork as England stumble

Jon Culley
Friday 09 August 2002 00:00 BST
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England's hopes of establishing an unassailable position in the four-match Test series against India suffered a setback on the first day of the second Test here yesterday, even though the contest itself is well balanced after bad light restricted play to 66 overs.

A century of high quality from Virender Sehwag tipped the scales marginally India's way at 210 for 4 after their captain, Sourav Ganguly, though uncertain about how the pitch might behave, had decided to risk batting first in conditions that might have been better exploited by England's bowlers.

Worryingly for England, it appeared last night that the run of injuries afflicting their pace bowlers had claimed another victim when Dominic Cork went to hospital for an X-ray on his right knee after hurting himself in an attempted run-out.

Happily, no serious damage was revealed, although there must be a serious possibility that England, having chosen to field five seamers and leave out the spinner Ashley Giles, will find themselves reduced to four. Cork had ice packs around the knee last night.

Already robbed this summer of Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, Alex Tudor and Simon Jones, England had picked Cork in part as experienced cover after opting to give the raw Durham paceman, Steve Harmison, his debut. There was also a doubt over the fitness of the all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who has a niggling groin strain.

Sehwag, whose hundred was his second in only seven Tests so far, was impressed with Hoggard and surprised England did not have more success as the ball moved lavishly in the air and off the pitch. "Conditions suited the bowlers and the ball swung more than I had experienced before but we had decided we would like to bat," he said. "The pitch was damp and difficult for the batsmen. Hoggard bowled very well; he was the best of England's bowlers by far. But I knew if I could stay at the wicket I could go on to a big score."

Frequently likened to Sachin Tendulkar because of their similar stature and stance at the crease, Sehwag said he welcomed the comparison. "The big difference between us is that he has 27 Test centuries."

Hoggard, who raised his wickets count to 21 in his last four Tests, admitted: "We would have liked a few more wickets. If anything, the ball did too much, although it was still the kind of pitch that, as a bowler, you would like to carry around with you. Everybody bowled tight and I think it's just a matter of time before they start nicking the edges and providing chances."

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