- LONDON: India suffered a major blow on day one of the first test with England at Lord’s, when Zaheer Khan pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury — leaving England on 127-2 in a Thursday afternoon session that was interrupted by rain.
Khan was comfortably India’s best bowler, claiming figures of 2-18 before he pulled up in the middle of the 42nd over, clutching his thigh.
Jonathan Trott was England’s top scorer with a nervy 58 from 104 balls, including eight fours.
Light rain delayed the start until 1030 GMT, with India winning the toss and opting to bowl, looking to exploit the overcast conditions.
The ball misbehaved persistently, forcing England’s openers to make a tentative start.
India bowled three successive maidens before England got off the mark when Cook glanced Praveen Kumar for four at the start of the fourth over.
Strauss could then have been run out for just three runs when he set off for a suicidal single to Kumar, but was spared when Ishant Sharma, fielding at mid on, missed the stumps.
The breakthrough came in the 11th over when Cook was given lbw to an inswinger from Khan.
With the umpires unable to review lbw decisions under the revised terms of the Decision Review System for this series it was a brave call by Asad Rauf. However, the television replays that he — and the capacity crowd — were unable to see, vindicated him, showing the ball would have clipped the top of leg stump.
Harbhajan was brought on 10 minutes before lunch and his first delivery drew an edge from Trott that was put down by Dravid at first slip, to the bowler’s audible disgust.
Having survived a treacherous morning, Strauss (22) squandered his wicket early in an extended afternoon session with a risky attempt to pull Khan and was caught by Sharma at fine leg.
Yet while Khan proved both penetrating and miserly, his partners weren’t as effective, allowing England some respite.
When Khan returned after an hour he drew an edge from Trott that flew between Dravid and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni to the boundary — the first runs off his bowling for 34 balls.
However, Khan aborted his run up in the 42nd over and immediately left the field, giving the crowd what appeared to be a farewell wave.
His departure seemed to shift the momentum behind England.
Trott reached his 50 from 89 balls and Kumar was warned for running on the wicket.
Trott and Kevin Pietersen (22 not out) put on an unbroken 65 for the third wicket, but with the light deteriorating the floodlights were turned on.
After 10 further minutes play was suspended — before rain began to fall.
