England Helped By Another South African As Willoughby Exposes India Top Order

England helped by another South African as Willoughby exposes India top order

By [/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Sportsmail+Reporter Sportsmail Reporter] Updated: 23:30 BST, 16 July 2011






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Charl Willoughby dented the confidence of India's batsmen ahead of the first Test against England with a superb display for Somerset on the second day of the tour match at Taunton.

The veteran South African left-arm seamer sent back Gautam Gambhir, Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Amit Mishra on his way to figures of five for 50 as the visitors collapsed to 138 for eight in reply to Somerset's 425 for three declared.
High five: Somerset bowler Charl Willoughby tore through the Indian top order

Sachin Tendulkar looked rusty after his lay-off and survived several scares before being caught behind off teenage all-rounder Craig Meschede for 26, while Peter Trego and Alfonso Thomas claimed the other two wickets to fall as Somerset took complete control of the match.



It must have made pleasant viewing from first slip for England captain Andrew Strauss, continuing his guest appearance for Somerset. He will have detected little conviction in the Indian batting on a true pitch just five days before the opening Test at Lord's.

India's collapse came after VVS Laxman - who was rested against Somerset - expressed his belief earlier today that his side could beat any team in the world if they play to their potential.

He also believes having former England footballandcricketonline.hpage.com coach Duncan Fletcher in their camp will boost their chances of success against Strauss' men.

'It has been brilliant working with Duncan,' Laxman said.

'The time we spent with him in West Indies was very encouraging and you know from just talking to him that he has such a deep knowledge of the game.

'The Lord's Test is going to be his 100th as a coach, which is a great achievement in itself, and he will be the first coach to achieve it.

'We are very lucky to have someone like Duncan with us because he is a very experienced and very mature person.

'I feel I can learn from him.

There is always scope for improving and having discussions with someone like Duncan can only make you a better cricketer.'
Rusty: India batsman Sachin Tendulkar only made 26

The vastly experienced batsman also insisted that defending their ranking as the top Test playing country in the world will be the last thing on India's mind when they take on England.

'We don't see it as being about proving ourselves the top nation,' he said.

'We just want to concentrate on winning each and every Test match, rather than thinking about number games and rankings.

'It is going to be a highly challenging series for us without a doubt because England have a very good side.

They have a very formidable and balanced bowling attack with some real match-winners.

'But I firmly believe that if we play to our potential we can beat any side in world cricket.

'We are looking forward to playing to our strengths and continuing the good work we have done in recent years.
We will concentrate fully on our own performances and preparation and if we do that we can definitely do well here.'

After rain had delayed the start at Taunton until 2.30pm, Somerset extended their first innings from an overnight 329 for two, adding 96 as Arul Suppiah completed a career-best 156 and 20-year-old Chris Jones hit nine fours in an unbeaten 51.

As the tourists began their reply, Gambhir and Mukund put on a rapid 32 before Willoughby struck for the first time with a wide delivery that saw the India captain, on 21, slash a catch to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

It was 40 for one at tea, but soon after the interval Willoughby beat Mukund's defence with an inswinger and the opener departed lbw for 18.

There was no stopping Willoughby and he had Dravid taken at second slip by James Hildreth for 17 before removing Yuvraj lbw for a duck.

Tendulkar had given odd glimpses of finding some form, notably with a sumptuous on-drive for four off Willoughby.

However, he also survived an inside edge past his stumps off the same bowler on nine, a confident lbw shout from Thomas on 18, and a flashing play and miss off Willoughby on 22.

The Little Master finally perished when becoming 19-year-old Meschede's maiden first-class wicket, edging a drive to Buttler off the fourth ball of the seamer's opening over.

Soon Wriddhiman Saha was following him back to the pavilion, the second Indian dismissed for a duck after edging Trego through to Buttler to leave the innings in tatters at 90 for six.

Zaheer Khan (15) had his middle stump uprooted by Thomas, while Mishra was caught at backward point for six to give Willoughby his fifth victim.

Suresh Raina produced some counter-attacking shots to be unbeaten on 30 at stumps.


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