Live Blog: England vs India, Day 2, Trent Bridge

(Note to readers: we will post live match updates, analysis and expert views through the course of the Trent Bridge Test. New updates will appear on top. Please hit the refresh button periodically.)

10.52 pm - This is Test cricket at its absolute best. The first two days of the Trent Bridge Test have been action-packed and riveting with Dravid and Broad being the undisputed stars of the show. While Dravid gave the perfect example of what Test match batting is all about, Broad was exemplary with the ball. At stumps on Day 2, England are 24-1 (effectively two down because of Trott's injury) and trail India by 43 runs with Cook back in the pavilion. Strauss and Bell have survived some nervy moments courtesy some excellent bowling from Ishant, Praveen and Sreesanth. The pair will want to stay together for quite a while on the third day.

10.26 pm - England's high spirits have been brought down a notch by Ishant who gets Alastair Cook to play a poor shot and the resultant leading edge was snapped up by Yuvraj at gully. Cook's terrific form seems to have deserted him against India and he would be desperately hoping to get back amongst the runs at Edgbaston in the third Test. Bell has come out to join Strauss at No. 3 as Trott after injuring his left shoulder earlier in the day is unlikely to take any further part in the second Test. Ishant and Praveen have bowled a good probing line to Strauss and Bell. Exciting finish to Day 2 on the cards.

Praise for Dravid on Twitter –

@SANJAYMANJREKAR: Incredible dravid !! Best to keep it simple with the description of that dravid inngs.

@warne888: Well played Rahul Dravid pure quality and class - thorough gentlemen ! congrats broady on Hatrick - crowd alive - great atmosphere here !

@bhogleharsha: rahul dravid is a rock star. all dignity and class. a symbol of hope for nice guys who work hard and put team first.

Praise for Broad on Twitter –

@VaughanCricket: Congrats @stuartbroad8 on a game changing hatrick..... What a atmosphere!?? Always better up north!?

@ZaltzCricket: A 6th wicket for Broad, & best innings figures of 6-46, to go with his best match haul at Lord's. 288 all out, a lead of 67.

@bhogleharsha: everytime england have looked to someone to change the course of the game, broad has put his hand up.

9.59 pm - Stuart Broad's spell with the new ball saw him have amazing figures of 5.1-2-5-5 and career-best figures of 6-46. Broad dismisses Ishant Sharma as India are all out for 288 - a lead of 67 runs. Dravid was the best of the Indian batsmen by a long way and will be deservedly despondent in the manner of the tourists' collapse as they lost their last six wickets for 21 runs. India is still marginally ahead, especially with England likely to be a batsman short in their second innings.

9.44 pm - Hat-trick .... Broad will be loving this! A terrific personal comeback which started at Lord's has continued on his home ground as he top-scored for England and then followed it up with the first ever hat-trick in international cricket at Trent Bridge. Indian skipper MS Dhoni started the collapse by unnecessarily flashing at an outswinger that was snapped up by Anderson at second slip and then Broad trapped Harbhajan LBW (though the umpire got it wrong as Bhajji had got a big inside edge, but couldn't review it) before clean bowling Praveen Kumar with a peach of a delivery. Bresnan got into the attack as he finally ended Dravid's long vigil at the crease. Dravid was caught by Alastair Cook after scoring 117 runs in 235 balls and playing one of the all-time great Test knocks. He may want to spend some time with Dhoni and drum the basics of defence into his head. India lost four wickets in six balls to collapse from 273-5 to 273-9 and let England back into the match.

9.27 pm - Here's some loud thinking: Should India consider dropping Harbhajan Singh for the third Test and take the risk of Raina and Yuvraj sharing the spin bowling duties considering Bhajji's ineffectiveness with the ball?

9.20 pm - Broad is rewarded for some brilliant bowling through the day as the extra bounce and seam movement from a delivery outside the off stump that Yuvraj edged to Prior behind the stumps to bring to an end the 128-run partnership for the fifth wicket between himself and Dravid. India's lead is less than 50 runs currently and England would want to bowl out India with the tourists not being more than 100-125 runs in front. Dravid seems to be tiring and having some concentration lapses as can be expected after his long vigil at the crease, but his defence and technique are immaculate.

8.52 pm - Take a bow, Rahul Dravid! Gets to Test century No. 34 (on par with Sunil Gavaskar) with a paddle sweep to the fine leg boundary off Swann, who continues to have possibly his worst day in international cricket. This is also his third century in five Tests - what a player! When the chips are down and the going is tough, Dravid also stands up and delivers. Yuvraj has played his part in the partnership but it has been all about the one and only Dravid so far in the Indian innings. The runs have also come very easily for India in the post-tea session with Pietersen and Swann operating. England have taken the new ball now and will be desperately hoping to make it count in a hurry. It's advantage India for now.

8.42 pm - Dravid takes three runs off a Swann delivery as India move into the lead with six wickets in hand. Pietersen has been sharing bowling duties with Swann early in the post-tea session; probably a ploy until the new ball is available.

8.20 pm - Andy Zaltzman seems to have hit the nail on the head with this Twitter post: “England were not severely punished for their drops at Lord's, but KP's blooper off Yuvraj on 0 is looking like a major turning point.” (Yuvi was actually on 4, but so far the dropped catch has certainly cost England).

“Smart recovery in this session after losing Tendulkar and Raina. Dravid peerless, but Yuvraj's enterprise has been of terrific value...,” tweets Ayaz Memon.

8.12 pm - After losing Tendulkar and Raina early in the post-lunch session, India was in trouble at 139-4. And, it could have been worse had Pietersen held on to a dolly offered by Yuvraj early in his innings. Yuvraj though has made the most of that life and weathered the early storm in his innings and has added 76 runs in 22.3 overs with Dravid for the fifth wicket as India go into Tea trailing England only by six runs. Bresnan and Anderson have been good but Swann has leaked 44 runs in his eight overs and that is bound to have thrown Strauss' plans into disarray. Dravid, who continues to give a terrific exhibition of Test match batting on a difficult wicket for batsmen, has been aggressive against Swann and watchful against the pacers. He is only 17 runs away from Test century No. 34.

7.59 pm – An update on Jonathan Trott’s injury. Trott will undergo a scan on his left shoulder tonight (UK time) and will not take the field for the remainder of the day.

Some more interesting tweets –

@bhogleharsha - must confess raina looked a bit clumsy against the short ball. He’s a good cricketer but that is an area that could limit him.

@ZaltzCricket - I think if Yuvraj was captaining England right now, he’d have Swann bowling at both ends.

@cricketaakash - Batting, opening the batting, wicket-keeping...what else? I’d say 30 overs of fast bowling for Dravid. How much more a man can do?

7.32 pm - Swann has managed to extract a hint of spin from the Trent Bridge pitch; but Dravid seems to have marked out the off-spinner for special attention as he has been aggressive against the tweaker from the outset. To be fair, Swann doesn't seem to be at his best just yet. At the other end, Yuvraj continues to drive daggers into Pietersen's heart with each run he scores as India gradually close in on England's first innings total. Bresnan has taken over from Broad in the good bowling department. India are scoring runs easily and edging into the driver's seat.

7.11 pm - Good news for England and Swann fans as the off-spinner comes on to bowl his first over, which is the 57th of the Indian innings.

More tweets –

@cricketwallah: Dravid's half ton built on patience, concentration and superb technique against swing. In many ways, this cud be a series defining innings.

@cricketwallah: Broad v Yuvraj should make for an interesting contest: even more so now that Pietersen has dropped a sitter at gully. Dramatic session so far.

@ZaltzCricket: ANOTHER DRAVID STAT: out once in 458 balls this series; rest of India combined getting out once every 45 balls.

6.58 pm - Can Yuvraj make the most of his 'good friend' Kevin Pietersen's sloppiness? Broad gets Yuvraj to steer a sitter to KP at gully who fluffs the chance. England's catching in the series so far has been absolutely atrocious. England would have been all over India had that catch been held. Meanwhile, Dravid is calmness personified and while he is batting it appears the pitch isn't that seamer-friendly as he has just about managed to block everything while keeping the scoreboard ticking over. England would want to dismiss Dravid before Tea.

6.47 pm - This was waiting to happen! Raina guides a short and wide Anderson delivery to Eoin Morgan at gully as the birthday boy takes his second wicket of the innings. India 139 for 4 and England have come roaring back into the match with two quick wickets in the post-lunch session. Can Yuvraj hang in there with Dravid?

6.39 pm - Broad seems to have Raina in all sorts of trouble with his bouncers which the batsman just can't pick up. Dravid continues to be solid and has just scored yet another Test match half-century. As an opening batsman or at No. 3, Dravid is truly 'The Wall'.

6.34 pm - Injury woes hounded India at Lord's, and it now seems to be England's turn at Trent Bridge. Swann sustained a injury on his left hand yesterday, and early in the post-lunch session, Trott appears to have done some serious damage to his shoulder after diving to stop a Dravid drive off a Broad delivery. He walked away from the field on his own and further details are awaited.

Comments on Twitter -

@VaughanCricket: Swann not on the pitch.. Trott now bowling for England...Not what England would have planned for!!

@cricketaakash: Appreciate the fact that confident appeals are followed by taking the referral...good on ya, England. Conviction...n well done, Asad Rauf!

@cricketwallah: Tendulkar's dismissal right after lunch puts England right on top. Loose shot from the master, much to the disappointment of the big crowd.

6.19 pm - England would have hoped for an early breakthrough after lunch and Stuart Broad, who was the pick of England's bowlers in the first session, duly obliges as Tendulkar top edges an attempted cut to England captain Andrew Strauss at first slip, who after suffering a case of butter fingers at Lord's, pouches this one safely to blow the game open. The wait for that 100th international century from Tendulkar's bat continues. Suresh Raina needs to hang in with Dravid for as long as possible.

5.52 pm - Enthralling first session that as most of the runs were scored in boundaries, but that doesn't mean the England bowlers didn't make an impact. While there isn't as much movement as there was yesterday, Broad has been exceptional and so too have Anderson and Bresnan to a certain extent. One won't see much better displays of batting in Tests though - while Laxman was the aggressive one and put away the loose deliveries; Dravid as is his wont held one end up. The post-lunch session promises to be another cracker.

5.33 pm - Thanks to Dravid and Laxman, India go into Lunch on the second day at 117 for 2. India scored 93 runs in the session and though Bresnan dismissed Laxman, the tourists will be the happier dressing room. These are testing conditions for the batsmen, but with their impeccable and sound technique, Dravid and Laxman weathered the early storm with Broad and Anderson being the pick of the England bowlers. The experiment with Trott may not have gone according to plan though he also managed to extract some movement from the pitch. Things could unravel for India should wickets fall in a hurry but Dravid and Tendulkar would want to ensure that situation doesn't arise.

5.03 pm - This always happens, doesn't it - praise a batsman and soon after they are out! This time it was Laxman who fell to that jinx as he edged a Bresnan short of a length delivery to Prior behind the stumps. Laxman is out yet again after making a 50 in Test cricket - his last Test century was against Sri Lanka at Colombo in August 2010. His dismissal brings Sachin Tendulkar to the middle as the top two run-getters in Test cricket look to put on a partnership for the third wicket.

4.59 pm - The two old warhorses - Dravid and Laxman - are putting on a fine display of Test match batting on a seamer-friendly pitch. Dravid has not been at his fluent best and has got himself in a tangle a few times; but his defence for the most part has been absolutely fantastic. On the other hand, Laxman hasn't been shy of playing his shots and has hit some glorious boundaries en route to yet another Test match half-century. He is looking good for a big score and as well as the England pacers have bowled, that elusive breakthrough on Day 2 is still awaited.

James Anderson is celebrating his 29^th birthday today. On his last birthday, he took five wickets against Pakistan at Trent Bridge. India will hope he doesn’t gift himself the same present today.

4.30 pm - Pietersen had a verbal go at Laxman after the caught behind review against him went in the batsman's favour. Laxman though hasn't let that affect him and is doing what he does best in pressure situations and that's to bat as though his life depends on it.

4.27 pm - Laxman is looking good in the middle hitting some well-timed boundaries, but Dravid has faced some nervy moments especially of Broad's bowling. 'The Wall' though is as single-minded as ever with the bat in his hand. England's bowlers have been good so far.

4.04 pm - The first bit of drama of today's play takes place as England review a caught behind appeal that was turned down by umpire Asad Rauf. Anderson got a ball to bounce and straighten around the off stump and Laxman was beaten even as Matt Prior caught the ball low in front of him. Hot Spot however didn't show any mark on the bat and Laxman survives. England are out of reviews for this innings as well.

3.48 pm - Graeme Swann update: The England off-spinner hasn't taken the field at the start of today's play. He had injured his left hand while batting yesterday.

3.42 pm - Early indications on Day 2 point towards another engrossing battle between bat and ball. Should make for some fantastic viewing! Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have hit a couple of boundaries each so far in the day amidst some probing seam bowling from James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Dravid is being tested by Broad.

The first day of the second match of the four-Test series between England and India at Trent Bridge saw the longest format of cricket being played the way it’s meant to be, i.e. hard and tough. India ended the day slightly in front at 24-1 after bowling England out for 221 on a pace-friendly pitch.

Praveen Kumar is known to have a short temper and that got him into trouble after the Indian swing bowler expressed dissent at umpire Marais Erasmus’s decision to turn down a LBW appeal against Kevin Pietersen. Praveen has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee by match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

Meanwhile, England spinner Graeme Swann has been passed fit following an X-ray after a Praveen snorter hit him on the left hand off the delivery in which he was dismissed for 28. Swann is “expected to bowl” in the match, according to a statement from the England team.

The British press was all praise for Sreesanth’s bowling on the first day and Steve James of The Daily Telegraph comes down hard on the Trent Bridge pitch. As for Sreesanth himself, he says keeping things simple helped him perform on the first day; while England’s top-scorer Stuart Broad concedes England need to regain the momentum at Trent Bridge. The Times of India’s Bobilli Vijay Kumar has written an interesting article on Sreesanth’s shocking appeal for a caught and bowled against Ian Bell.

And, this is what Yahoo! Cricket’s readers had to say about the first day’s play at Trent Bridge:

Shailesh – “India has to make minimum 400 runs then only we hv chance back in this series, now if dhoni not bat well in this test then he has to give chance to others.
yuvraj and raina has good opportunity.”

Arjun – “Bravo India. Cut the Buoy of English pride. Let them not forget that India is world's top test team.”

Gunasekar – “It's a very good bowling display from inda as Dhoni expected. Hope sreeshanth made a difference in his spell, by making minor adjutments in his action that makes him to bowl in a good rhythm throughout his spell. Most Important thing is he keeps him calm throughout the innings. Now it's time for our batsmen to do the job, as 221 is every good score on this pitch. If India can make good total around 350- 400, then only we can think about winning this match, other wise not possible.  First session would be crucial for india. If we manage it then surely definetly we’ll make lead.”

Komal Singh Suri – “Exceptional performance by our bowlers, we dominated the whole day, except Broad-Swann innings. Bowlers did their job, now it's up to our batsmen to put up a big score and get as much lead as possible. Dravid-Laxman partnership will be crucial.”

Ravindra Pujari – “Wait & Watch. Lot of cricket is left at Trent Bridge. Let’s not bridge victory for Indians. They are the most unpredictable bunch and our batting resolves round a selected few who more often than not perform. Our bowlers just clicked, but English tail wagged till it reached 200. However, Dhoni has not lead the TEAM as he is known for.”