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N Ananthanarayanan

N Ananthanarayanan has spent almost three decades with news agencies and newspapers, reporting domestic and international sport. He has a passion for writing on cricket and athletics.

Articles by N Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Alastair Cook thanks Jasprit Bumrah for gifting him a century with overthrow

The former skipper said having family members and a huge number of friends in the stands and England’s Barmy Army singing his song made it very special.

Indian players shake hands with Alastair Cook at the end of his innings at the Oval.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 11, 2018 09:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Mohammed Shami benefitted from watching videos of James Anderson and Stuart Broad

Of the 82 wickets taken by Indian bowlers in this five-Test series, the pacers have shared 61 — Ishant (18), Shami (16), Jasprit Bumrah (14), Hardik Pandya (10) and Umesh Yadav (3).

Mohammed Shami (left) celebrates after dismissing Jonny Bairstow at the Oval on Monday.(AP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 11, 2018 08:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Alastair Cook walks off to golden sunset

Alastair Cook’s final test innings came to a close when he was dismissed having scored a fairytale 147 against India at the Oval on Monday.

Alastair Cook walks off after losing his wicket during the fifth Test between India and England at the Oval.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 11, 2018 09:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Skipper Virat Kohli deserves praise for backing young Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari’s selection had triggered a big debate because Karun Nair, who marked his last Test against England with a triple century in 2016 and was an original member, was not picked when India chose a sixth batsman.

India captain Virat Kohli (left) decided to hand Hanuma Vihari a Test debut going into the fifth Test against England at the Oval.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 10, 2018 10:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Virat Kohli helped me at the start of my innings - Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari had a problem playing the incoming deliveries at the start of the innings, but skipper Virat Kohli gave him some cues on how to tackle them.

Hanuma Vihari takes a run during his innings of 56 at the Oval on Sunday.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 10, 2018 12:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Ravindra Jadeja is a dangerous cricketer, happy he only played last game - Paul Farbrace

In this series, Jadeja’s role had been limited to that of a substitute fielder until R Ashwin’s groin injury presented him with an opportunity in the The Oval Test. In the first three days, the all-rounder has taken five wickets and scored 86 not out to stamp his presence.

Ravindra Jadeja plays a shot during his unbeaten knock of 86 on Sunday.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 10, 2018 09:10 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari fight back; hosts in control

England were 114 for two in their second innings, a lead of 154 runs, at stumps on the third day of the fifth Test against India at the Oval on Sunday.

India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after reaching his fifty against England at Oval.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 09, 2018 11:24 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Hanuma Vihari scores fifty on debut to keep visitors afloat

Hanuma Vihari marked his Test debut with a fifty as India kept England’s James Anderson waiting for a landmark wicket at the Oval on Sunday.

cricket

Updated on Sep 09, 2018 06:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Fiery Kohli-Anderson duel spice of Test series

Anderson dismissed Kohli five times in his bleak 2014 tour when he scored 134 runs at an average of 13.4, but the world No 1 Test batsman has come good with a vengeance this time, scoring centuries and three half-centuries, aggregating 593 runs at an average of 65.88.

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Updated on Sep 09, 2018 08:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Bumrah defends bowlers after Buttler, tail frustrates again

With Hardik Pandya dropped for the final Test, and debutant Hanuma Vihari as the sixth batsman, the bowling load had to be shared among four -- Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Bumrah, youngest of them, acknowledged long spells does tire the bowlers a bit.

India's Ishant Sharma, right, reacts after pitching a delivery as England's Jos Buttler, center, and England's Adil Rashid add a run during the fifth cricket test match of a five match series between England and India at the Oval cricket ground in London, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.(AP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 09, 2018 08:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: They just kept coming, Moeen Ali hails India bowling trio

Cook fell to Bumrah for 71 and Ishant dismissed Moeen for 50 after their 73-run second wicket partnership had looked like lifting England to a solid total. The pitch played slow, but India’s pacers were relentless with the old ball.

cricket

Updated on Sep 08, 2018 12:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Ravindra Jadeja keen to regain spot in all three formats

Jadeja took the only wicket to fall in the morning after England chose to bat, having opener Keaton Jennings caught in the leg trap. His quick thinking also brought about the downfall of Ben Stokes, leg before. He bowled 24 overs, taking 2/57, playing his first game of the tour.

cricket

Updated on Sep 08, 2018 12:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah on fire as pacers storm Alastair Cook’s farewell

Ishant Sharma had got Alastair Cook out 11 times in all, but the release shot was needed for England’s record run-scorer. The paceman almost had him a 12th time moments earlier in that post-lunch phase, but Ajinkya Rahane at gully was caught by surprise on an Oval pitch of less bounce.

India's Ishant Sharma (C) celebrates the wicket of England's Moeen Ali.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 07, 2018 11:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Team management ties itself in knots over Ashwin fitness

In what seemed more an effort to conceal the decision to play Ashwin in the fourth Test despite not being fit, skipper Virat Kohli, coach Ravi Shastri and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane all tried to give the impression that there was nothing wrong with the spinner.

File image of R Ashwin (L) celebrating the fall of a wicket with India skipper Virat Kohli.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 07, 2018 07:59 PM IST

London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Experienced batting group hasn’t supported bowlers, says Ajinkya Rahane

Of the seven matches in South Africa and England together, India have bowled out teams twice in six games, but only two have led to victories as batsmen have fallen short.

Ajinkya Rahane during nets at the Oval.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 07, 2018 11:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Joe Root wants Alastair Cook to end on a high in farewell Test

Joe Root said the retirement of Alastair Cook won’t be a distraction and the team will come up with an appropriate gesture to mark Cook’s farewell.

cricket

Updated on Sep 06, 2018 10:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Virat Kohli and boys play for pride as hosts look to give Cook perfect farewell

India’s lower-order batsmen came unstuck on a dry Ageas Bowl pitch in the fourth Test as off-spinner Moeen Ali took nine wickets by exploiting the rough caused by bowlers’ footmarks. The Oval pitch has some grass, but is dry and is expected to give pacers the upper-hand in the first two days.

cricket

Updated on Sep 07, 2018 11:46 AM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Had lost mental edge, says retiring England opener Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook Cook, spoke about getting emotional as he broke the news to his teammates after the series-clinching win over India at Southampton on Sunday and the adulation he has got since then.

Alastair Cook will be playing his 161st and final Test at the Oval.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 05, 2018 09:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Ravi Shastri questions performance of past greats while defending poor show in England

Ravi Shastri brushed aside criticism that Virat Kohli’s team is not living up to overseas challenges, after the 1-2 loss in South Africa. Kohli had said the team must learn to ‘cross the line’.

India have lost the Test series to England with one match remaining.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 05, 2018 10:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times, London | ByN Ananthanarayanan

In captaincy and as an opener, Alastair Cook was always ready for the toughest test

Alastair Cook England’s highest Test run-getter, flew half way across the globe after he was summoned from the A squad in the West Indies to Nagpur, scoring a century on debut in March, 2006. Cook’s 60 and 104 not out in the two innings of the drawn game.

Alastair Cook played 158 consecutive Tests for England, which is a record.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 03, 2018 10:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Joe Root says was always “in control” of India’s run chase after series win

England’s series win has come despite a shaky top-order batting and confusion over whether Jonny Bairstow or Jos Buttler will keep wicket going forward.

cricket

Updated on Sep 03, 2018 01:37 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Virat Kohli regrets squandering advantage in first innings

India looked set to take at least a 100-run lead but managed only 27 runs in the end. Ashwin’s inability to build on the fine work done by pacers (37.1-7-84-1) on the third day then allowed England to set a solid target.

cricket

Updated on Sep 03, 2018 11:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

4th Test: India’s comeback dream ends as they fail to seize key moments against England

India vs England 4th Test: Moeen Ali bowls England to a 60-run win at Southampton. England take unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with one Test still to play.

cricket

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 11:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Moeen Ali sends India to 60-run defeat, series loss

Moeen Ali captured four wickets, including the prize scalps of Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane before finishing with a match haul of nine, as India were 184 all out chasing 245 for victory, late in the final session on Day 4.

England's Moeen Ali celebrates taking the wicket of India's Ajinkya Rahane .(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 10:21 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Moeen Ali, England primed to strike on breaking pitch, says Jos Buttler

Buttler, who took over wicketkeeping from Jonny Baistow for the game, top-scored with a valuable 69, and then said the pitch had deteriorated enough for off-spinner Moeen Ali to come into play.

cricket

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 12:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Cheteshwar Pujara confident India will tackle Moeen on slow Southampton pitch

India don’t have a history of big successful chases in England. Of the seven Tests they have won in England, three were achieved chasing a fourth innings target. Among them the best came in the famous Oval win in 1971, when they chased down 173, reaching 174/6.

cricket

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 12:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: India faced with tall order after Jos Buttler, Sam Curran heroics

The fourth Test against England is the biggest in Virat Kohli’s captaincy, with the series on the line at 1-2 with a game left. But the Day 3 Ageas Bowl pitch was dry, played considerably slow as the sun beat down and England batsmen showed great application to take a firm grip on the Test.

cricket

Updated on Sep 01, 2018 11:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Can’t become bad player after one bad winter - Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali hopes the way he has so far performed with both bat and ball during the fourth Test against India at Southampton will mark a “fresh start” to his England career.

England's Moeen Ali celebrates taking the wicket of India's Mohammed Shami in Southampton.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Sep 01, 2018 09:58 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: How Cheteshwar Pujara improved his game ahead of Southampton Test

Cheteshwar Pujara’s unbeaten 132 on Friday helped India post 273 in the first innings and take a 27-run lead against England on the second day of the fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl.

Cheteshwar Pujara in action on Day 2 of the fourth Test between India and England.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Sep 01, 2018 03:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

India vs England: Cheteshwar Pujara hits brilliant century, keeps India just ahead

Cheteshwar Pujara scored only his second Test outside the sub-continent, ending his wait since a 153 at Johannesburg on the 2013-14 tour, marking a turnaround in a career that has seen more dips than highs since then.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored his 15th Test century at Southampton.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Aug 31, 2018 11:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Southampton | ByN Ananthanarayanan

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N Ananthanarayanan

N Ananthanarayanan has spent almost three decades with news agencies and newspapers, reporting domestic and international sport. He has a passion for writing on cricket and athletics.

The former skipper said having family members and a huge number of friends in the stands and England’s Barmy Army singing his song made it very special.

Of the 82 wickets taken by Indian bowlers in this five-Test series, the pacers have shared 61 — Ishant (18), Shami (16), Jasprit Bumrah (14), Hardik Pandya (10) and Umesh Yadav (3).

Alastair Cook’s final test innings came to a close when he was dismissed having scored a fairytale 147 against India at the Oval on Monday.

Hanuma Vihari’s selection had triggered a big debate because Karun Nair, who marked his last Test against England with a triple century in 2016 and was an original member, was not picked when India chose a sixth batsman.

Hanuma Vihari had a problem playing the incoming deliveries at the start of the innings, but skipper Virat Kohli gave him some cues on how to tackle them.

In this series, Jadeja’s role had been limited to that of a substitute fielder until R Ashwin’s groin injury presented him with an opportunity in the The Oval Test. In the first three days, the all-rounder has taken five wickets and scored 86 not out to stamp his presence.

England were 114 for two in their second innings, a lead of 154 runs, at stumps on the third day of the fifth Test against India at the Oval on Sunday.

Hanuma Vihari marked his Test debut with a fifty as India kept England’s James Anderson waiting for a landmark wicket at the Oval on Sunday.

Anderson dismissed Kohli five times in his bleak 2014 tour when he scored 134 runs at an average of 13.4, but the world No 1 Test batsman has come good with a vengeance this time, scoring centuries and three half-centuries, aggregating 593 runs at an average of 65.88.

With Hardik Pandya dropped for the final Test, and debutant Hanuma Vihari as the sixth batsman, the bowling load had to be shared among four -- Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Bumrah, youngest of them, acknowledged long spells does tire the bowlers a bit.

Cook fell to Bumrah for 71 and Ishant dismissed Moeen for 50 after their 73-run second wicket partnership had looked like lifting England to a solid total. The pitch played slow, but India’s pacers were relentless with the old ball.

Jadeja took the only wicket to fall in the morning after England chose to bat, having opener Keaton Jennings caught in the leg trap. His quick thinking also brought about the downfall of Ben Stokes, leg before. He bowled 24 overs, taking 2/57, playing his first game of the tour.

Ishant Sharma had got Alastair Cook out 11 times in all, but the release shot was needed for England’s record run-scorer. The paceman almost had him a 12th time moments earlier in that post-lunch phase, but Ajinkya Rahane at gully was caught by surprise on an Oval pitch of less bounce.

In what seemed more an effort to conceal the decision to play Ashwin in the fourth Test despite not being fit, skipper Virat Kohli, coach Ravi Shastri and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane all tried to give the impression that there was nothing wrong with the spinner.

Of the seven matches in South Africa and England together, India have bowled out teams twice in six games, but only two have led to victories as batsmen have fallen short.

Joe Root said the retirement of Alastair Cook won’t be a distraction and the team will come up with an appropriate gesture to mark Cook’s farewell.

India’s lower-order batsmen came unstuck on a dry Ageas Bowl pitch in the fourth Test as off-spinner Moeen Ali took nine wickets by exploiting the rough caused by bowlers’ footmarks. The Oval pitch has some grass, but is dry and is expected to give pacers the upper-hand in the first two days.

Alastair Cook Cook, spoke about getting emotional as he broke the news to his teammates after the series-clinching win over India at Southampton on Sunday and the adulation he has got since then.

Ravi Shastri brushed aside criticism that Virat Kohli’s team is not living up to overseas challenges, after the 1-2 loss in South Africa. Kohli had said the team must learn to ‘cross the line’.

Alastair Cook England’s highest Test run-getter, flew half way across the globe after he was summoned from the A squad in the West Indies to Nagpur, scoring a century on debut in March, 2006. Cook’s 60 and 104 not out in the two innings of the drawn game.

England’s series win has come despite a shaky top-order batting and confusion over whether Jonny Bairstow or Jos Buttler will keep wicket going forward.

India looked set to take at least a 100-run lead but managed only 27 runs in the end. Ashwin’s inability to build on the fine work done by pacers (37.1-7-84-1) on the third day then allowed England to set a solid target.

India vs England 4th Test: Moeen Ali bowls England to a 60-run win at Southampton. England take unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with one Test still to play.

Moeen Ali captured four wickets, including the prize scalps of Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane before finishing with a match haul of nine, as India were 184 all out chasing 245 for victory, late in the final session on Day 4.

Buttler, who took over wicketkeeping from Jonny Baistow for the game, top-scored with a valuable 69, and then said the pitch had deteriorated enough for off-spinner Moeen Ali to come into play.

India don’t have a history of big successful chases in England. Of the seven Tests they have won in England, three were achieved chasing a fourth innings target. Among them the best came in the famous Oval win in 1971, when they chased down 173, reaching 174/6.

The fourth Test against England is the biggest in Virat Kohli’s captaincy, with the series on the line at 1-2 with a game left. But the Day 3 Ageas Bowl pitch was dry, played considerably slow as the sun beat down and England batsmen showed great application to take a firm grip on the Test.

Moeen Ali hopes the way he has so far performed with both bat and ball during the fourth Test against India at Southampton will mark a “fresh start” to his England career.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s unbeaten 132 on Friday helped India post 273 in the first innings and take a 27-run lead against England on the second day of the fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored only his second Test outside the sub-continent, ending his wait since a 153 at Johannesburg on the 2013-14 tour, marking a turnaround in a career that has seen more dips than highs since then.

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