Anderson leads dominant England to big win

England 474 for 8 dec (Pietersen 202*, Trott 71, Praveen 5-106) and 269 for 6 dec (Prior 103*, Broad 74*, Ishant 4-59) beat India 286 (Dravid 103*, Broad 4-37, Tremlett 3-80) and 261 (Raina 78, Laxman 56, Anderson 5-65, Broad 3-57) by 196 runs 
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	James Anderson helped England avoid a repeat of Lord's 2007 © Getty Images Enlarge

England's bowlers fought through dogged batting, the absence of DRS for lbws and some sloppy catching to avoid a repeat of Lord's 2007 - when India saved the Test - and completed a comprehensive win 28.3 overs before the scheduled close of a gruelling final-day scrap.

India's four big hopes survived 93, 113, 56 and 68 deliveries, which meant England had to work for wickets and also that they never let those batsmen feel they were in. James Anderson took out Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, although it could be argued that he struck the knockout blows after Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett had softened the batsmen up.

Although there were two dropped catches and two controversial not-out lbw decisions, it all went down in a manner suggesting England had scripted it thus. They wouldn't have budgeted for the strongest resistance to come from Suresh Raina, who proved he belonged with a fighting 78, but by the final session Anderson was in red-hot form. He completed his 11th five-for by breaking through that final piece of Indian fight with a beautiful inswinger from round the stumps. Initially Anderson had fed off the immense pressure created by Tremlett and Broad, and Graeme Swann contributed by accounting for one of the best players of spin today, Gautam Gambhir.

It was just as well that England finished India off and avoided what would have become a major controversy had India hung on with one wicket in hand. The dreaded scenario of disagreement between Hawk-Eye and the umpire occurred twice in potentially crucial circumstances. Broad had comprehensive cases for lbw against Tendulkar and Raina, and would have successfully challenged the original not-out decisions had DRS been available for lbws. Those two decisions cost England a potentially decisive 15.4 overs.

Anderson had drawn Dravid into a rare loose shot outside off, he regularly beat Laxman's bat in a five-over spell, often proving to be too good to take the edge.

While Andrew Strauss's catching at slip and his defensive in-and-out fields in the first session could be argued against, his bowling changes worked like a charm. About 20 minutes before lunch he brought on Anderson, who began with a long hop that Laxman pulled straight to short midwicket.

Laxman's dismissal brought together India's walking wounded, Gambhir and Tendulkar. They hung in bravely, Gambhir for 56 balls with a painful elbow and Tendulkar for 68 with a viral infection. Whatever the debate around DRS be, the umpires had a great match, and it was evident in Gambhir's lbw, in the over after Laxman's dismissal. The Swann arm ball had hit the pad a microsecond before it hit the bat. Asad Rauf sent Gambhir on his way.

From the injured man the burden transferred to the ill man, Tendulkar, who began positively but went into a shell after lunch. That Raina looked more comfortable than Tendulkar during their 17.4-over partnership told a story. While Tendulkar was solid in defence, he let the bowlers bowl to a perfect rhythm, and the odd one was bound to be too good.

After surviving that Broad shout, Tendulkar played 40 balls for one run. Once again Anderson came back and struck immediately. He had Tendulkar dropped by Strauss, but produced an inswinger similar to Broad's two balls later, and Tendulkar was plumb. This was the sixth time in the match that an Englishman had taken a wicket in the first over of a new spell.

In the lead-up to tea, with England easing the pressure as they built up to the new ball, Raina and MS Dhoni gave India hope. Raina showed character in how he avoided bouncers and reached a half-century that will only do him good. With the new ball, though, England were back on course. The ball started jagging around again, and a shaken-up Dhoni finally edged an outswinger from Tremlett.

A cold, ruthless demolition of the tail followed. Harbhajan Singh refused to back away, but England worked him over with precise short deliveries. Praveen Kumar didn't stand much of a chance. Raina got a gem from Anderson, coming in from round the stumps, then leaving him, and taking the edge. Broad deservedly ended the match with a plumb lbw; the last four had fallen for 18 runs.

Scenes of elation followed for the home side and the biggest Monday crowd at Lord's. England will feel relief too at having finished off the job, and not only because they righted what happened in 2007. Had India drawn this, they would have had positives to look at; now they have injured bodies and a series deficit.

Waqar calls for Misbah replacement to be groomed

Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, has called for a young captain to be groomed as an eventual replacement to the current leader Misbah-ul-Haq, who is 37 years old.

"Being 36-37 is not very young," Waqar said. "He [Misbah] is very fit and has done very well as captain but age usually catches up, so we need to groom a young captain."

Misbah took over the Test captaincy after dramatic exits by Shahid Afridi, who retired from Tests, and Salman Butt, who was involved in the spot-fixing scandal during the tour to England in 2010. Misbah's results have been impressive - a drawn series against South Africa in UAE and a win in New Zealand. After the 2011 World Cup, Misbah had to take over the limited-overs captaincy as well.

With Afridi, who was in charge of the one-day team until recently, refusing to play under the present PCB administration headed by chairman Ijaz Butt, Misbah is set to lead Pakistan in all three forms of the game on a tour of Zimbabwe in August. Pakistan are due to play one Test, three one-day and two Twenty20 matches and Waqar said Afridi will be missed.

"Every cricketer who leaves is missed, like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and then myself were missed and, of course, Afridi will also be missed," Waqar said. "But there are other youngsters who will take their place."

Waqar also urged former greats such as Javed Miandad to help youngsters develop, particularly at the top of the order. "Whatever help can come is good because we have to take Pakistan cricket forward," he said. "Our problems in opening are old ones and we are trying to overcome these problems and I would urge former openers like Mohsin Khan, Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail and Mudassar Nazar to come and help the openers. Hopefully some new players will develop."

Michael Clarke opts out of Big Bash League

	Michael Clarke is standing apart from most of his Australian teammates by staying out of the BBL © Getty Images Enlarge

Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, will take no part in the Twenty20 Big Bash League this summer, preferring to concentrate on his international commitments.

Extensive negotiations between Clarke, his management and the Sydney Sixers were unable to reach a workable compromise between the batsman's desire for rest and preparation in between Test series and Cricket Australia's desire to have as many contracted players as possible taking part in the BBL. Clarke had also conducted talks with numerous other teams.

"With the greatest respect to everybody involved in the T20 Big Bash League, I will not be committing for this year," Clarke said in a statement. "My goal is to play Twenty20 cricket domestically, for sure. But at the moment, I want to prioritise my time and commitment to my role with the Australian team.

"We have a big six months ahead, and my commitment and focus is with those teams. I am also only available for one BBL game this year, and that was a consideration as well."

Clarke's decision means both he and Mitchell Johnson will sit out the competition, while every other CA-contracted player, including the likes of Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, take part.

As CA's most high profile figure, Clarke's absence from the BBL launch in Sydney next week will be notable, but the latest instance of his degenerative back problems, during a practice fixture at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane last week, provided a harsh reminder that physical management must be a priority for the national captain.

Stuart Clark, general manager of the Sixers, said Clarke's was a difficult decision, but a logical one in the circumstances that confronted him.

"Michael has chosen to concentrate on international cricket and I wish him all the best in that, we haven't shut the door on him playing for the Sixers in the future," Clark told ESPNcricinfo. "I think it would've been a difficult decision, he's got a lot to offer the BBL, but he's thought about it and decided to concentrate on the Australian team."

Mike McKenna, the BBL project owner and CA's head of marketing, said he could see why Clarke's decision had been made. "We understand and respect his decision," McKenna said, "and while we will miss him, the T20 BBL already offers fans a galaxy of international and national stars which will help galvanise fan excitement in year one."

Teams have finalised their initial lists of at least 14 players, with some squads having named their full 18-man groups. The remaining teams can wait until December to fill out their playing rosters. The Sydney Sixers have named England's Michael Lumb as their first overseas player, while in other final-day appointments, the fast bowler Ben Edmondson will return to Western Australia to play with the Perth Scorchers; Chris Swan has signed with the Brisbane Heat; and the Sixers locked in Dominic Thornely and Ian Moran.

The squads so far

Adelaide Strikers Aiden Blizzard, Cameron Borgas, Lee Carseldine, Tom Cooper, Adam Crosthwaite, Theo Doropoulos, Brendan Drew, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger, Nathan Lyon, Aaron O'Brien, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson. Overseas players: Kieron Pollard. Coach Darren Berry.

Brisbane Heat Ryan Broad, Nick Buchanan, Daniel Christian, Ben Cutting, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Chris Swan, (One further contract lodged, subject to approval). Overseas players: Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori. Coach Darren Lehmann.

Hobart Hurricanes Travis Birt, Mark Cosgrove, Xavier Doherty, Luke Feldman, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hogan, Phil Jaques, Matt Johnston, Jason Krejza, Nick Kruger, Ben Laughlin, Rhett Lockyear, Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting. Overseas players: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Owais Shah. Coach Ali de Winter.

Melbourne Renegades Ryan Carters, Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, Aaron Heal, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, Brad Hodge, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew McDonald, Brenton McDonald, Dirk Nannes, Nathan Reardon, Will Sheridan, Shaun Tait. Overseas players: Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi. Coach Simon Helmot.

Melbourne Stars George Bailey, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Alex Keath, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Chris Simpson, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Cameron White. Overseas players: Luke Wright. Coach Greg Shipperd.

Perth Scorchers Tom Beaton, Michael Beer, Mark Cameron, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Edmondson, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Luke Pomersbach, Nathan Rimmington, Luke Ronchi. Overseas players: Paul Collingwood, Herschelle Gibbs. Coach Mickey Arthur.

Sydney Sixers Ed Cowan, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Brett Lee, Nic Maddinson, Ian Moran, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Dominic Thornely, Shane Watson. Overseas players: Michael Lumb. Coach Trevor Bayliss.

Sydney Thunder Sean Abbott, Tim Armstrong, Nic Bills, Doug Bollinger, Luke Butterworth, Scott Coyte, Tim Cruickshank, Matthew Day, Luke Doran, Ben Dunk, Jason Floros, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Craig Philipson, Daniel Smith, David Warner. Overseas players: Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle. Coach Shane Duff

Pietersen double outshines Praveen's five

India 17 for 0 trail England 474 for 8 decl. (Pietersen 202*, Prior 71, Praveen 5-106) by 457 runs 

\	Kevin Pietersen ended his home century draught in style© Getty Images Enlarge

They were calling for his head before the start of the season. Come big series, tough conditions, early wickets, and Kevin Pietersen scored his first home century in three years, going onto beating India to pulp, completing his third double, and setting up a bold declaration about 40 minutes before stumps. This was his slowest century, but resuming on 22 overnight he imposed himself on the bowlers throughout the second day.

They didn't think he was Test material before the start of this season. With Zaheer Khan out with a hamstring injury, Praveen Kumar swung his way to the Lord's honours board through a maiden five-for, a thing of beauty in isolation. His strikes remained a footnote, though, as they couldn't check Pietersen, who hit 42 off the last 17 balls he faced. Also, while Praveen was the only man other than MS Dhoni to look like taking a wicket today, Pietersen received ample support through stands worth 110, 120 and 61 with Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann. India survived the awkward six overs, but their over-rate could still spell more bad news at the end of the match.

The way Pietersen is seen at home and by outsiders is a bit like VVS Laxman in his earlier years. When Laxman struggled to make it to the Indian team, the Australians could never figure out why. While Pietersen might be a bit of an individualist with eccentricities that don't always endear him, the rest of the world just can't figure out the scrutiny the English public and media puts him through.

The cricketing scrutiny he dealt with in a fairly adept manner. While his early strike-rate in the 30s and the 40s might not suggest domination, it was vintage KP, moving about in the crease, dictating terms to the bowlers, making them bowl where he wanted them to bowl. Ishant Sharma, Man of the Series in the West Indies, suffered the most. He toyed around with his line and length by walking across and towards him, practically reducing India to a two-man attack. Ishant's general line was so wide not one of his deliveries to Pietersen was pitched within the stumps. Before tea, he had bowled only two full deliveries: both were edged, one wide of slips, one short of them. Ishant to Pietersen in 32 wicketless overs: 101 deliveries, 75 runs.

Pietersen hardly stood still to a delivery bowled by the pacers. He had tried the same yesterday, but today he brought with him the middle of the bat. A defensive India didn't have a short leg in place, and there was no checking Pietersen's movements across the crease. In scoring the first 50, he hit only three scoring shots to the off side. He flicked through mid-on and midwicket at will throughout the innings.

Praveen kept resisting, though. He did that first by removing the immovable object, Jonathan Trott, with a perfect inswinger at the start of his second spell today. Trott had added only 12 to his overnight 58. While bowling to his former IPL captain, Praveen provided the contest of the day. Pietersen kept moving across, Praveen kept bowling the odd leg-side yorker, trying to get him behind his legs. He even called a leg slip in, and Pietersen flicked straight to that man, only for the ball to fall inches short. He was on 49 then. Praveen couldn't go on forever, and after that testing spell of 6-2-7-1, Pietersen resumed dominating India.

Harbhajan Singh was good to begin with, getting some dip from round the stumps, but once Pietersen lofted a straighter one over mid-off, that bubble burst too. Two flat short deliveries followed, and Bell cut them for fours. Almost unnoticed, Bell sped away to 45 off 76, cutting effectively and playing the cover-drive you might want to play on loop on your ipod.

Pietersen did come close to getting out to Dhoni soon after lunch, but challenged the caught-behind decision successfully. He then bossed the second new ball, and curbed his own proclivity to play ill-advised shots in the 90s. With a picturesque on-drive off Ishant, he reached his century, leaping high after taking two steps down the pitch, and then pumping the air.

Praveen made sure Pietersen went back to more circumspection. After two overs of outswingers, he nearly got Bell with the perfect inswinger but for the height. Soon, though, the perfect outswinger would take the edge. Two balls later, another outswinger would kiss Eoin Morgan's inside edge: 270 for 5 looked much more respectable for India than 270 for 3.

Praveen proceeded to bowl a few unplayable deliveries to Prior, but Prior counterattacked to good effect. Once Praveen was taken off, the partnership flourished; Prior smacked 71 out of the 120. Praveen again threatened to bring India back with an outswinger that took the adventurous Prior's edge. The next ball was another lovely outswinger, trapping Stuart Broad.

Pietersen, 145 then, took his hitting - and his disregard for the bowlers - to another level. Ishant was a mere spinner now, without the turn; even Praveen took some clip. From 182 to 202 was but a matter of six deliveries, which included his first six. As the players walked off, Pietersen and Praveen acknowledged each other's efforts. It is incredible but they might not have been playing the match.

Somerset is happy with the performance

Arul Suppiah was one of a number of Somerset players who enjoyed good outings against India © Getty Images Enlarge

Somerset believe they have played an important part in giving England a head start to the Test series against India after being able to "bully" India for three days at Taunton. The visitors were never a threat in their lone warm-up match before Lord's as their bowling was twice taken part and the batting folded for 224.

For most of the contest, once they had lost the toss on a flat pitch, India didn't appear to have their heart in the game whereas the county side took it very seriously. They were determined to limit the value India could take from the outing which is why they didn't enforce the follow on, and Peter Trego them embarrassed them with a 57-ball 85, which left them looking well short of readiness for the first Test.

"I fully understand it's quite difficult for Test sides to get themselves up for these games, however it's about practising good habits," Andy Hurry, the Somerset coach, said. "They are going to come up against a stern test against a side challenging to be No. 1 so they'll have to lift their game. I'm sure they will, playing at the home of cricket, but it's been interesting; their approach and how that reflects in the way they performed.

"It's was important that we gave it our best shot and really put them under the pump. We won the toss on a great batting pitch, dominated the game and started to bully them which is a great position for England to sit back in their seats and appreciate what we have done for them."

"We had an opportunity to build scoreboard pressure then got our rewards and bowled them out," he added. "They were looking for the follow-on but we weren't giving them that. It was an opportunity for us to go in again and reinforce our position before giving them a little dart at the end to try and bowl them out."

Andrew Strauss, preparing for the Test series with a guest appearance, made the most of his time with scores of 78 and an unbeaten 109 to ensure he enters the main contest in good spirits following his lean time against Sri Lanka earlier in the season. Hurry couldn't praise Strauss highly enough for his short spell with the team and the benefit it brought to the younger players.

"It's been a perfect three days for him," Hurry said. "We kept the Indians in the field for a number of overs, he looked really busy at the wicket and built his innings. He's been outstanding to have in the changing room, the boys have thrived on having him around. He's been a real good egg.

"It's had a huge positive effect on the younger players, guys who have aspirations of playing for England now understand what the England captain is about. He has an aura about him sat in the changing room. The guys were listening to everything he said about batting and the England set up. It's been positive from all sides.