Vijay's ton gives India the edge on Day 1

[[JUGRAJ SINGH]]

A fine unbeaten century by opener Murali Vijay helped India amass 259 for 4 on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Wednesday.


At stumps, Vijay was unbeaten on 122 in the company of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 50.

James Anderson was England's most successful bowler, picking two wickets for 70 runs.

Stuart Binny makes his Test debut

Earlier, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat.

Stuart Binny, son of former India all-rounder Roger Binny, made his Test debut.

Ajinkya Rahane was preferred ahead of his Mumbai team mate Rohit Sharma, while Ravindra Jadeja got the nod as the lone spinner.

India went in with five bowlers, including Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Jadeja and all-rounder Binny.

England included Ben Stokes in place of Chris Jordan while Matt Prior was declared fit to play the match.

Anderson strikes early

Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan opened the batting for India, while Anderson bowled the first over for England.

The former got off the mark with three straight boundaries as 12 runs came of the first over.

But Anderson dealt the first blow, having Dhawan caught behind for 12.

Bowling from round the wicket, the pacer got the ball to leave the the left-hander, who pushed at it halfheartedly and ended up getting an edge which was pouched by Matt Prior, diving to his left.

It was Anderson's 50th Test wicket at Trent Bridge.

India were 33 for 1 in seven overs then.

Anderson has Pujara soon after lunch

After putting up 106 for 1 in 30 overs, the Indians lost their second wicket immediately after lunch.

Pujara departed in the second over. A delivery from Anderson jagged in and took off, and Ian Bell, at silly mid-on, dived to his right and completed a stunning one-handed catch.

India’s number three batsman departed without adding to his tally of 38, scored before lunch.

Broad snares Kohli cheaply

The English dealt a double blow, dismissing Virat Kohli (1) in the next over.

Broad got him with one that left him minutely, took the bat’s edge and fell straight to Bell at second slip.

Suddenly, India were tottering at 107-3.

Rahane unlucky

Ajinkya Rahane walked in next and spent some tense moments at the crease. He and Vijay, unbeaten on 92 from 176 balls at the tea break, stayed put and did well to play out a tough spell and take India to tea at 177 for 3 in 59 overs.

However, immediately after the tea break, Rahane went for a pull shot as Plunkett dropped it short but unfortunately only got the bottom edge of the bat to the ball and was caught on the off-side after scoring 32.

Vijay gets his hundred off 214 balls

Rahane's dismissal did not deter Vijay , who completed his hundred off 214 balls with a single on the leg side off Anderson in the 68th over.

Vijay thus registered his fourth Test century off 214 balls, with the help of 18 fours.

It is his first Test hundred outside India and first against an opposition other than Australia.

It was also the 100th Test hundred scored at Trent Bridge.​