India's Sehwag out for 'king pair'

BIRMINGHAM: India's gamble in recalling Virender Sehwag for the third Test against England backfired spectacularly when the opener completed a 'king pair' -- two first-ball noughts in the same match -- at Edgbaston on Friday.

Sehwag, renowned as one of the most aggressive openers in Test history, was dismissed Friday when he drove at the first ball he faced, from James Anderson, and edged to England captain Andrew Strauss at first slip.

His exit left India three for one in their second innings and with a mountain to climb after England had piled up 710 for seven declared -- a first innings lead of 486.

The dashing Sehwag had previously been caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior when he gloved Stuart Broad on Wednesday during India's first innings 224.

Sehwag, 32, whose brilliant strokeplay has propelled India's batting in the past, missed the previous series in the West Indies and the first two Tests in England because of shoulder surgery in May.

But with India already 2-0 down in this four-match encounter, the tourists brought him back with just the one warm-up fixture as preparation, where he could only manage eight against a second-string Northamptonshire.

Sehwag has now scored 7,694 runs in 88 Tests at an average of 50.61 with 22 hundred, including three triple centuries.

If England win at Edgbaston they will take an unbeatable 3-0 series lead and replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011