India's Chances Dented by Zaheer's Early Departure

India's coach Duncan Fletcher expressed disappointment and frustration over the early departure of fast bowler Zaheer Khan from the opening day of the Test against England. Fletcher believes that if Zaheer had lasted the entire day, India would have been in a stronger position to take control of the game. Zaheer's injury, a strain to his right hamstring, forced him to leave the field, which severely impacted the team's chances of taking a third wicket, potentially leading to a good day for India.

Key Takeaways:

• Duncan Fletcher believes that India would have been in a stronger position to take control of the game if Zaheer Khan had lasted the entire day.
• Zaheer's injury forced him to leave the field, which severely impacted the team's chances of taking a third wicket.
• The India coach praised Jonathan Trott for his "calmness at the wicket" but was not too hard on his fielders, who gave Trott two lives.
• Fletcher praised Zaheer as a "really clever, quality bowler" who could have been the key to taking the third wicket.
• The injury to Zaheer has been described as a "strain to his right hamstring" by a spokesman for the India team.

Statistics:

• India's coach Duncan Fletcher has made a return to Lord's for the first time in charge of a visiting Test side.
• The rain interruption that washed out the final 40 overs may have come at the right time for India.
• Zaheer dismissed both England openers in his bowling stint.
• The India team suffered a significant loss when Zaheer was forced to leave the field.

Sources:

• "India's coach Fletcher believes cricket's best batsman could play all summer in India" by Patrick Kidd, Duncan Fletcher (as cited in self-referential statement)

Note: The original source does not provide multiple references, only the statement made by Duncan Fletcher.