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Nottingham, July 31 (IANS) England took control of the second cricket Test against India, reaching 441/6 in their second innings at stumps on the third day at Trent Bridge here Sunday.

England now lead by a huge 374 runs with four wickets remaining.

Ian Bell struck a well-paced 159 while Kevin Pietersen (63), Eoin Morgan (70), Matt Prior (64 not out) and Tim Bresnan (47) all contributed.

For India, Praveen Kumar and S.Sreesanth took two wickets each.

Ian Bell scored an immaculate if controversial 159 that helped put England in command against India at the close of the third day of the second test at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

England, who were 24 for one overnight, closed on 441 for six in their second innings, an overall lead of 374. India already need to complete the highest run chase to win a Nottingham test, England’s 284 for six against New Zealand in 2004.

The day featured a dramatic U-turn after England trailed India’s first innings by 43 runs at the start of the day, when Bell was on nine. Eoin Morgan chipped in with 70, Kevin Pietersen made 63, while Matt Prior was 64 not out with Tim Bresnan on 47 at the close.

Bell was at his stylish best in registering his 15th test hundred, as he guided England from adversity into a position of strength. But a freak run out the stroke of tea dominated was the day’s talking point.

Morgan clipped Ishant Sharma to square leg and the batsmen completed three runs and then asumed the ball had crossed the boundary as fielder Praveen Kumar gave the impression it was in fact four runs, although he never signalled.

As umpire Asad Rauf waited for confirmation whether it was a four or a three, Kumar casually returned the ball and Abhinav Mukund eventually took off the bails while Bell was out of his crease, walking back to the pavilion for tea.

After some discussion, while the batsmen by now standing on the edge of the field, Bell was given out to widespread disapproval of the crowd and the England team, who are 1-0 up in the four-match series.

When the umpires and the Indians returned after tea to a chorus of boos from the 15,000 crowd, Bell then appeared to the everyone’s surprise.

It later transpired that during the tea interval the England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower approached their Indian counterparts and asked if they wished to reverse their appeal against Bell.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told Strauss he would consult his team before returning with an agreement to allow Bell to return.

SPORTING GESTURE

Technically Law 27.8 states that such a decision has to involve the umpires and must happen on the field of play. The fact it was on the last ball before tea may have meant there was room for some discretion.

When the news was announced to spectators during a drinks break of the evening session, the India team received a standing ovation from the appreciative Nottingham crowd.

It was a sporting gesture though may not go down well with every Indian as Bell and Morgan went on to add a further 69 runs, of which Bell’s share was 22.

That incident will be remembered as one of the more bizarre moments in test history but for the present, it could have a serious bearing on the result of the match as England led by just 187 runs at the time of Bell’s incident.

The controversy should not overshadow the quality of Bell’s 206-ball innings which included 24 boundaries.

India struggled to contain his array of elegant and perfectly timed strokes to anything that was slightly off-line, especially several delicate late cuts through a vacant gully region. He has now struck four centuries in his last nine test innings.

The runs after Bell’s innings ended were painful ones for India. Morgan faced just 88 balls for his 70, bringing his 50 up with a six, while Prior also accelerated mercilessly, managing his runs from 55 deliveries. Prior has added 102 with Bresnan so far.

Earlier, Strauss’s poor run of form continued as he was caught behind for 16 and has now failed to score more than 32 in his last eight innings.

NASRI TO GO AND FABREGAS TO STAY?
Well this is unexpected. After weeks and weeks of expecting that Cesc Fabregas will be leaving Arsenal some time soon and Samir Nasri will be staying no matter what, it now seems very conceivable that Fabregas will have to stay at the Emirates for at least another season and it’s Nasri who will be departing.

The spark for this u-turn in possibility has been the admission of Arsene Wenger that Nasri’s future is still “not completely” sorted having previously been unequivocal in his refrain that the Frenchman would not be leaving. “Hopefully we can sort that out in the coming weeks,” Wenger told the Arsenal website on Friday night.

And now the unthinkable is being thought about.

According to The Sun, Nasri ‘has told Gunners team-mates he definitely will NOT sign a new deal at the club. He will snub the £115,000-a-week contract being offered by Arsenal in the hope of forcing a £20million move to Manchester City.’

Wenger has previously acknowledged that Arsenal could no longer be considered a “big club” if they lost both Nasri and Fabregas, so it does rather sound as if Arsenal have quite the dilemma ahead:

‘If the Frenchman sits tight and sees out his current contract, then Fabregas is likely to finally move to Barcelona. However, if Nasri’s ultimatum to Arsenal forces through the move to City, Fabregas may have to spend another year at the Emirates.’

And it’s not as if, by all accounts, Barcelona are any closer to finally finalising the recruitment of their former schoolboy.

‘On Fabregas, Arsenal are still waiting to see whether Barcelona are genuinely willing to meet their £40 million valuation,’ reports The Times. “There is no movement at all,” said Wenger.

And whilst a Barcelona delegation are believed to have re-opened talks with Arsenal this week, The Guardian notes ‘an increased bid understood to be around £33m is unlikely to get a positive response from the Emirates, with frustration growing as the season draws nearer and Barcelona still refuse to offer a figure more in line with Arsenal’s £40m valuation.

‘With their main priority Alexis Sánchez finally tied up, Barcelona have turned their attention to Fábregas. Communication between the clubs has been reasonably fluid and although significant differences remain between the bids and Arsenal’s expectations, Barcelona hoped their presence would convince Arsenal and Fábregas of their good intentions and willingness to negotiate further. Arsenal directors cannot understand why Barcelona have not made a more realistic bid, however.’

Has the summer’s most boring saga got interesting?

AND THE REST OF THE ARSENAL GOSSIP
Yes, there’s plenty more about Arsenal in the papers, which itself is a telling reminder of just how little they’ve got done yet.

Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue have also been ruled out of the Gunners’ trip this weekend to Cologne and The Times says that the Ivorian is close to a move to Galatasaray.

Meanwhile, following Arsenal’s silly £10m bid for Phil Jagielka, The Daily Mirror reckons that ‘Everton will resist any attempt to lure Phil Jagielka away from Goodison Park’ but suggests that Jack Rodwell could be permitted to depart.

‘Moyes is still a big fan of the youngster but, with the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta among his midfield options, Rodwell is not central to his plans.’

The utterly brilliant suggestion is that, with reference to that aforementioned silly £10m bid, ‘Everton boss David Moyes would not even answer the phone at that price’.

DROGBA TO EXTEND CHELSEA STAY
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba expects to sign a new one-year contract extension that will tie him to Stamford Bridge until 2013.

The Ivory Coast international, who joined the Blues from Marseille in 2004, revealed negotiations had begun on a new deal that would see him remain at the club until he is 35.

“We’ve started talking and it’s very interesting. Everybody knows what I feel about Chelsea and what I want,” he said.

“I will definitely be here next season. I said a few years ago that I will be here until the end of my contract, and I am here.

“Now I need to keep playing well here and giving my best, like I always try to do. This will be my eighth season at this club and it means a lot for any striker to stay that long at Chelsea.”

For the first time in his Chelsea career Drogba admits he will not be assured of a first-team place this season.

The 33-year-old is set to compete with £50million striker Fernando Torres for the starter’s role with new boss Andre Villas-Boas seemingly set to employ a single striker in a 4-3-3 formation.

CHELSEA TO SIGN BARCA YOUNGSTER
Chelsea have reached agreement with Barcelona for the signing of young Spain Under-20 defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas confirmed the news at a press conference in Bangkok, although 19-year-old Romeu is yet to have a medical or agree personal terms as he is currently with Spain preparing for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia.

Romeu made his debut for the Barcelona first team at the end of last season, but is not part of Pep Guardiola’s long-term plans at the Nou Camp.

A statement on the Chelsea website read: “Chelsea Football Club has agreed terms with Barcelona for the transfer of Oriol Romeu.”

SPURS TO SIGN ADEBAYOR ON LOAN
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has reiterated his interest in signing former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor – but only on loan.

Adebayor has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City and spent the second half of last season on loan at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Redknapp has previously spoken of his interest in landing the 27-year-old to bolster his firepower – but says any deal would not be a permanent transfer.
He told Sky Sports News: “Adebayor is a name that’s been thrown at me since I’ve been here but I think the club, we were looking maybe to loan him, that was as far as that one had gone.