Vijay leads India with unbeaten century against England

Murali Vijay scored his first Test century outside India on Wednesday in the opening day of his team's first Test against England at Trent Bridge. 

India finished the first day of competition 259-4. 

Vijay scored 122 runs not out, seemingly comfortable despite playing away from home. Vic Marks of The Guardian notes that the playing surface at Trent Bridge plays to India's strengths:

As Vijay settled at the crease the conditions were remarkably reminiscent of Chennai, the city where he was born and raised, except that the surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium produces rather rather more bounce than this one at Trent Bridge. Take your pick from cock-up or conspiracy but this pitch is surely not the type England would choose when playing India at home.

England did manage, however, to take wickets at the start of each session, which leaves them in position to catch up to India later in the five-Test series. 

England has struggled this year, losing a 5-0 series to Australia at Ashes and falling in a 1-0 series to Sri Lanka in June. Despite Vijay's success, England's James Anderson remained upbeat. Via the BBC: 

"We had a good day all in all - we toiled away on a really placid pitch," Anderson told BBC Sport.

The first Test runs through July 13. 

- Stanley Kay