Anil Kumble played the innings of his life as he along with the comeback kid, Mohammad Kaif, took India closer to England’s total and kept India in the hunt. Cricket is a game where one is always learning from teammates, opposition and even sometimes from beginners, and Kumble certainly seemed to have picked up on the dogged determination that Harmison and debutant Panesar had shown, as they helped Paul Collingwood get to his first Test century and in the process helped England get to a competitive total.
Collingwood’s example was followed by Kaif as he searched for his First Test ton but it wasn’t to be as he was consumed in the nineties in the last over of the day. He came in this Test with three consecutive ducks, two of them in the One Dayers against Pakistan and one in the Deodhar Trophy so he wasn’t in the best of touch or confidence. He took his time and waited for the scoring opportunities as he knew that he had to work all over again to establish himself in the team. There are younger hungrier players waiting in the wings one of them from his own state, Suresh Raina who is in the squad.
In the morning, Jaffer found he wasn’t able to get the same rhythm that he had the previous day and once again missed out on a century but he showed in his knock, a blend of attack and defense that augurs well.
Like all batsmen he has to be selective which shot he employs if he has to be consistent and have a permanent place in the team.
The underrated Hoggard was the pick of the bowlers showing that old fashioned virtues of line and length still get results even on unhelpful surfaces. Monty Panesar without spinning the ball a great deal tied up the batsmen with his accuracy and didn’t allow the batsmen any liberties which is exactly what was required at that time.
By getting the well set Kaif out in the last over of the day he has given England a great chance to take a good lead and also the manner of that dismissal would have given India an idea of what lies in store if they allow England to get away in the second innings.
The turning ball can be used by Indian spinners too to restrict England but they will have to bowl a lot better than they did to the England tail and the fielders have to back them up too. Harmison and Flintoff didn’t get too many but they can’t be underestimated as they have shown themselves to be big match players.
India have got themselves in this position by their inability to dismiss the England tail and they will have to work equally hard to ensure they are not climbing a mountain in the second innings. The match is poised ever so slightly in England’s favor and it tells of the great spirit that they have generated during and after the Ashes series that even without their skipper and vice captain they have shown such great resolve and determination.
India will do well to emulate that as well as Kumble’s example not just for this Test but for the future too.
