England succumb to spinners before stumps

Cricket365
November 16, 2012

England endured a nightmare of a day in Ahmedabad on Friday, finishing day two of the first Test against India still 480 runs behind but three wickets down.

India declared on 521 for eight just after tea, leaving England to face 18 overs of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha's danger spin. The batsmen were not up to the task, and Nick Compton, on debut, went for nine, before James Anderson (2) and Jonathan Trott (0) also departed.

At the close England were on 41 for three, with Alastair Cook on 22, alongside Kevin Pietersen on six. Ashwin had taken two of the wickets to fall and Ojha the other, adding joy to the Indian dressing room after Cheteshwar Pujara's 206 not out earlier on.

The day belonged almost entirely to India, as the only England bowler to do anything meaningful was Graeme Swann, who took five wickets in his massive 51 overs. Anderson was the only fast bowler to take a wicket, and even that was right at the end of the innings when the damage had been done.

Pujara's knock was the highlight of the day, having started in the morning on 98. India were 323 for four at the time, and he easily banished the nerves to reach his century, never looking in danger all day.

Another boon for India was the performance of Yuvraj Singh, who score 74 on his return to Test whites, having battled cancer earlier this year. His innings was full of flair, and he had no issued with using his feet, hitting Swann and Samit Patel for a six apiece.

England were told to bat a few overs after tea, after exactly 160 overs were bowled, and one would have thought they'd be able to see out the overs, given how docile the wicket had appeared when England were bowling.

But Compton, who used his forward defensive as though he was being examined on it, got stuck in a rut and could not fend off a quicker Ashwin ball, finding his bails dislodged with his score on nine.

Both Anderson, as night watchman, and Trott fell to similar deliveries, both caught by the close in fielders as they edged the ball onto their pads. Cook's face at the other end spoke a thousand words, his fury palpable as his debut as skipper looked set to end in disaster.