Swann's Dream Debut puts England on Top; India in Tight Spot

Yesterday when England were looking doleful at 229 for five despite Andrew Strauss’ century, the general inference was this was going to be another easy one for India. But England have fought back impressively and now look to take tight reins over the game.

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It looked like the term ‘boring’ would get attached to the England cricket team after the manner in which they allowed India to get on top in the final session at the close of play on day one at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. But England have done an extraordinary job with the ball and they will have to credit themselves for pulling off one of their best days on tour, before and after the Mumbai terror strikes.

England finished up on 316, much short of their ambitions to score 400. But that it would be tough had become apparent after they lost key wickets, including that of Strauss’ towards the end of the day’s play yesterday.

But it was an entirely different matter with the ball in hand. England held a tight leash on the Indian openers, who have been in prolific vein all year. The drying up of runs, not to mention the accurate testing, perhaps did both openers in. Virender Sehwag was visibly distraught with himself for his shot selection. But there were more disappointing moments in store for team India.

Kevin Pietersen made an unusual move to throw debut spinner, Graeme Swann, the ball ahead of the more experienced Monty Panesar. How the skipper was rewarded is unprecedented in cricketing history!

Swann was spanked initially only to have his sweetest revenge. He trapped Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid lbw in quick succession in the span of his first over to send England delirious at tea with three wickets in the bag and only thirty-seven runs on board for India.

It perhaps set in the rut for the Indian cricket team, now more accustomed to seeing their openers give India flying starts. It took some consolidation from Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman and their fifty run partnership derailed some of the insanity before tea and promised much, but failed.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh found themselves in a pickle at 105 for five. Dhoni had a tough task ahead of him and it would not be easy knowing Yuvraj Singh was making another comeback to try and cement his place in the Tests. But he was not entirely a convincing act, causing Dhoni and India some trouble.

With Yuvraj finally roughed up and sent back, Dhoni now has an enormous task ahead of him, not only getting Harbhajan Singh to stick around with a nose-in-the-air England waiting to have a go, but dig India out of this hole. England though could not have asked for more from their bowlers as they have set up the match nicely for England!