England Have the Best of It - Just

"I told you I'd take wickets!" Monty

A Monty Panesar inspired England were the better team for much of the first day of the second Test against India at Mumbai.

The bit which didn't belong to them was owned by first Test hero Cheteshwar Pujara. Not content with two not innings which not only denied the English but rubbed their noses in the dirt during a nine wicket loss. He added 114 not out to his earlier efforts of 206 and 41. England haven't dismissed him yet.

The bit England would have been happy about was reducing this strong Indian batting line up - strong at home that is - to 5-119 and then removing MS Dhoni after he had started a recovery with Pujara. Panesar got four of them, returning to Test cricket after an unexplained sacking from an unsuccessful team. He played in two of the defeats against Pakistan at the start of the year, where he took 14 wickets but since has only been asked back once. Apart from Dhoni, who he did with bounce, his other victims were Gambhir, Tendulkar (who he bowled clean) and Kohli.

The last session just got right away from England, despite removing Dhoni in the second over. Ravi Ashin, genuinely deserving of all rounder status, stroked a powerful half century, new ball and all and racked up almost as many boundaries in two hours as Pujara did in the day. Things were suddenly productive for India, adding 99 in the last session, including 97 for the 7th wicket between the unbeaten Pujara (114x) and Ashwin (60x).

England have bought Jonny Bairstow into the side to replace Ian Bell, who has flown home on paternity leave. Stuart Broad just held his place but mostly because Tim Bresnan was a worse proposition. With Bairstow at five and Samit Patel at six, England have a soft batting underbelly, especially as the unpredictable Kevin Pietersen is above them. They'll need quick wickets on the second morning because the wicket is already turning for Panesar and Graeme Swann, which can only mean a disturbed night in the cot for the English batsmen.